Top Best Mountain Towns in Colorado: A Complete Guide

Colorado is one of my favorite states in America. I lived there for 3 ish years of my life and truly fell in love. It is getting quite expensive to live there now and my life has brought me to other places in the United States but if this wasn’t the case, I would move back in a heartbeat. It is the perfect place to visit if you like the outdoors, adventure, good food, and good vibes. I have outlined some of the best Mountain towns in Colorado and even added some of my favorites. Depending on where you are going in Colorado there are many airports to choose from. A lot of major airlines fly into Denver International Airport. Some airlines, like American Airlines, fly into Aspen and Vail airports. If you are going very south like Telluride or Durango, there are regional airports closer to there as well. Either way, renting a car will be super helpful for getting to and from the airport. 

Fort Collins 

Well, I might be biased because I went to college here but I truly think it’s one of Colorado’s cutest towns. They have everything you need, hiking, a reservoir to do lake activities, amazing food places, and fun nightlife. I enjoyed this city because there was always something to do either outside with beautiful views or inside keeping your bellies full. Fort Collins is about an hour or so north of Denver and about 1 hour and 20 minutes from the Denver International Airport. If you plan on visiting Fort Collins I would suggest renting a car to get you from the airport to some of your activities, and back. The Uber from the airport can get pricey. 

Best time to visit: SUMMER 

Some of My Favorite Things to Do

Paddle-boarding Horsetooth

New Belgium Brewery

Boulder

Boulder is a huge runner-up for the best and cutest little town in Colorado. Our school always had a rivalry with the school located in Boulder so I shouldn’t love it as much as I do, but I do. You will find a cute town like Fort Collins but placed right at the foothills of the Flatirons, and they are gorgeous. Boulder is a lot closer to skiing and is only 45 minutes from the Denver airport or the Denver city. I would highly suggest making at least a stop here on your road trip down to Vail or Breckenridge.

Best time to visit: SUMMER 

Some of My Favorite Things to Do

Pearl Street

Ku Cha House of Tea

Steamboat Springs

This mountain town is successively located in the heart of the Rockies. It is about a 3-and-a-half-hour drive from Denver International Airport. I know you’re probably already thinking about it but, you are going to want to rent a car for this one. Although there is incredible skiing here, I loved the summer vibes that I got from visiting. And guess what! Steamboat Springs was intended to be a summer town before it became a ski resort. Although, I know a lot of people who love to ski here. 

Best time to visit: SUMMER 

Some of My Favorite Things to Do

Breckinridge

This cute mountain town is located at the base of the Rocky Mountains’ Tenmile Range. It is honestly my favorite place to ski in Colorado! Well at least my favorite so far, I still have a lot more to try. I like skiing here because the mountain is wide, has a lot of trails, and isn’t as expensive as some of the other mountains aka Vail. The Breckinridge historical district runs along Main Street and consists of many colorful buildings full of restaurants & shopping. It’s about a 2-hour drive from the Denver International Airport. You know the drill, rent a car. 

Best time to visit: WINTER or SUMMER

Some of My Favorite Things to Do

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Aspen

Aspen is a crowd favorite. It is outdoorsy, fun, and has just the right hint of boujee. It’s a playground for the richer status but if that’s not you, you will still have an incredible time. The downtown area of Aspen is a charming little community that shows off shopping during the day but knows how to party at night. I have yet to ski here but I’ve heard it’s incredible. I enjoy visiting Aspen during the winter because it feels like a true winter wonderland. Of course, summer is a good time to visit but another amazing time is during fall. The changing of the leaves here brings about a yellow tint that brightens up your adventures. 

Best time to visit: FALL or WINTER

Some of My Favorite Things to Do

Aspen for the X Games

There are some other favorite mountain towns that people love: Telluride and Crested Butte. I have yet to go to either of these fabulous places but they are on my list. Check out my bucket list experiences for these towns below.

Go to telluride for the bluegrass festival or to ski at the Telluride Ski Resort. 
Go to crested butte for the annual Arts festival or to ski at the Crested Butte Mountain Resort. 

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