7 Top Colorado Mountain Towns Close to Denver
Looking for mountain towns near Denver? I’ve heard many people that fly into Denver and think they’ll be in the mountains! Wrong. Denver is located east of the Rocky Mountains, but it doesn’t take long to get into the grand giants of what Colorado is known for. Here I’ll show you 7 Colorado mountain towns close to Denver that are access in under 2 hours.
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If you’re flying into Denver and want a quick way up to the mountains, check out these towns that will give you that Colorado mountain vibe without having to be in the car for half of the day. Each is under 2 hours from the city!
We’ve been to all these fun towns and each has a lot to offer. So grab your rental and get ready to explore on of many Colorado mountain towns near Denver!
Table of Contents
Please note that many of these locations are accessed via I-70, where traffic and road conditions can be unpredictable, so travel times may vary.
1. Idaho Springs
Distance from Denver: 22 miles
Time from Denver: 27 minutes
Idaho Springs is one of the most overlooked mountain towns, and it’s really easy to access from Denver.
Typically used as just a pit stop (or even an ignored town) along the way to the main ski resorts, Idaho Springs sits right off of I-70, making it very accessible from Denver.
We actually stopped and stayed a few nights in Idaho Springs this past year and were surprised at how much fun we had. From hot springs (the closest there are to Denver), hiking to glaciers, driving up Mt Blue Sky, and rafting to hanging out in the fun downtown area, Idaho Springs has plenty to enjoy.
Looking for a winter getaway in Colorado? Echo Mountain is a short drive from Idaho Springs and offers both affordable skiing and a large tubing hill for the family.
👉🏼 Find more fun in Idaho Springs
2. Frisco
Distance from Denver: 71 miles
Time from Denver: 1 hour 15 minutes
Frisco is another fun mountain town close to Denver as it’s just over an hour to drive. Frisco is not a ski resort. However, there are a few ski resorts (like Breckenridge or Keystone) incredibly close if you do want to ski. More on those later.
Frisco holds its own fun without the slopes. Enjoy the nordic center in winter with tubing, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing on groomed trails.
Summertime brings days on the lake (with the nice beach area!), mountain biking, hiking, and history.
Frisco is often called “Main Street of the Rockies.” This is because it has all the conveniences and amenities you’ll need. Enjoy plenty of stores, restaurants, hotels, and activities all within this smaller town.
Frisco hosts plenty of events throughout the year as well, like triathlons, the famous Run the Rockies half marathon and 10k, art shows, fall fest, 5k’s, and more. You can find everything you need in Frisco, with quick access to anything else you want in nearby mountain towns.
3. Breckenridge
Distance from Denver: 80 miles
Time from Denver: 1 hour 30 minutes
Breckenridge is just down the road from Frisco. If you are looking for a ski town close to Denver, this is a popular one.
Breckenridge is a very popular family-getaway town. If you visit in winter, it’s a great place to take the kids skiing. You can also do all the typical outdoor winter activities. For something unique, head to the stables and take a sleigh ride and go dashing through the snow.
We especially love Breckenridge in summer. There is ample hiking for families or those wanting more advanced trails (like summiting nearby Quandry Peak). Take the free gondola up the mountain, visit the famous woodland troll, and set out on a scavenger hunt to get to know the town.
And don’t worry, if the weather is crumby, there are still plenty of indoor activities to keep the family happy.
👉🏼 Find the perfect hotel for your stay in Breckenridge
4. Keystone
Distance from Denver: 76 miles
Time from Denver: 1 hour 25 minutes
Keystone is a resort town, located not terribly far from Frisco on the other side of the lake.
If you are looking for a mountain town near Denver so you can do some skiing, you should know that Keystone was one of my favorite places to ski growing up. We went to many of the resorts and ended up at Keystone the most.
It was our top-visited partly because it was one of the closer ski resorts to Denver (convenient), but also because it was just so fun and had great runs for the whole family.
One unique thing about Keystone is that at the top of the mountain, it is home to the largest snow fort in the world. Entrance to the fort is free, but you’ll need a lift to the top. And while you’re up there, try out the tubing hill.
