Are you on the hunt for a place where you’ll spend every minute possible in the great outdoors? Then you should visit Glenwood Springs in Colorado.
Nestled in the valleys of the Rocky Mountains, Glenwood Springs is famous for its thermal hot spring pools and vast forest landscapes.
As the place where the Colorado River and the Roaring Fork River meet, you can enjoy everything from rafting, biking, and fishing in summer to amazing skiing in winter.
With so many outdoor attractions to explore, choosing the right Glenwood Springs accommodation is paramount to ensure you are located near to all the things you want to do. That way, you can be sure that you have a comfortable base to come back to after an adventurous day under the Colorado sun.
This is why we have put together this Glenwood Springs neighborhood guide, so you can be sure you have chosen the right accommodation in the right place.
So without further ado, let’s get started!
Where to Stay in Glenwood Springs
In a hurry? Here are our best picks for the best places to stay in Glenwood Springs.
Downtown Condo with views | Best Airbnb in Glenwood Springs
This cute Downtown condo is a great choice for when you’re deciding where to stay in Glenwood Springs with kids as it sleeps up to four guests and is close to the hot spring pools as well as the best restaurants and bars in the neighborhood. It’s reasonably priced and has a fully equipped kitchen, garage parking, and an outdoor seating area with amazing views.
Central Location, Amazing Views | Best Luxury Airbnb in Glenwood Springs
Located in the most central location in Glenwood Springs, this home is the ideal place to stay to be close to all the attractions. It has four bedrooms and three bathrooms and enough space for up to 12 guests. It’s on a one-acre property with views of the mountains and has a warm decor and all the modern amenities you’ll need for your stay including a fully-equipped kitchen and dining area. It even has a gas fireplace and a private hot tub!
Glenwood Springs Inn | Best Hotel in Glenwood Springs
Located within walking distance of Glenwood Hot Springs, this hotel in Glenwood Springs is perfect for those wanting to visit the hot springs and relax. It has its own restaurant and daily continental breakfast. It has large, comfortable rooms with seating areas, private bathrooms, and mountain views. There is a 24-hour reception in case you need some help during your stay.
Glenwood Springs Neighborhood Guide – Places to Stay in Glenwood Springs
North of the Colorado River
This historic neighborhood is slightly north of the Downtown area, across the river. It’s an historic area with lots of hotels, shops, and restaurants – perfect when you’re trying to decide where to stay in Glenwood Springs for your first time.
Highway 6
The area slightly north of Highway 6 is a more local area with some good hotels. This makes it the best choice when you’re deciding where to stay in Glenwood Springs on a budget.
Downtown
Glenwood Spring’s Downtown is filled with homes built between the 1800s and 1950s as well as some amazing shops and adorable little eateries. This makes it a great area for just wandering around, ducking into eclectic stores, and sitting out in outdoor dining areas with a meal when you get tired.
Glenwood Springs isn’t a large city. Home to around 10,000 people, it’s fairly small by US standards, yet it offers a lot of different accommodation options. That might make it harder for you to work out where to stay, which is why we’ve done all the research and narrowed your choices down to three neighborhoods.
North of the Colorado River is one of Glenwood Spring’s best neighborhoods for all kinds of travelers. This area is where you will find the hot pools, as well as easy access to nearby nature parks.
The second area on this list is Highway 6. This is a more local area that offers good prices on accommodation as well as easy access to South Canyon Hot Springs and nature parks.
If you prefer a more urban base, then grab a hotel in the Downtown area. Filled with amazing shopping and restaurants, everything’s a little more expensive in this part of the city, but it’s also one of the best places in Glenwood Springs to stay for city-based entertainment options. It is also easy to visit the hot springs and national parks from Downtown.
Glenwood Springs’s 3 Best Neighborhoods to Stay in
If you’re looking for a hotel or hostel in Glenwood Springs, don’t overthink your decision! Here you will find our top places to stay in Glenwood Spring’s three main districts.
Let’s take a look!
1. North of the Colorado River – Where to Stay for First Timers
This historic neighborhood is slightly north of the Downtown area, across the river. It’s a historic area with lots of hotels, shops, and restaurants – perfect when you’re trying to decide where to stay in Glenwood Springs for your first time.
