FAQs About Meetings and Conferences in Boulder

Great question. Boulder sits exactly where the mountains meet the plains. So you get all the drama of a mountain setting minus the high altitude, treacherous driving and extreme temperatures. Arriving to Boulder is an easy, non-mountainous drive, yet the city is surrounded by stunning peaks, forests and protected open spaces. 

Elevation (above sea level):

• Boulder: 5,430 feet
• Breckenridge: 9,600 feet
• Vail: 8,239 feet
• Aspen: 7,891 feet
• Estes Park: 7,522 feet

In short: it's great! Boulder enjoys a relatively mild climate. It is considered a high desert, with an altitude of 5,430 feet above sea level, which ensures very little humidity in the summer and winter months. The warmest month is July with an average daytime temperature of 88 degrees Fahrenheit. December is the coldest month in Boulder, with an average daytime high of 45 degrees. Boulder's annual snowfall average is 89 inches, with March being the snowiest month.

Denver International Airport (DEN) is the nearest major airport and is a 45-minute drive to Boulder along easy, non-mountainous highways that become more and more scenic the closer you get to Boulder. DEN serves over 200 destinations nonstop and is the largest airport site in North America and the second-largest in the world.

Boulder’s peak season tends to be May-September. October through April offers groups the best value at hotels and venues. With mild weather and year-round outdoor activities, groups can save big while enjoying plenty to see and do in Boulder — plus Visit Boulder offers seasonal cash incentives!

There are 23 hotels within the city of Boulder that put you close to downtown, hiking trails, CU campus, and great dining and shopping. The town’s hotel selection includes a luxury downtown property, an upscale historic boutique hotel, a range of stylish well-appointed brand hotels, an adventure lodge and a collection of charming cottages at the foot of the Flatirons. Browse all of Boulder’s accommodations.

Boulder has over 400 restaurants, from high-end and MICHELIN-recognized establishments to quick-and-delicious spots for attendees to grab and go. Over 225 of these can accommodate gluten-free dining, about 300 of them can easily accommodate vegetarian requests, and 175 have vegan choices on the menu. In addition, we have kosher and halal options, with a variety of cuisines from all reaches of the globe. 

Boulder is a laid-back, nature-loving city with a compact and walkable downtown, the country's third-highest concentration of artists, and thriving scientific and tech communities that have a symbiotic relationship with the University of Colorado Boulder. Visitors are often surprised at the number of restaurants, shops and entertainment venues for a city of only 100,000 or so residents. While it's retained some of its famous hippy culture from the 70s, today's Boulder is a tech town fueled by coffee, breweries and a love of the outdoors. We remain a progressive city with a focus on environmentalism and inclusivity, earning a perfect score on the Municipal Equality Index, an indication of LGBTQ+ equality in city policy. Here's a guide to myths and truths about Boulder.

Boulder is known as the Happiest City in the U.S. and has a passion for outdoor recreation and one of the nation’s largest craft beer scenes, as well as thriving tech, health foods and biotech industries. Our ethos around environmentalism and progressive land preservation are a reflection of our love for our stunning natural surroundings. See our page dedicated to everything Boulder is known for.

Boulder’s hiking trails are famously beautiful and easy to access, with most hotels located five minutes or fewer from a trailhead. Mountain biking and e-biking are additional top ways to see the stunning landscape, with fun tours available for groups. Brewery and distillery tours, farm visits, cooking classes, and food tours are popular, too. Your attendees will definitely want to take photos of the famous Flatirons mountains, shop historic Pearl Street, see the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse and visit the University of Colorado campus’ attractions. Find tons of only-in-Boulder group activities here.

Boulder is a very geographically condensed city, so getting around is easy. Much of Boulder is walkable, but for longer distances, there is an extensive public bus system, including the HOP, which runs a convenient loop to all the city's most-visited areas. Attendees can also you Uber, Lyft, Lime scooters and public bike rentals. Meeting planners can arrange transportation with one of our trusted shuttle or black car services.

Yes, the Limelight Boulder hotel and conference center is opening in 2025 next to the University of Colorado campus!

Boulder's largest hotels can comfortably accommodate groups of up to 250, but larger groups that have the flexibility to utilize multiple venues can get creative with a “walking conference” at a network of neighboring downtown venues. Additionally, the University of Colorado can host educational conferences of up to 2,000 attendees.

We’re happy you asked! Our primary goal is to connect you with hotels and venues that meet your needs in Boulder. We will serve as the liason and do the legwork of gathering quotes for properties that meet your capacity, dates and other needs. We'll also arrange site visits so you can evaluate the spaces for yourself. Our conference services team can provide an on-site visitor information desk, help with group transportation, provide visitor guides and maps and more. All of this is free and unbiased. Learn more about our services here.

You bet your bottom dollar. We offer a handsome cash incentive for qualifying meetings who book a meeting in Boulder from October to April. Learn more here.

While we don’t offer FAM trips, we routinely welcome planners for site visits so you can check out hotels and venues in person — and we’ll take you around in our vintage VW bus!

Definitely. Boulder is known for its sustainability and land preservation efforts. Read our guide to planning a green meeting in Boulder, or get in touch with us to collaborate on customized solutions for your meeting or event.