Colorado Springs attracts people with clean mountain air, sunny weather, dry warm climate, and many natural sights around. Approximately six million travelers come there every year, and each of them enjoys something interesting.
You will also be happy to tour Colorado Springs and car rental is the best way to explore the local beauty. So, pick up Budget rental car Colorado Springs right at the airport to start your trip as soon as you arrive. In the surrounding area, you will find a large number of places to explore. Among them, don't miss the following ones:
Pikes Peak
The main natural sight of Colorado Springs is Pikes Peak Mountain, which rises to a height of 4,302 meters. It’s located outside the city and attracts thousands of people. Pikes Peak is among the world leaders in the number of annual travelers, second only to Mount Fuji.
In order to see the mesmerizing scenery from the top of the famous Pikes Peak, you have three options to do: climb the mountain in your rental car, take the Cog Railway, or follow the hiking trails. There’s no doubt that car rental will be the best choice, as you can stop on your own and explore other attractions along the way.
Cheyenne Mountain State Park
Cheyenne Mountain State Park is another place you need to drive your rental car. What can you find interesting there? First of all, it’s Cheyenne Mountain, an amazing triple-peaked mountain in El Paso County, southwest Colorado Springs.
Also, in addition to the closed military facility NORAD, there are the Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun and the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. These sights are located close to each other, so it will be very convenient for you to get there with your rental car. Moreover, a single ticket includes a visit to both destinations. Another attraction, located at the foot of Cheyenne Mountain, is the Broadmoor. This is a luxury hotel and resort complex with over 100 years of history. It will be a great place to stay if you want to spend more time in the mountains.
Garden of the Gods
Not far from the city quarters there’s a park area called Garden of the Gods. This natural wonder was created by wind erosion, and its main pride is the extraordinary orange rocks. The park's name dates back to the events of August 1859, when two local cartographers surveyed the area in connection with the founding of nearby Colorado City. One of them found the place suitable for a beer plantation, while the second suggested calling it the Garden of the Gods.
Admission to the park is free according to the bequest of Charles Elliot Perkins, whose children donated the park's land to the city of Colorado Springs in 1909. There are many walking and cycling paths in this park, along which you can walk and admire the stunning geological formations.
Colorado Springs city parks
While driving your rental car in Colorado Springs, check out Red Rock Canyon Park on the west side of the city. Compared to the Garden of the Gods, this is also a unique place with many scenic paths among the rocks.
Another park to explore in the northeastern side of the city is Palmer Park. It’s very similar to the previous ones in its landscape but has its own special atmosphere. The good news is that all Colorado Springs city parks are completely free to visit. These are real gems of nature, located within the city limits, where you will be happy to walk and take a break from the city heat.
The United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy is a military educational institution located in the northern part of the city. It trains officers for the United States Air Force. The academy is officially accredited by the US government as a college, and graduates who successfully complete a four-year course receive a Bachelor of Science degree and, as a rule, the rank of second lieutenant of the US Air Force.
Every year about one million people come there for excursions. In the Academy, you can visit Cadet Chapel, as well as the museum and the planetarium. Also, you have the opportunity to see the training of cadets.
Manitou Cliff Dwellings
Manitou Cliff Dwellings is a famous US tourist sight and open-air museum located west of Colorado Springs, off Interstate 24 in Manitou Springs. It contains copies of the rock dwellings of the Anasazi Indians who lived in the area until about 1300 AD.
The Anasazi themselves didn’t live in Manitou Springs and didn’t build their dwellings there. However, similar dwellings are well preserved in many places in the historical region of the United States. For example, in Mesa Verde and Chaco Canyon.
