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Get everyone in the holiday mood with this fun and festive list of Christmas light drives in Colorado Springs. We know one of the best ways to kick of Christmas is to enjoy all the sparkling twinkle lights and holiday displays put on by area attractions, local businesses and your friends and neighbors. We’ve made a list of our favorites so you can find yours!
Dates: November-December
Website: https://royalgorgebridge.com/magical-holiday-season-at-the-royal-gorge-bridge/
Cost: $35-$45
The Bridge of Lights at the Royal Gorge offers two benefits in one. The first, of course, is the awesome light show on one of the world’s highest suspension bridges. The second, is that you get to drive across the bridge! The Royal Gorge Bridge has been pedestrian-only for quite a few years and opportunities to drive across are really rare. The holiday drive is really the only chance. You definitely should take the opportunity whenever you can and especially when the bridge has been fancied up for the holidays. The lights even glow up the canyon, which is pretty awesome to see at night.
Get your tickets in advance and be sure to add snacks and drinks to your purchase. You can easily pick up your treats from Frosty’s Snack Shack before your adventure. You get to stay in your car during the drive, so you’ll only need warm clothes for leaving the house. The bridge even has a radio station you can tune into for holiday music. Of course, you can always make your own playlist, too.
Dates: November-January
Website: https://magicoflights.com/locations/colorado-springs-co/
Cost: $32-$40
The Pikes Peak International Raceway is lit up like never before when the annual holiday light show is set up each year. This popular holiday drive is still relatively new to the Pikes Peak region but it has quickly become a family favorite. Located between Colorado Springs and Pueblo, the Magic of Lights is a short drive from the city on a relatively relaxed stretch of I-25.
Visitors get to drive through immense light sculptures spread across the property. Past years have seen popular sculptures like dinosaurs, Barbie, monster trucks and more. In addition to catching all the visual excitement, it’s also pretty cool to cruise around the raceway up close. If you’re really ambitious, you could probably do both the Magic of Lights and Bridge of Lights in one evening. We believe in you!
Dates: November-January
Website: https://www.visitcripplecreek.com/event/holiday-headframe-lighting/
Cost: Free
Map: https://www.visitcripplecreek.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/2021lightingmapfinalweb.pdf
The Gold Camp Christmas Holiday Headframe Lighting is a really popular tradition that blends Colorado history with the modern dazzle of holiday lights. Located around Cripple Creek and Victor, it’s a unique way to enjoy the season that can only be found in a state like Colorado. Mining headframes are plentiful in both of these old mining regions due to the gold rush that commenced more than 100 years ago. Each year, the community decks them out in style with festive lights you can see from your car as you drive.
You can easily plan your route using the handy map provided by the towns. Your self-guided tour should definitely include stopping in Cripple Creek and Victor to check out the towns. Cripple Creek is also home to the Ice Castles, which are their own fun experience. The town also has a theater that runs an annual Christmas performance and several gaming establishments with restaurants.
The area attractions aren’t the only players in the holiday lighting game. Local residents are also known to deck the halls in magnificent fashion each year. Fortunately, you won’t have to drive aimlessly to find out who’s got the best display. One of Colorado Springs’ local landscaping companies has compiled a long list, complete with a map featuring cocoa and coffee stops. This list has been so good that we’ve featured it on our holiday drives list every year.
Use the map to establish your route and plan your evening. There are more than a few houses that include music you can tune to your car’s radio station to enhance the show. The map page even has a link to a holiday Spotify playlist with your favorite Christmas songs, from new favorites to timeless classics. We recommend you actually pay a visit to some of the coffee shops on the list. Many are locally owned and have special holiday drinks.
Dates: December-January
Website and Map: https://www.timberlinelandscaping.com/colorado-springs-christmas-lights-guide/
Cost: Free
If you want a more immersive holiday experience than these Christmas light drives can provide, we’ve got you covered. Here are a few locations that provide holiday walks in Colorado. Were big fans of our own local light walk here at the zoo, but a holiday drive up to Denver is also worth your time if you can make it.
Dates: December-January
Website: https://www.cmzoo.org/events-programs/special-events/electric-safari/
Cost: $19.75-$24.74 per adult; $15.75-$20.75 per child
The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is North America’s only mountainside zoo, which is pretty special all on its own. However, at Christmas, it takes special up a few notches with a holiday light extravaganza. The zoo is decked out in millions of lights and adorned with special light sculptures, too. The zoo places warming stations throughout the attraction so you can stop and heat up as you explore.
Of course, no zoo walk would be complete without animals and there are quite a few species that get to hang out after hours and visit. Bring cash to feed the giraffes, who definitely love this time of year. The carousel and the Sky Ride are also both open during the evening. The latter needs tickets and it’s a good idea to purchase them in advance. Bundle up and bring hand warmers and cocoa to ensure the experience is as comfy as possible.
The Denver Botanic Gardens has one of the top light shows in the United States. Even better, it’s only an hour away from Colorado Springs. Put on your coziest layers, fill up the thermos and make the drive to Denver for this spectacular holiday walk that is teeming with twinkle lights at every turn. The event is organized with a pre-set path that takes you through the gardens and light sculptures, with a few options to pause at the cafe in the middle for coffee and cocoa. The line can get pretty long at the cafe, so it might be a good idea to bring your own.
This really is a special experience due to the sheer number of lights and the various displays. Check out the center of the gardens for a musical light show that is unforgettable. Advance tickets are required and many nights do sell out. The benefit to the timed entry is that the walk is very crowded. That’s helpful for snapping photos — and you will definitely want to capture more than a few moments on your walk.
Dates: November-January
Website: https://www.botanicgardens.org/events/special-events/blossoms-light
Cost: $22-$31
We hope you enjoy this list of Christmas light drives in Colorado! Please stay safe on the road out there in the wintry conditions. Be sure to come pay us a visit for a service or inspection if you’re worried about traveling to all of these destinations. We offer brake repairs, headlight restoration, oil changes and many more services to keep you safe and comfortable from one destination to the next.