This part of the city also offers good transport links to other areas, so you can explore the city or venture outside to the nature parks without too much trouble. It has its own collection of attractions close by, so you’ll never have a shortage of interesting things to do during your stay.
Personally, we think this is the coolest place to stay in Colorado as it is close to everything we love, hot thermal pools, historic centers and nature parks!
North Glenwood Springs Flat | Best Airbnb North of the Colorado River
This two-bedroom flat is close to everything you would want to see in Glenwood Springs. It’s budget-friendly and sleeps up to five guests with two bedrooms and one bathroom. It is a comfortable space that has a fully-equipped kitchen and spacious living areas. It is just a short walk from the hot springs and Downtown Glenwood Springs.
Best View in Glenwood Springs | Best Luxury Airbnb North of the Colorado River
Located in the best neighborhood in Glenwood Springs to stay for budget-conscious travelers, this home offers luxury at an affordable price. It has views overlooking the mountains and the river, that are simply amazing. It sleeps eight guests with two-and-a-half bathrooms and three bedrooms. It’s also just a few blocks from the city’s most famous hot springs. This three-level home has two great deck areas, one with a fire pit and the other with a hot tub. Really, what more could you ask for?
Hotel Colorado | Best Hotel North of the Colorado River
This iconic hotel is one of the most famous hotels in the area, so you absolutely ought to take the chance to stay in it during your vacation. It has a lounge, bar, restaurant, and a full-service spa. It is kitted out with authentic, historic decor with modern amenities. The hotel is close to the local amusement park and is surrounded by shops and restaurants.
Things to See and Do North of the Colorado River
- Soak your bones in the Glenwood Hot Springs Pool
- Take in the views from Lookout Mountain
- Fill your belly at the Pullman or Tequila’s Mexican
- Test the strength of your legs and your heart on the Storm King Fire Memorial Trail
- Have a picnic by the water with the family at Two Rivers Park
- Take a guided tour through the Fairy Caves
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View on Osprey View on REI2. Highway 6 – Where to Stay in Glenwood Springs on a Budget
The area slightly north of Highway 6 is a more local area with some good accommodation options. This makes it a top entry on lists of where to stay in Glenwood Springs on a budget. There are also several good restaurants in the area, so you won’t have to go far from your base for a meal.
When you stay on Highway 6, you’ll enjoy good transport links to other parts of the city, as well as a range of attractions nearby, from Whitewater rafting tours to hiking and golfing.
Cabin 03 | Best Airbnb on Highway 6
This small cabin is reasonably priced and perfect for a couple who wants to be in Glenwood Springs’ best neighborhood for a budget stay. It has a kitchenette, separate living space, A/C, and a private entrance. It is located a short drive from the Downtown area and the hot spring pools. There are also communal spaces around the cabin, so you can get to know other travelers if you feel like being social.
Comfortable Mountain Home Near Downtown | Best Luxury Airbnb on Highway 6
With three bedrooms and two bathrooms, suitable for up to six guests, this is one of the best places in Glenwood Springs to stay if you want lots of space. Some of the bedrooms offer beautiful mountain views, and the property is located in a quiet neighborhood close to all the best activities that Glenwood Springs has to offer. It is just a short trip from the city’s Downtown area and hot springs.
Rodeway Inn Glenwood Springs | Best Hotel on Highway 6
Just minutes from the Downtown area, but much more budget-friendly than hotels in that neighborhood, this hotel is a good answer when you’re wondering where to stay in Glenwood Springs on a budget. It serves a free continental breakfast every day and has simple rooms with private bathrooms, as well as large rooms with fireplaces and hot tubs. The hotel also has a great outdoor hot tub that offers amazing mountain views.
Things to See and Do on Highway 6
- Enjoy the beautiful surroundings with a round at the Glenwood Springs Golf Club
- Have a meal at Chili’s Bar and Grill or Culver’s
- If you don’t like crowds, then take the short hike to the underdeveloped South Canyon Hot Springs
- Explore the South Canyon Number 1 Coal Mine
- Draw your bow at the South Canyon Archery Range
- Test your fitness levels on the strenuous hiking trail at Storm King Mountain
3. Downtown – Best Neighborhood in Glenwood Springs for Families
Glenwood Spring’s Downtown is filled with authentic homes built between the 1800s and 1950s, as well as some amazing shops and adorable little eateries. This makes it a great area for just wandering around, ducking into eclectic stores, and sitting out in outdoor dining areas with a meal when you get tired. The bars and clubs in this area are also plentiful, answering the question of where to stay in Glenwood Springs for nightlife
What really makes this area special is the easy access to a range of amenities. You won’t have to go far for transport links to the nature parks, good food, attractions, or shopping, so you should be able to keep every member of your party happy.
