Axel's take on Old Colorado City: #2 of 7 in Colorado Springs, 6.6/10
Choose Old Colorado City for main-street character without downtown's late-night emphasis. Old Colorado City combines strong sightseeing access, historic character and reasonable value, but has fewer reviewed hotels and less doorstep choice than Downtown.
Old Colorado City feels like a small historic town threaded into the west side. West Colorado Avenue around 23rd through 27th streets is the draw: galleries, independent shops, restaurants and Bancroft Park make an easy afternoon or evening stroll. It is a strong compromise between downtown's urban scene and Manitou's mountain-town atmosphere.
Do not mistake historic charm for a traffic-free village. Colorado Avenue carries through traffic, and a year-long street-safety trial began in June 2026. Stay near the shopping blocks rather than assuming every westside address offers the same doorstep experience. Skip it if you want extensive clubbing or completely quiet surroundings.
- Best for: food lovers, travelers on a budget, museums and culture, shopping
- Skip it if: You want extensive late-night clubbing; You expect a traffic-free historic village
- Getting around: Walk the Colorado Avenue shopping blocks; fare-free Route 3 connects Downtown and Manitou; from COS use a taxi/car, and from DEN drive or take a shuttle plus a local transfer.
- After dark: Expect neighborhood bars and dinner rather than a club district; traffic noise remains a more credible nuisance than the quaint streets suggest.
- Rates: Typical Axel rate $111 a night
Where to stay in Colorado Springs: every neighborhood ranked
Where to look in Old Colorado City
- Bancroft Park. The leafy historic center suits travelers who want the neighborhood's main-street atmosphere close at hand.
- West Colorado Avenue at 29th. Stay just beyond the historic shopping blocks for local dining on foot, accepting that Colorado Avenue remains a working thoroughfare. Hotels here: Garden of the Gods Motel.
- El Paso Boulevard. Favor this western approach for riding and outdoor outings rather than being beside Bancroft Park's storefronts. Hotels here: Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort.
How to choose
- Choose Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort if you want loaner bikes, live music and a sociable base for outdoor days.
- Choose Garden of the Gods Motel if straightforward rooms and walkable local dining matter more than organized activities.
What paying more buys
Neither Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort nor Garden of the Gods Motel has a clear rate advantage here. Buffalo Lodge emphasizes bikes, live music and a bar; Garden of the Gods Motel favors straightforward accommodation and local dining on foot. Don't pay extra for Buffalo Lodge's activities if you won't use them. Typical rates with Axel here run from $111 a night at Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort to $111 at Garden of the Gods Motel (last 30 days).
The best hotels in Old Colorado City, 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.
- Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort 8.7/10, bicycle-themed 2-star motor lodge near Garden of the Gods. A friendly, activity-filled motor lodge that delivers more character than polish. Why it's here: bikes, live music and welcoming communal spaces for an active, sociable stay. Accept: older bathrooms, uneven finishes and neighboring construction. $106 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- Garden of the Gods Motel 8.3/10, no-frills 2-star motel in Old Colorado City. A strong budget base for sightseeing, with friendly owners and straightforward rooms. Why it's here: straightforward sightseeing value with friendly owners and walkable Old Colorado City dining. Accept: limited reception hours and temporarily unavailable daily housekeeping. $95 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
