Best Western hotels across Colorado put travelers close to the experiences that make each corner of the state distinct. Along the way, welcoming hotel teams can help point you toward local favorites, unexpected finds and memorable ways to experience the communities they call home.
Here are a few places to start.
Make the Most of Mountain Life in Dillon
Surrounded by soaring peaks and sitting along the shores of Dillon Reservoir, Dillon delivers the kind of mountain scenery Colorado is famous for, but there’s much more here than a beautiful view.
In warmer months, head to Dillon Marina to get out on the water by boat, kayak or paddleboard, or explore miles of trails circling the reservoir. Summer evenings bring another distinctly local experience: concerts at the lakeside Dillon Amphitheater, where live music comes with a mountain-and-water backdrop.
The Best Western Ptarmigan Lodge makes a convenient home base for taking it all in. Some rooms overlook the reservoir and the property sits within easy reach of downtown Dillon and the amphitheater. When winter arrives, Dillon also puts travelers within a short drive of several of Colorado’s best-known ski areas.
Discover Loveland Beyond the Valentines
Loveland may be Colorado’s “Sweetheart City,” but spend a little time here and another side of its personality quickly emerges: art is everywhere.
Start by examining the sculptures at Benson Sculpture Garden’s picturesque outdoor setting. Then continue downtown, where public art, galleries, locally owned businesses and the city’s famous love lock sculptures make exploring on foot part of the experience.
If the outdoors are calling, Boyd Lake State Park offers fishing, boating, biking, swimming and trails with Front Range views. Travelers looking to stretch their legs can also check out Devil’s Backbone Open Space and its distinctive rock formations.
After a day spent finding a few reasons to love Loveland for yourself, settle in at the Best Western Plus Loveland Inn before heading out for another day of Northern Colorado adventures.
Ask a Local in Estes Park
There’s no mystery about Estes Park’s biggest attraction. Rocky Mountain National Park offers hundreds of miles of trails, alpine lakes, wildlife viewing and some of Colorado’s most recognizable mountain scenery.
But part of the fun of Estes Park happens outside the park gates, too.
Stay at the Best Western Plus Silver Saddle Inn and don’t be afraid to ask the team for a local recommendation. During one traveler’s recent stay, a member of the hotel staff pointed them toward Wapiti Colorado Pub along Fall River — the kind of personal suggestion that can turn dinner into one of the memorable discoveries of a trip.
Spend time wandering downtown Estes Park, where local shops, restaurants and the scenic riverwalk offer plenty to discover beyond the park. And keep your eyes open along the way: in Estes Park, spotting elk wandering through town can be just as memorable as anything on the itinerary.
Find Adventure in Buena Vista
With the Collegiate Peaks rising overhead and the Arkansas River flowing through town, Buena Vista makes it easy to build a Colorado getaway around the outdoors.
Whitewater rafting is one of the area’s signature experiences, with trips ranging from approachable family outings to bigger rapids through Browns Canyon. Hiking, mountain biking, fishing and off-roading offer even more ways to experience the Arkansas River Valley.
After the adrenaline wears off, slow things down with a soak in one of the area’s natural hot springs or spend some time wandering Buena Vista’s shops, restaurants and galleries.
The Best Western Vista Inn gives travelers a comfortable place to recharge before deciding what kind of adventure comes next.
Experience Durango's Story — Then Keep Exploring
Few Colorado destinations connect the past and present quite like Durango.
The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad has carried passengers through the San Juan Mountains for generations, following a spectacular route along the Animas River toward the historic mining town of Silverton. Today, climbing aboard is both a scenic adventure and a moving connection to the region’s railroad history.
But don’t let the train be the only thing you experience.
From downtown’s shops, restaurants and historic buildings to outdoor recreation along the Animas River, there are plenty of reasons to spend a little more time in town. Travelers can also venture north to see Pinkerton Hot Springs or make Durango a starting point for Southwest Colorado.
The Best Western Plus Rio Grande Inn places you close to downtown and the railroad depot, making it easy to park the car and start discovering. And when you need ideas for what to do next, a conversation with the people who know the area can lead you beyond the attractions already on your list.
See a Different Side of Southern Colorado in Pueblo
Pueblo brings together outdoor recreation, art, history and a food culture all its own.
Start downtown at the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk, a 32-acre urban waterfront surrounded by restaurants, entertainment and public spaces. From there, follow Pueblo’s Creative Corridor through galleries, street sculpture, museums and historic districts, or wait until after dark to see the glowing signs of Neon Alley.
For a day outdoors, head to Lake Pueblo State Park, where more than 4,600 acres of water and miles of shoreline create plenty of room for boating, fishing, biking and relaxing under Colorado’s famously blue skies.
And no Pueblo experience is complete without tasting its namesake green chile. Ask around for a favorite local spot, Puebloans have opinions.
Best Western Plus Eagleridge Inn & Suites provides a convenient home base for discovering both the city and the outdoor experiences surrounding it.
Look Into the Depths Near Montrose
Some Colorado experiences make an impression the moment you see them. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is one of them.
Just outside Montrose, the Gunnison River has carved a deep, narrow canyon through nearly 2-billion-year-old rock, creating sheer cliffs and dramatic viewpoints unlike almost anywhere else in the state at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Follow the South Rim for overlooks and short hikes, including views of Painted Wall, Colorado’s tallest cliff.
Then give Montrose some time. Downtown shops, restaurants and galleries offer a change of pace, while local museums share stories of western Colorado and the people who shaped it. The surrounding area also opens the door to scenic drives, fishing, off-roading and day trips to explore Colorado’s Western Slope.
The Best Western Montrose Inn gives travelers a place to settle in before heading toward the canyon or discovering what else this part of Colorado has waiting around the next turn.
Find Your Colorado
These stops are only a sampling of what you can discover across the state.
With more than 35 Best Western hotels throughout Colorado, travelers can find a welcoming home base near mountain adventures, historic downtowns, scenic drives, cultural attractions and communities worth getting to know.
Wherever the road takes you, look beyond the obvious, ask for a local recommendation and leave a little room in the itinerary for the unexpected. Sometimes the experiences you didn’t know to look for become the ones you remember most.
