Colorado Springs Airport — The Underrated Gateway to the Front Range
I’ll be straight with you — I almost skipped Colorado Springs Airport entirely on my last trip to Colorado. My default was to fly into Denver, rent a car, and drive the hour south. But a friend who lives in the Springs told me I was being ridiculous, and she was right. COS saved me at least two hours of driving and airport nonsense, and I kicked myself for not booking through there sooner.
What You Need to Know About COS
Colorado Springs Airport — code COS — is the second busiest airport in the state, right behind Denver International. It handles over a million passengers a year now, and that number has been climbing steadily. The airport sits on the southeast side of Colorado Springs, about 15 minutes from downtown, with Pikes Peak looming to the west like some kind of postcard backdrop. Probably should have led with this — the views alone make it worth flying into.
The airport has a single terminal with a straightforward layout. You walk in, you check in, you go through security, and you’re at your gate. I think I cleared TSA in about eight minutes on my last trip, which felt almost suspicious after years of DEN’s sprawling concourses. There’s no train to catch, no mile-long walks, no getting lost in a maze of construction zones.
Airlines and Where You Can Go
Several airlines serve COS, including American, United, Delta, Southwest, and Frontier. You can get direct flights to major hubs like Dallas, Denver, Chicago, Phoenix, Las Vegas, and a handful of others. The route map isn’t as extensive as DEN’s, obviously, but for a lot of travelers — especially those headed to or from the Springs, Fort Carson, the Air Force Academy, or the surrounding area — it covers the bases.
I flew American through Dallas on my trip and the connection worked perfectly. A colleague of mine regularly flies Southwest to Denver and back — yes, the flight is only about 30 minutes in the air, but he says it beats the drive every time, especially in winter when I-25 gets sketchy.
Inside the Terminal
The terminal has been updated in recent years, and it shows. It’s clean, modern enough without being sterile, and has that small-airport feel where the staff actually seems to know what’s going on. There are a few dining options — grab a beer at the bar or a sandwich before your flight. Nothing gourmet, but functional and reasonably priced by airport standards.
Parking is a breeze. The main lot is right across from the terminal, and even the economy lot is a short shuttle ride away. Prices are noticeably cheaper than what you’d pay at DEN, which is another tick in the COS column. Rental cars are on-site, and the pickup process was painless when I went through it.
That’s what makes COS endearing — it hasn’t lost that human scale. You don’t feel like you’re being processed through an industrial system. You feel like you’re at an airport that was designed for real people who just want to get where they’re going without the drama.
The Military Connection
Colorado Springs is a military town, and COS reflects that. Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base, and the U.S. Air Force Academy are all nearby. Military families cycle through the airport constantly, and the facility does a good job accommodating that traffic. There’s a USO lounge, and I’ve noticed the general vibe is pretty respectful of service members — people clap when troops come through, that sort of thing.
What’s Nearby
If you’re flying into COS, chances are you’ve got plans. Pikes Peak is the obvious draw — you can drive or take the cog railway to the summit. Garden of the Gods is free and stunning and about 20 minutes from the airport. The Broadmoor resort is a classic if you’re feeling fancy. And if you’re a skier, you’re a couple hours from some decent mountains, though most people headed to the big resorts fly into DEN or Eagle County.
I spent a long weekend exploring the area after landing at COS and was honestly surprised by how much there was to do. The downtown has gotten better in recent years — good restaurants, breweries, some decent live music. It’s not Denver, but it’s also not trying to be, and that’s fine.
Should You Fly Into COS?
If your final destination is anywhere in the Colorado Springs area, yes — absolutely fly into COS. The time and stress you save compared to DEN is significant. Even if the flights cost a little more or require a connection, the ground experience makes up for it. I’ve made the switch permanently for my trips down there, and I don’t see myself going back to the DEN-plus-drive routine. Sometimes the smaller airport is just the smarter call.
