Best Time to Visit Denver

The best time to visit Denver depends on what you want from the trip: skiing, hiking, festivals, or low hotel prices. Broadly, May, June, September, and October offer the warmest dry weather, while January and February are the cheapest months with the fewest crowds and the best skiing nearby. Summer brings the biggest events, listed in full in our events and festivals guide.

Best Time to Visit Denver for Weather

June and September are the two best weather windows. Both average highs near 25°C to 28°C (77°F to 82°F), low rain, and 10 or more hours of daylight, without the July heat or the March snow. September adds golden aspen color in the nearby foothills. Mid-May through mid-October is the reliable window for hiking, Red Rocks concerts, and patio dining without needing winter gear. For exact numbers, see the weather by month breakdown.

Best Time to Visit Denver for Skiers

For skiing, plan for late December through March, with January and February holding the deepest snow at the resorts along I-70 in Summit County and Winter Park. Ski areas typically open in November and stay open into April, but snow coverage is most reliable from January to mid-March. Fly in the day before and catch the CDOT Snowstang or a shuttle from Union Station rather than renting a car, since I-70 parking fills by 7 am on weekends.

Best Time to Visit Denver for the Lowest Prices

January and February have the lowest hotel rates and airfare, since the convention center is quiet and the ski crowd mostly sleeps in the mountains. You can find downtown rooms 30 to 40 percent cheaper than July. Note that January still hosts the National Western Stock Show, a two-week event from early to mid-January that books up rooms near the National Western Complex, so avoid those specific dates if cost is the goal. Compare seasonal rates in our where to stay guide.

Best Time to Visit Denver for Festivals

The busiest event season runs June through early October. PrideFest fills Civic Center Park in late June, the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival runs at Sloan’s Lake in July, and the Great American Beer Festival sells out the Colorado Convention Center over a weekend in late September or early October. Book hotels 2 to 3 months ahead for those dates, and browse the full list in our events and festivals guide.

Best Time to Visit Denver to Avoid Crowds

January, February, and November are the quietest months tourism-wise. Attractions like the Denver Art Museum and the Molly Brown House run shorter queues, and you can get peak-window reservations at restaurants more easily. If you want summer weather without the July crowds, pick the last two weeks of August or the first two weeks of September, when local schools are back in session but the weather is still warm and dry. The neighborhoods guide will help you pick a quieter base.

Best Time to Visit Denver: Month by Month Snapshot

• January: cold and sunny, 6°C (43°F) high, lowest hotel prices, good skiing nearby, Stock Show crowds early in the month.
• February: similar to January, 8°C (47°F) high, deep ski snow, low crowds.
• March: snowiest month (27 cm), 12°C (54°F) high, shoulder-season prices.
• April: warming to 16°C (61°F), 27 cm rain/snow combined, unpredictable.
• May: wettest month (55 mm), 21°C (71°F), everything green, thinning crowds before summer.
• June: 28°C (82°F), dry, PrideFest, ideal hiking.
• July: hottest at 31°C (88°F), Dragon Boat Festival, peak prices.
• August: 30°C (86°F), warm and dry, Rockies baseball in full swing.
• September: 25°C (77°F), golden aspens, Great American Beer Festival, first snow possible late.
• October: 18°C (65°F), leaf color peaks, Halloween and spooky-season events.
• November: 11°C (52°F), quiet, 18 cm snow begins, parade season starts.
• December: 6°C (43°F), holiday lights, ski season opens, festive but busy downtown.

Whatever month you land on, the things to do guide lists attractions open year-round, and the travel tips guide covers getting in from the airport and handling the altitude.