Are you traveling to Colorado and unsure of what to pack? I have been in your shoes. In this post, I share packing tips for traveling in Colorado based on my own experience visiting Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, and Breckenridge.
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What Should I Pack For Colorado?
I’m sure that is the question you are asking yourself. Before I traveled to Colorado, I wasn’t sure what to pack either.
Naturally, I did what anyone else would do: I Googled. I also talked to my friends who live there. Their advice: keep it casual and dress in layers because the weather in Colorado is a bit weird.
What do I mean by weird weather? Well, it’s likely the temperature or conditions will change throughout the day.
In February, you could have a gorgeous day ideal for golfing. Seriously, one of my friends told me he kept his golf clubs in his car year-round because a perfect day could happen any time of year in Denver.
On the flip side, Colorado can have snow flurries in June — and even sometimes in July!
In Denver, the air is actually quite arid. Due to the Mile High City’s elevation, Denver only sees 8-15 inches of precipitation yearly. If you do run into precipitation during your Denver trip, it’s likely not going to last long.
Yet Breckenridge, known for its ski resorts, gets more than 300 inches of snow each year!
If you are even more confused about what to pack now, don’t worry. I got you.
After visiting for nine days in September 2014, talking with friends who live there year-round, and researching what other travel professionals recommend, I’ve compiled five tips for what to pack and wear when visiting Colorado any time of the year.
First of All, Don’t Forget Your Sunglasses!
Colorado gets 300-some days of sunshine yearly, which is more annual hours of sunlight than Miami or Southern California.
Whether you’re hiking through Garden of the Gods, skiing down a mountain, or sipping a craft beer on a Denver brewery’s patio, you’ll want your shades handy.
Also, no matter what time of year you visit Colorado, you might need sunscreen.
Remember that snow reflects sunlight, and sunlight is stronger at higher elevations. An SPF of 25 to 30 is recommended in Breckenridge and other high-elevation ski resort towns.
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RELATED: How to Pick the Best Sunglasses for Travel
When in Colorado, Dress in Layers
On the day I explored Fort Collins, temperatures reached the upper 70s (Fahrenheit). Even the morning was pretty warm, and some locals on my late-morning tour of New Belgium’s brewery were already wearing shorts.
Later in the day, the temperatures dipped, and I was happy to have dressed in layers I could remove and add as desired.
Evenings in the summer and early fall can be cool yet still pretty comfortable.
As I’ve traveled, I’ve found dressing in layers is the best way to prepare for whatever weather I encounter throughout the day. That certainly holds true when visiting Colorado. As one of my Denver Uber drivers joked, “If you don’t like the weather, wait 10 minutes.”
As you pack, consider packing items you can layer. I liked shirts with sleeves I could roll up or down, button-down shirts I could easily layer over a T-shirt, and pashmina scarves.
By the way, athleisure wear works pretty much anywhere you want to go in Colorado! That means you can go from a hike to a brewery tour or from the slopes to a coffee shop without changing your outfit.
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Wear Warm Outerwear in the Mountains
Even though it reached 82° Fahrenheit (27° C) while I was in Denver, it was a brisk 33° F (.55° C) at the top of Pikes Peak, which is 14,110 feet high.
If you plan to visit Pikes Peak or other summits during your trip, you should check the usual temperature for the time of year you will visit. It could be vastly different from Denver and Colorado Springs. Yes, even in the summer months.
Also, it will be cooler in the mountain towns than in the Front Range cities. The day I was in Breckenridge, the daytime temperatures were about 10 degrees (Fahrenheit) lower than in Denver and Colorado Springs.
When I visited Breckenridge, it was sunny during the afternoon. I was comfortable walking around in short sleeves for most of the afternoon, but I pulled on a lightweight jacket in the shadier nooks.
Remember what I said about layers, folks. By nightfall, the air had cooled down significantly, and I returned to my lodging in Breckenridge for my fleece jacket before dinner.
I suggest wearing a lightweight fleece jacket from Columbia or The North Face for a short time in the mountains. Fleece jackets are warm, great for layering, and won’t take up much space in your luggage.
I also recommend packing a pashmina and a pair of lightweight, smart-touch gloves.
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Wear Footwear for Active Days
I’ve packed at least one pair of heels or dressier shoes for most of my trips—except for my trip to Colorado.
In fact, the fanciest pair of shoes I packed were black flats. I only wore them to a couple dinners and nights on the town with friends in Boulder and Denver.
While packing for my Colorado trip, I already knew I’d be biking in Boulder and climbing atop rocks at Garden of the Gods. I also knew I’d be visiting Pikes Peak’s summit, which would be cold and possibly snowy. Even on my less active days in Denver, I planned to walk a lot between museums, restaurants, and breweries.
Therefore, I packed the following three shoes for active travel:
Tennis Shoes/Sneakers: I prefer lightweight tennis shoes — like the Allbirds Women’s SuperLight Tree Runners — for traveling because they take up less space in my suitcase.
These shoes are great for adventure and athletic activities such as biking, trail walks, light hiking, and exploring rocky areas.
If you plan to do serious hiking, you may want a sturdy pair of hiking shoes or hiking boots.
Booties: I like ankle boots that offer both style and functionality. On a mountain, boots provide stability and warmth, yet they can still be cute, edgy, or suit your personal style!
Boat Shoes: Boat shoes are the most comfortable shoes I’ve found for long days full of walking.
They provide more support than sandals, flip-flops, and other warm-weather footwear, and they don’t usually have uncomfortable arches.
I recommend Sperry boat shoes if you are looking for a pair of comfortable ones.
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Accessorize Casual Basics
My friends were right about the casual ease of Colorado style. Jeans paired with solid-color v-neck T-shirts worked everywhere I went in Colorado, including museums, breweries, hotels, restaurants, outdoor festivals, and rooftop happy hours.
When traveling, I pack a lot of basics and then accessorize with scarves and jewelry to add a little personal style and flair. This also makes it easy to mix and match outfits throughout the trip.
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Bonus: What to Wear in Colorado in Winter
Of course, my advice in this post is primarily based on my experience visiting Colorado in September.
At this time of year, Denver’s average temperatures range between 44° F/6.7° C (low) and 78° F/25.6° C (high). Even in the mountain town of Breckenridge, September temperatures only average between 33° F/.55° C and 63°F/17° C.
Of course, if you are visiting Colorado for a winter ski vacation, you’ll have other weather conditions and activities to consider as you pack.
Suggested Packing List for Winter Ski Trip in Colorado
What do you recommend travelers pack for Colorado?
As you pack for Colorado, consider comfort and functionality. Wear layers to prepare for weather changes, but this doesn’t mean you can’t be stylish!
Though casual clothing and athleisure wear are perfectly acceptable in most Colorado establishments, a quality pashmina and trendy costume jewelry can take your look from a daytime hike to happy hour drinks.
If you have been to Colorado, please share your own Colorado packing tips in a comment below.
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