Log Cabin in the Mountains | Best Airbnb in Downtown
Why stay in a city known for its outdoors and lock yourself away in a modern condo? Well, you might love this place so much you do just that. This log cabin reflects the wild heart of Glenwood Springs. It offers stunning views, two bedrooms, one bathroom, and is close to both the city attractions and the best that the wild has to offer. It also has a wonderful deck where you can sit and take in your surroundings in perfect comfort. This is by far one of our favourite cabins in Colorado.
Downtown Home | Best Luxury Airbnb in Downtown
Spacious and warmly decorated, this stylish home is a cool answer to the question of where to stay in Glenwood Springs for one night or a longer stay. It sleeps up to nine guests with four bedrooms and two bathrooms and has a great backyard, perfect for kids or entertaining, free parking, and a fully-equipped kitchen. It’s also just a short walk from all the shops and restaurants of the downtown area.
Hotel Denver | Best Hotel in Downtown
Located in the best neighborhood in Glenwood Springs for shopping and nightlife, this hotel is close to all the top attractions. It has its own brewpub and coffee shop, as well as free parking and spacious rooms filled with historic features. The rooms come in a variety of sizes to suit all travel groups and there are laundry facilities on-site as well, perfect for long-stay travelers.
Things to See and Do in Downtown
- Stroll the shopping area between 7th and 11th streets
- Take the kids for a BBQ or to enjoy the playgrounds at Veltus Park
- Learn more about the city’s history at the Frontier Historical Museum
- Head over to scenic Glenwood Canyon for hiking or biking
- See some very old graves at the Linwood Cemetery
- Try some local dishes at Hugo’s or the 19th Street Diner
- Settle in for a drink without the kids at the Native Son Restaurant and Bar
- Have dinner with a show at the Glenwood Vaudeville Revue
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Hide Yo’ Money!What To Pack For Glenwood Springs
Pants, socks, underwear, soap?! Take it from me, packing for a hostel stay is not always quite as straightforward as it seems. Working out what to bring and what to leave at home is an art I have perfected over many years.
Ear Plugs
Snoring dorm-mates can ruin your nights rest and seriously damage the hostel experience. This is why I always travel with a pack of decent ear plugs.
Hanging Laundry Bag
Trust us, this is an absolute game changer. Super compact, a hanging mesh laundry bag stops your dirty clothes from stinking, you don’t know how much you need one of these… so just get it, thank us later.
Sea To Summit Micro Towel
Hostel towels are scummy and take forever to dry. Microfibre towels dry quickly, are compact, lightweight, and can be used as a blanket or yoga mat if need be.
Monopoly Deal
Forget about Poker! Monopoly Deal is the single best travel card game that we have ever played. Works with 2-5 players and guarantees happy days.
Grayl Geopress Water Bottle
Always travel with a water bottle! They save you money and reduce your plastic footprint on our planet. The Grayl Geopress acts as a purifier AND temperature regulator. Boom!
Check out my definitive Hotel Packing list for even more top packing tips!
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance for Glenwood Springs
ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.
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Final Thoughts on the Best Places to Stay in Glenwood Springs
After reading this guide, you’ve probably worked out by now which is the most ideal place to stay in Glenwood Springs for you. However, most neighborhoods have easy access to all the best things to do in Colorado such as visit the hot springs and explore all the natural landscape around the city, so you can’t really make a bad choice.
Which is our favorite? We definitely feel the cute cabin vibe of the log cabin in Downtown, but that’s just us. Do you have a favorite? Let us know in the comments.
- Check out our ultimate guide backpacking around USA.
- Figured out where you wanna stay? Now it’s time to pick the perfect hostel in USA.
- Or… maybe you want to check out some Airbnbs in Colorado instead.
- Next up you’re gonna need to know all the best places to visit in Colorado to plan your trip.
- Save yourself hassle and money and get an international sim card for USA.
- Swing by our super epic backpacking packing list to prep for your trip.
And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links. That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!
