Colorado Front Range Cities: Food, Beer & Adventure at Gateway to the Rockies

As you plan a trip to Colorado, you will likely come across the term “Colorado’s Front Range.” You may even have wondered what and where the Front Range is or if the Colorado Front Range cities are worth visiting.

In this guide, I’ll provide an overview of Colorado’s Front Range, including where it is and why you should visit.

Then, I’ll share four of the coolest Front Range cities worth visiting during your own Colorado vacation. Of course, I’ve included tips for where to eat delicious foods, drink local craft beer, and stay in unique, upscale accommodations in these Front Range cities, too.

Disclosure: This post about visiting Colorado’s Front Range cities contains affiliate links. When you click on or make a purchase from one of these links, I may earn a small commission. You can read my full disclosure here. 

Where is Colorado’s Front Range?

“Front Range” is a term I was introduced to while taking a road trip through Colorado in September 2014. If you travel through Colorado, it’s likely you’ll hear it as well. You may wonder, why is it called the Front Range? And, are the locals referring to the mountains or the area around them as well?

The answer to the latter question is both! The Front Range is the easternmost mountain range of the Southern Rocky Mountains in central Colorado and southeastern Wyoming. As you may have guessed, this was the first mountain range that early settlers would see as they journeyed west from the Great Plains.

However, the term “Front Range” is also used when referring to the Front Range Urban Corridor — the gateway to the Rocky Mountains.  This region to the east of the mountains is home to Colorado’s largest cities and jaw-dropping views of towering mountain peaks in the distance.

Which Colorado Cities are in the Front Range Urban Corridor?

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Stretching from Cheyenne, Wyoming, down to Pueblo, Colorado, the Front Range Urban Corridor is home to more than 5 million residents as of the 2020 Census. This region encompasses 18 counties and cities such as Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora, Fort Collins, and Lakewood.

The Front Range Urban Corridor also includes incredible natural landmarks, making it a playground for adventurers seeking hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking, and whitewater rafting. There are “14ers” — mountain summits more than 14,000 feet above sea level — and the Royal Gorge, a 1,200-foot canyon near Pueblo and Colorado Springs.

Why Visit Colorado’s Front Range Cities?

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To Save Money by Flying into Denver

First of all, if you are flying into Colorado from out of state or outside the United States, Denver is very likely your most cost-effective option. You can click here to find flight deals to Denver.

Based on my experience traveling in Colorado, I recommend renting a car for your trip. Denver International Airport is about a 30-minute drive to downtown Denver, about 45 minutes to downtown Boulder, and about an hour and 15 minutes to Fort Collins or Colorado Springs. You can click here to find rental cars in Colorado now.

Travel Tip: Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines consistently offer some of the most affordable fares to and from Denver.

To Adjust to the Altitude

Secondly, you should stay in a Front Range city for at least one day to give your body time to adjust to the elevation.

As you may know, Denver is known as the Mile High City, but the mountain towns can have elevations of 8,000 feet or higher. At over 14,110 feet in elevation, Pikes Peak — located near Colorado Springs — is only the 31st tallest mountain in Colorado.

If you visit a mountain summit, you may experience altitude sickness. Some changes you may notice are your ears popping, headaches, trouble sleeping, drowsiness, and/or a change or loss in appetite. From my own experience, I hardly had an appetite in Colorado—and I’m a foodie!

To Enjoy the Mild Weather

Third, with the Rocky Mountains acting as a storm shield, the weather can be quite mild in the Front Range cities. Also, the weather here can be quick to change. One local even joked with me that if I don’t like the weather in Denver, just wait 10 minutes.

Though the Front Range cities get snow, it typically won’t last for long. Unlike in the mountain towns where snow attracts skiers from late fall through mid-April, snow here often melts away within days or even hours.

A friend of mine who relocated to Denver from Michigan said locals told him to keep his golf clubs in his car year-round. Along the Front Range, there just may be a warm February day perfect for hitting the links!

When I visited during mid-September, temperatures in this region were daytime highs into the 90s (Fahrenheit). The evenings were cooler, so I would wear a light jacket or cardigan to stay warm.

Travel Tip: Dress in layers! If you are wondering what to pack, check out my tips for what to wear in Colorado.

Exploring Colorado Front Range Cities

It just so happens that most of the destinations I chose to visit — Denver, Colorado Springs, Boulder, and Fort Collins — are located in Colorado’s Front Range Urban Corridor. In this post, I’ll briefly share why you should visit each of these four Front Range cities and give you a few ideas of things to do and places to eat, drink craft beer, and stay.

Denver

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Denver is the biggest city in Colorado and the state capital. It is also the cultural hub of the Centennial State and full of attractions, including art galleries, museums, public art and gardens, bike lanes and paths, shopping, nightlife, and breweries galore.

In fact, Denver is one of the largest producers of craft beer in the United States, and the Mile High City hosts several notable beer-drinking festivals and events. If you’re a craft beer drinker, take a guided Denver brewery tour, or order a local brew at a rooftop bar while taking in the Denver skyline.

For arts and culture, head to the Golden Triangle Museum District. The Denver Art Museum houses over 68,000 pieces and is one of the top art museums in the United States. Don’t miss the Native American art gallery featuring art from over 100 tribes!

Other top attractions include the Clyfford Still Museum, the Colorado State Capitol, the U.S. Mint, the Denver Botanic Gardens, and the nearby Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre.

Travel Tip: If you plan to visit 3-5 of Denver’s top attractions, a Denver CityPASS® could save you up to 43%.

Attractions covered by Denver CityPASS® include:

• Denver Art Museum
• Downtown Aquarium Denver
• Denver Museum of Nature and Science
• Wings over the Rockies Air and Space Museum
• Denver Botanic Gardens
• History Colorado Center
• Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus

Places to Eat & Drink in Denver

• Sushi Den
• Watercourse Foods
• Great Divide Brewing Company
• ViewHouse Eatery, Bar & Rooftop
• Downtown Denver Food Tour
• RiNo Arts District Food Tour
• Denver Cocktail Tour

Where to Stay in Denver

If I could stay anywhere in Denver, I’d likely opt for the ART, a hotel boldly decorated with vibrant art, or The Crawford Hotel in the old Union Station railroad terminal.

Colorado Springs

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Colorado’s sprawling and second-largest city is home to the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Olympic Training Center, and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum. It’s an ideal destination for adventurous explorers, craft beer lovers, and active families.

Must-see sights include the red sandstone rock formations at Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak, which inspired the poem-turned-patriotic-anthem “America the Beautiful.”

Other fun things for adults to do in Colorado Springs include ziplining, white-water rafting, Jeep sightseeing tours, and exploring the craft beverage scene.

Similar to Denver, Colorado Springs is a craft beer drinkers’ paradise. You can take a brewery tour in downtown Colorado Springs and sip craft beers and cocktails inside a former elementary school.

Places to Eat & Drink in Colorado Springs

• Bristol Brewing Company at Ivywild School
• Panino’s
• Phantom Canyon Brewing Company
• Principal’s Office at Ivywild School
• Wild Goose Meeting House
• Colorado Springs Food Tour

Where to Stay in Colorado Springs

When I stayed at The Mining Exchange, a Wyndham Grand Hotel in downtown Colorado Springs, I loved the mix of luxury and art juxtaposed against exposed brick walls and a Rocky Mountain view out the windows.

For a luxurious getaway, you might consider The Broadmoor. This luxurious, historic resort offers an award-winning spa, two swimming pools, three outdoor hot tubs, 54 holes of golf, various recreational activities, and on-site dining.

Boulder

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Home to the University of Colorado Boulder, Celestial Seasonings ($5 tours!), the Flatirons, thriving art and culinary scenes, an ornate tea house, miles of bike trails, and an outdoor promenade, Boulder is consistently ranked one of the happiest cities in America.

Downtown Boulder, anchored by the pedestrian-friendly Pearl Street Mall, is bustling with boutique shops, public artworks, street performers, and fantastic local restaurants.

Boulder has so much to offer in terms of outdoor recreation, from kayaking to rock climbing. My favorite recreational activity while visiting Boulder was renting a bicycle and cycling on the 5.5-mile Boulder Creek Path. Taking a guided e-bike tour is one of the most popular things to do in Boulder. In winter, you’ll find cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails.

Places To Eat & Drink In Boulder

• Dish Gourmet
• License No. 1
• Spruce Farm & Fish
• The Kitchen American Bistro

Where To Stay In Boulder

Stay at the Hotel Boulderado for a step back in time. The historic hotel was established in 1909, and its rooms are decorated in Victorian style. If you would rather stay in a modern hotel that opened in 2005, book a luxurious room at the St. Julien Hotel and Spa.

Fort Collins

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Fort Collins is a college town, beer capital, and perfect destination for outdoor adventurers. Home of Colorado State University, Fort Collins sits at the edge of the prairie along the Cache la Poudre River at the base of the Rockies.

For active travelers, you can tee off at one of the three public golf courses that are open year-round, snowshoe or cross-country ski in nearby Red Feather Lakes or Cameron Pass, cycle 200 miles of wide bike lanes, go mountain biking on trails just minutes from downtown, boat the picturesque Horsetooth Reservoir, camp, fish, white-water raft, kayak, rock climb, or go hot-air ballooning.

Fort Collins is also home to over 20 craft breweries and a half dozen local distilleries. Most notably, New Belgium Brewing Company offers free 45-minute brewery tours with tastings along the way!

Places To Eat & Drink In Fort Collins

• CooperSmith’s Pub & Brewing
• Harbinger Coffee
• New Belgium Brewing Company 
• Town Pump

Where To Stay In Fort Collins

My top picks for where to stay in Fort Collins are The Elizabeth Hotel, a music-themed hotel in Old Town Fort Collins, and The Armstrong Hotel, a dog-friendly boutique hotel with a lounge serving craft cocktails.

Which of Colorado’s Front Range cities will you visit?

You now know the Front Range is the easternmost mountain range in the southern Rocky Mountains and why it’s called the Front Range. The area east of this Front Range also makes up the Front Range Urban Corridor, which has over 5 million residents.

In this region, you’ll find cool Colorado Front Range cities with stunning mountain views, awe-inspiring natural landmarks, endless outdoor recreation opportunities, and some of the Centennial State’s best craft breweries and local eats.

I hope this post helped you decide which of Colorado’s Front Range cities to visit. If you ask me, I say visit them all!

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