Summer in this mountain town offers mountain biking, hiking, and the typical activities. But you’ll also find paddle boats on the town pond, horseback riding, activities in River Run Village, and even summer snow tubing!
👉🏼 Find all the best snow tubing within 90 minutes of Denver!
5. Winter Park
Distance from Denver: 66 miles
Time from Denver: 1 hour 19 minutes
Winter Parker and Fraser often go together as they are neighboring mountain towns. Both offer hefty amounts of fun in both summer and winter.
Winter offers skiing at the resort, hitting the ground on the snow tubing hill (a popular one, I might add!), ice skating at one of many rinks, dog sledding, sleigh rides, and more.
Summer is just as fun, providing lift-operated mountain biking, hiking, the rodeo, and even the longest alpine slide in Colorado. Winter Park hosts many great summer events like concerts, yoga, 5k’s, or jazz festivals.
👉🏼 Get a cozy rental in Winter Park
6. Granby (and Grand Lake)
Distance from Denver: 85 miles
Time from Denver: 1 hour 50 minutes
Granby is located a little farther north that previously mentioned Winter Park. It’s neighbors with Grand Lake, another sought after destination.
Granby is absolutely beautiful in fall, with deep golds surrounding the roads and lakes.
There are a few top reasons people head to this mountain town near Denver. The first is to go to Rocky Mountain National Park’s west entrance. This is the much less crowded side of the park (we’ll get to the more popular side in the next town.)
The next reason is to visit Grand Lake, a lovely town with a large lake great for paddle boarding, getting on a boat or pontoon, or swim in the designated area.
And the final major reason people go to Granby is to stay at YMCA’s Snow Mountain Ranch. YMCA has a couple overnight, camp-style campuses in Colorado that are full of fun and activities. Many people especially love Snow Mountain Ranch in the wintertime thanks to its awesome tubing hill.
Beyond those top reasons, these towns offer typical hiking, biking, and skiing at Granby Ranch resort.
This Colorado town takes you farther to the north side of the highway, which has a whole different feel than the popular ski resorts along I-70. It’s nice if you still want a popular area, but thinned down from crowds slightly.
7. Estes Park
Distance from Denver: 66 miles
Time from Denver: 1 hour 25 minutes
Estes Park is a great mountain town near Denver that is quick to get to and delivers big. The town is the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park, the 3rd most visited national park in the US.
Winter or summer can be spent in the park with views galore of lakes, mountains, and waterfalls. And the entrance is right in town. No need to drive 30 minutes like other parks require!
Estes Park itself is also great if you want to visit a mountain town but are worried about high elevations. While Breckenridge and other resort towns sit just below 10,000 feet, Estes Park is slightly lower at 7,500 feet. It might still take some adjusting, but will be easier than its counterparts listed here.
Estes Park brings more than a national park. In summer, enjoy an aerial course, Fun City (big slides and fun), hikes, and walking around the charming town.
It’s likely you’ll see elk, especially come fall during rut season. In fact, the town celebrates each year with Elk Fest.
Many visitors also enjoy checking out the Stanley Hotel, said to be haunted. It was used as inspiration for one of Stephen King’s novels, The Shining.
If you want endless fun right at your fingertips, stay at the YMCA of the Rockies. This YMCA offers affordable lodging with a schedule of activities all day long. Or, just hit the gymnasium or pool for some free play time.
Estes Park is just another of Colorado wonderful mountain towns close to Denver
👉🏼 See What We Loved About YMCA of the Rockies
Mountain Towns near Denver: Wrap Up
As you can see, you don’t have to travel far to get to the mountains. I’ve landed in a plane many times returning home to hear conversations of surprise, wondering where the mountains are.
Make no mistake, Denver is not in the mountains. But in less than two hours, you can make is to some of the best Colorado mountain towns close to Denver. So whether you’re looking for skiing, summer hiking, unique experiences, or just classic Colorado mountain ambiance, you’ll be sure to find it in one of these inspiring towns.
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