Free Attractions in Colorado Springs (2025)

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 on 2025.09.08
12 Places
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From red-rock wonderlands to artist-run galleries, these free, locally rooted stops deliver culture without the price tag. Mix downtown art strolls, volunteer-tended gardens, and history museums with iconic landscapes for an authentic Colorado Springs day out.

Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center

Visitor centre · Colorado Springs

The city’s signature landscape is famously free, with a visitor center of no-cost exhibits and daily ranger tips. Consistently highlighted by Lonely Planet and U.S. News Travel, it’s the essential first stop for trails, geology, and sunrise-to-sunset scenery.

https://coloradosprings.gov/cultural-services/GOG
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Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum

Museum · Colorado Springs

Free admission, deep community ties, and AAM accreditation make this downtown museum a standout. Lonely Planet calls it a smart, family-friendly primer on regional history, from Indigenous collections to Van Briggle pottery and city-shaping stories.

https://www.cspm.org/
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Red Rock Canyon

Hiking area · Colorado Springs

Locals’ alternative to the big park next door, this free open space mixes quarry ruins, ridge-line views, and family-friendly loops. Recommended by Visit Colorado Springs and covered by local media for accessible trails and year-round access.

https://parks.coloradosprings.gov/redrockcanyon

Starsmore Visitor and Nature Center

Visitor center · Colorado Springs

Housed in a beloved Craftsman stone home, this free nature center introduces the canyon’s geology, wildlife, and trails. It’s a low-key, local gateway to one of the city’s most storied parks, with rotating family programs and exhibits.

https://parks.coloradosprings.gov/starsmore
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Penrose Heritage Museum

Museum · Colorado Springs

Admission is free to this El Pomar–run museum celebrating Spencer and Julie Penrose, with carriages and Pikes Peak International Hill Climb race cars. A local heritage trove that connects the dots between philanthropy, motorsport, and city icons.

https://www.elpomar.org/About-Us/museum-and-legacy-properties/penrose-heritage-museum/
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Downtown Partnership of Colorado Springs

Non-profit organization · Colorado Springs

Each year, new sculptures and murals turn downtown into an open-air gallery. The exhibition is free to explore on your own; it’s frequently featured by downtown cultural guides and rotates annually, keeping the scene fresh.

https://downtowncs.com/arts-and-culture/aots/
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45 Degree

Art gallery · Colorado Springs

An independent, artist-forward gallery showcasing regional painters, potters, jewelers, and more—always free to browse. Active in First Friday ArtWalks and praised by local arts calendars, it’s an easy way to meet working Colorado artists.

https://www.45degreegallery.com/
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The Horticultural Art Society Gardens

Park · Colorado Springs

Volunteer-tended and free year-round, these public gardens nurture regionally suited plants, a children’s garden, and quiet corners to linger. Noted by downtown guides, it’s a living lesson in local horticulture and community stewardship.

https://hasgardens.org/about/
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Auric Gallery

Art gallery · Colorado Springs

Two beloved indie galleries merged into this downtown space, spotlighted by The Gazette and local arts media. Monthly exhibitions, First Friday events, and a welcoming, free-to-visit ethos make it a reliable pulse check on the city’s art scene.

https://auricgallery.com/

Platte Collections Art Gallery

Art gallery · Colorado Springs

A grassroots mural corridor created by local artists, celebrated by Rocky Mountain PBS and Visit Colorado Springs. Stroll nearly a mile of large-scale works that elevate neighborhood voices—no tickets, just street art and community energy.

https://www.knob-hill-urban-arts-district.org/

Ent Center for the Arts

Event venue · Colorado Springs

The university’s Galleries of Contemporary Art keep exhibitions free to the public and often pair shows with accessible talks and movement classes. Reliable for boundary-pushing work that connects campus and community.

https://gocadigital.org/visit
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Uncle Wilber Fountain

Fountain · Colorado Springs

This whimsical, music-playing fountain anchors a legacy downtown park and is free to splash during summer season. The city posts current hours; local magazines often shout it out as a family favorite near shops and galleries.

https://coloradosprings.gov/parks/page/spray-grounds-and-fountains
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