Axel's take on Manitou Springs: #3 of 7 in Colorado Springs, 6.1/10
Stay in Manitou for mountain-town evenings and easy access to outdoor adventures. Manitou Springs pairs distinctive mountain-town character with useful attraction connections, but doorstep convenience varies sharply by address and value trails Old Colorado City.
Manitou is the choice when the trip should feel like a mountain getaway rather than a city break. Manitou Avenue has colorful independent shops, mineral springs, cafés and bars, with Fountain Creek and small parks breaking up the storefronts. The Cog Railway and Incline are reached by the local shuttle, not by assuming everything is a flat walk away.
Location matters: prioritize the historic shopping streets if walking to dinner is the point. Hills, busy visitor periods and parking logistics are the trade-offs, and locals describe tourist-season traffic as a nuisance. Skip it for downtown business or a broad late-night scene.
- Best for: couples, travelers without a car, first-time visitors, families
- Skip it if: Hills and parking logistics would frustrate you; Your plans revolve around downtown offices
- Getting around: Walk historic Manitou Avenue; free Routes 3 and 33 link Downtown, Old Colorado City, the Cog and Incline; from COS take a taxi/car, and from DEN drive or use a shuttle plus a local transfer.
- After dark: Wine bars, breweries and occasional live music support a relaxed evening, rather than downtown-style club hopping.
- Rates: Typical Axel rate $138 a night
Where to stay in Colorado Springs: every neighborhood ranked
Where to look in Manitou Springs
- Canon Avenue by Soda Springs Park. Choose this central pocket for shops, creekside wandering and dinner on foot; it suits a mountain-town weekend. Hotels here: Cliff House at Pikes Peak.
- Manitou Avenue by Memorial Park. The eastern edge of the commercial core combines park space with access to the shopping streets. Hotels here: INNhale Resort and Spa.
- Manitou Avenue by Schryver Park. A practical eastern approach with a shady picnic park; better for driving outings than doorstep access to the historic center. Hotels here: Days Inn by Wyndham Manitou Springs, Quality Inn & Suites Manitou Springs at Pikes Peak.
How to choose
- Choose INNhale Resort and Spa if you want a cannabis-friendly, adults-only getaway with included brunch and sociable hospitality.
- Choose Days Inn by Wyndham Manitou Springs if you want a cheaper sightseeing base with an indoor pool and can ride into the historic center.
- Choose Cliff House at Pikes Peak if Victorian character and downtown walks outweigh renovation disruption and extra breakfast charges.
What paying more buys
Compared with cheaper Days Inn, Cliff House buys a central walking location and Victorian character, though renovations compromise the experience. Pricier INNhale adds an adults-only, cannabis-friendly atmosphere and included brunch. Neither premium makes much sense for families or travelers who mainly need a bed before hiking. Typical rates with Axel here run from $91 a night at Quality Inn & Suites Manitou Springs at Pikes Peak to $274 at INNhale Resort and Spa (last 30 days).
The best hotels in Manitou Springs, ranked by Axel's take
Each hotel scored for what it is by Axel's own review; the rate is one stay Axel priced this week, beside the public rate for the same dates.
- INNhale Resort and Spa 9.1/10, upscale, cannabis-friendly B&B for adults 21 and over. Excellent brunch and warm hospitality make this adults-only B&B a strong, unconventional pick. Why it's here: a sociable, cannabis-friendly adult getaway distinguished by included brunch and warm hospitality. Accept: strictly 21-plus, with variable room layouts and phone-assisted check-in. $252 a night with Axel; Expedia listed $241 a night for these dates when seen. Sign up free to book this rate
- Days Inn by Wyndham Manitou Springs 8.4/10, simple budget chain hotel on the eastern side of Manitou Springs. A strong budget base for sightseeing, with useful extras and some noise trade-offs. Why it's here: budget sightseeing value with an indoor pool, hot tub and free parking. Accept: outside the historic core, with sound carrying between some rooms. $94 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- Cliff House at Pikes Peak 8.3/10, historic, upscale Victorian boutique hotel in downtown Manitou Springs. Victorian character and standout staff, but ongoing renovations compromise the polish. Why it's here: Victorian character and central Manitou walks, backed by especially helpful staff. Accept: major renovations through June 2027 and variable room condition. $156 a night with Axel against $189 a night on Booking.com for the same dates and party: $33 a night less (18%). Sign up free to book this rate
- Quality Inn & Suites Manitou Springs at Pikes Peak 6.8/10, no-frills, exterior-corridor budget motel near Garden of the Gods. Good sightseeing access and roomy accommodation, but upkeep and service are inconsistent. Why it's here: cheaper, often spacious accommodation for sightseeing road trips. Accept: uneven upkeep and service, with no pool or elevator. $76 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate