Getting Here, Getting Around
Colorado Springs was founded by Gen. William Jackson Palmer, a railroad man who wanted to make his home at the foot of Pikes Peak. Palmer brought his Denver & Rio Grande Railroad to town in the 1870s and that’s how most early visitors arrived—by train. Well, except for those who came in covered wagons or on horseback.
Passenger trains no longer serve the city, and for most airlines it’s the end of the road (or, rather, tarmac). For the most part, flights initiate and terminate here but don’t stop over and then go on to other cities.
Six major airlines service the Colorado Springs Municipal Airport, and there are direct flights to nearly a dozen major cities, but many destinations require passengers to go through Denver. The airport is located on the far southeast corner of the city, has ample parking, and is easy to navigate. There is a separate airport, Peterson Air Force Base, also on the east edge of town, which serves the multitude of military flights in and out of the city. It’s where military officers and national dignitaries, such as the sitting President or Vice President of the United States, fly in and out. There also are several small private airports.
Driving the city is fairly manageable, but it will take a while to learn your way around. There are several reasons: because each neighborhood has its own “grid,” because of the hilly terrain, and because so many streets end after a while and give way to a whole new set of streets. Many streets have similar names (Columbine Street, Boulevard, Avenue, Drive, Place, and Road). The only streets that seem to have a reliable square-grid pattern are downtown, which was laid out by the city’s founder. With great foresight, he made the downtown streets broad, mostly to accommodate the street cars of the era, but now they also handle fairly heavy traffic well.
Overview
There are only a few one-way streets. But “avenues” can be north-south or east-west (e.g., Nevada Avenue is north-south and Platte Avenue is east-west). Many streets curve (Circle Drive, Academy Boulevard) and some stop in one place and pick up in another.
Our advice? Get a good city map, a seasoned local guide, directions from someone who has lived here a while, or invest in a GPS unit!
The city’s medians (dividing major streets) used to be showpieces of flower beds and plantings, but that’s no longer so. The economic downturn of recent years has either left them neglected or they have been adopted by neighbors or volunteers. A few are still maintained by the parks department as funds allow.
The drive to Denver on I-25 is always busy, and you’ll hit volume slowdowns in certain areas almost any time of the day. Midday is the best time to make that drive. Or you can ride the Front Range Express (FREX) bus, while funding lasts. It’s no faster, but you can read a book instead of pounding the steering wheel.
If you don’t drive, be aware that the city bus system is minimal, with limited routes and hours. Also, local folks rarely take taxis for regular transportation, and this isn’t New York, so call well ahead if you need one.
1. Cutter Aviation
City: Colorado Springs, CO
Category: Getting Here, Getting Around
Telephone: (719) 591-2065
Address: 1360 Aviation Way
Description: This private airport also is located in the Colorado Springs Municipal Airport complex and has been operating since 2006. It handles private planes and jets, has 58 hangars (9 of them accommodate the larger jets) and has approximately 60 aircraft based there. They also have an on-site flight school.
2. Advantage
City: Colorado Springs, CO
Category: Getting Here, Getting Around
Telephone: (719) 574-8756 or (800) 777-55
3. Alamo/National
City: Colorado Springs, CO
Category: Getting Here, Getting Around
Telephone: (719) 574-8579 or (800) 327-96
4. Avis
City: Colorado Springs, CO
Category: Getting Here, Getting Around
Telephone: (719) 596-2751 or (800) 331-12
5. Budget
City: Colorado Springs, CO
Category: Getting Here, Getting Around
Telephone: (719) 597-1271 or (800) 527-07
6. Enterprise
City: Colorado Springs, CO
Category: Getting Here, Getting Around
Telephone: (719) 591-6644 or (800) 736-82
7. Hertz
City: Colorado Springs, CO
Category: Getting Here, Getting Around
Telephone: (719) 596-1863 or (800) 654-31
Description: Yellow Cab dominates the taxi scene, but there are several town car services and more than a dozen limousine services that have a wide range of prices and availability. They seem to come and go, but current ones are listed in the Colorado Springs Yellow Pages. Most also are listed online at www.limos.com/airports/united-states/COS.
8. Yellow Cab
City: Colorado Springs, CO
Category: Getting Here, Getting Around
Telephone: (719) 634-5000 or (719) 777-77
Address: 4625 Town Center Dr.
Description: The Yellow Cab Company serves the Colorado Springs airport and city at large. There’s always a line of them waiting at the airport. A typical taxi fare from the airport to a downtown hotel is about $26 plus tip.
9. Front Range Express
City: Colorado Springs, CO
Category: Getting Here, Getting Around
Address: 1015 Transit Dr.
Description: There’s also the city-run Front Range Express (FREX) bus that runs from Colorado Springs to Denver several times a day. The one-way cash fare is $11. The cash fare for senior citizens (60 and older), children (ages 6 to 11), students (12 to 18), and Medicare/disabled passengers during non-peak hours (9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.) is 50 percent off the posted one-way cash fare. Proper ID or proof of eligibility required. Children 5 and younger ride free with an adult. Drivers can only take exact change or a prepaid bus pass. Note: It’s worth the money just to avoid driving on heavily congested I-25 between the two cities.
10. Greyhound Bus Lines
City: Colorado Springs, CO
Category: Getting Here, Getting Around
Telephone: (719) 635-1505 or (800) 231-22
Address: 120 S. Weber St.
Description: The local bus station does some passenger business, with nearly a dozen buses a day heading north and south along I-25. Much of their business is package transportation. Few visitors arrive or depart this way and you should be aware that the bus stop area is a little intimidating, especially at night. It is somewhat deserted, on the edge of a warehouse district, and not as well lighted as it could be.
11. Mountain Metro Bus
City: Colorado Springs, CO
Category: Getting Here, Getting Around
Address: 1015 Transit Dr.
Description: The only real public transportation in town is the Mountain Metro Bus System, operated by the city of Colorado Springs. Routes have been curtailed due to the economy, but many local residents depend on it to get around. They’re not likely to be convenient for vacationers, however. Buses run from about 5:30 a.m. to about 7 p.m. weekdays, except major holidays. The main terminal is downtown at the intersection of Nevada Avenue and Kiowa Street. The basic adult fare is $1.75, but kids and seniors ride for 85 cents. The city bus system routes do not include the airport.
12. Ramblin Express
City: Colorado Springs, CO
Category: Getting Here, Getting Around
Telephone: (719) 590-8687
Address: 3465 Astrozon Place
Description: The Ramblin Express takes residents and visitors from several locations in Colorado Springs to Cripple Creek. It also runs daily from the Colorado Springs Airport to The Broadmoor hotel complex. Round-trip fares from Colorado Springs to Cripple Creek are $25 ($20 if you purchase in advance online) and a one-way trip to The Broadmoor is $23. But check their website for group rates, plus numerous deals and packages.