10 Warmest Places in Colorado – Based on 2023 Climate Data
We looked through all the climate data and found the warmest places in Colorado to live in or travel to. They all offer hot summers and not much snow in the winter.
Generally, you won’t find any of the warmest places in Colorado within the Rocky Mountains since its high elevation leads to cooler temperatures and more snowfall.
So, we focused our search to cities outside of the Rockies, primarily in the hotter and drier southern and eastern parts of the state.
What did we come up with? There are many great cities across Colorado, but there aren’t many cities that offer balmy weather year-round, but there are several places that experience a lot of heat in the summer and not so much cold or snow in the winter.
Almost all of the places on this list have average summer highs above 90 degrees and winter temperatures that are above 40 degrees.
Warmest Places in Colorado – Our Research Methodology
To determine the warmest cities in Colorado, we looked at all of the official climate data from the National Weather Service and evaluated the average highs in the hottest month in the summer, which is usually July or August, as well as the coldest month in the winter, usually December or January.
We also took note of the number of sunny days per year in each city, although sunshine is not always a direct factor of warmth, especially in some of Colorado’s high altitude cities.
Still, we were able to use that information as a guide to help determine the warmest places in the state.
We also factored in the average amount of snowfall in each location since less snow is usually a function of a warmer environment. It allowed us to determine where in Colorado does it snow the least, which is helpful for those who are interested in both warm weather and limited snowfall.
So, let’s see where the warmest places in Colorado are where you can experience a real summer and mild winters.
10 Warmest Places in Colorado for 2023
10. Canon City
Average Summer Highs: 89 degrees
Average Winter Highs: 49 degrees
Average Number of Sunny Days per Year: 255 days
Average Inches of Snowfall per Year: 38 inches
Location: Check on Google Maps
Located on the Arkansas River in the southeast corner of Colorado, people flock from all over the state to enjoy the warm weather while whitewater rafting, rock climbing, and seeing many of the fantastic sights located in this little treasure.
Canon City is also well known for its several city parks including Royal Gorge Park, home of the Royal Gorge Bridge, and Eco Park with glorious hiking trails and giant rock faces.
9. Cortez
Average Summer Highs: 91 degrees
Average Winter Highs: 43 degrees
Average Number of Sunny Days per Year: 240 days
Average Inches of Snowfall per Year: 74 inches
Location: Check on Google Maps
Cortez is a unique town that is close to many of Colorado’s most impressive national parks and is one of the warmest places in Colorado to visit or to live in.
The weather is consistent enough throughout the year to enjoy the outdoor adventures available. But, its warm summer is what draws in the tourists every year.
From Mesa Verde National Park to the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument and a variety of other incredible archeological sites, you will be amazed to see the incredible cliff dwellings and rock carvings of the Native Americans who lived on this land!
8. Springfield
Average Summer Highs: 91 degrees
Average Winter Highs: 45 degrees
Average Number of Sunny Days per Year: 264 days
Average Inches of Snowfall per Year: 34 inches
Location: Check on Google Maps
With extremely mild winters and hot summers, Springfield, Colorado feels more like Texas than it does snowy Colorado.
Springfield is one of the warmest places to live in Colorado and residents seem to truly love living in this small rural town in the southeast corner of the state.
While there isn’t much to do in Springfield, it offers tons of sunshine and a slow pace of life, making it a wonderful place to live.
In fact, Springfield is tied for the most number of sunny days out of all places on this list of the warmest cities in Colorado.
7. Holly
Average Summer Highs: 93 degrees
Average Winter Highs: 46 degrees
Average Number of Sunny Days per Year: 262 days
Average Inches of Snowfall per Year: 23 inches
Location: Check on Google Maps
The seventh warmest place in Colorado is the lovely town of Holly. It is located in the southeast corner of the state near the border with Kansas.
Holly has beautiful weather all year round as it is situated at the lowest elevation in the entire state. Holly, Colorado averages just 23.1 inches of snowfall each year, well below the national and country average, and they experience over 260 sunny days each year.
Only 837 people live in Holly, so you can expect a small-town vibe where everyone will know your name.
6. Pueblo
Average Summer Highs: 93 degrees
Average Winter Highs: 46 degrees
Average Number of Sunny Days per Year: 258 days
Average Inches of Snowfall per Year: 32 inches
Location: Check on Google Maps
Pueblo is the largest city on this list of the warmest places in Colorado. With about 112,000 residents, Pueblo offers a rare blend of large city living and excellent weather within the Rocky Mountain State.
The city also receives less than half the state’s average for snowfall each year and only gets about 13 inches of rainfall per year.
Its location close to other cities like Colorado Springs as well as the Rockies makes it a well-rounded place to live and to visit.
Find out more about the city in this analysis of the full pros and cons of Pueblo.
5. Grand Junction
Average Summer Highs: 94 degrees
Average Winter Highs: 38 degrees
Average Number of Sunny Days per Year: 245 days
Average Inches of Snowfall per Year: 17 inches
Location: Check on Google Maps
The beautiful and temperate weather of Grand Junction is not just great for visiting and living, it’s also the perfect place to grow grapes, which is why Grand Junction represents the heart of Colorado’s Wine Country.
Located halfway between Denver and Salt Lake City, Grand Junction is easily accessible for tourists and a great place to live and one of the few places on this list in the western part of the state.
It also features Colorado’s National Monument, amazing breweries, wineries, biking and hiking trails, and a charming downtown. The warm weather might make you visit, but then you’ll never want to leave.
4. Lamar
Average Summer Highs: 93 degrees
Average Winter Highs: 45 degrees
Average Number of Sunny Days per Year: 261 days
Average Inches of Snowfall per Year: 29 inches
Location: Check on Google Maps
Lamar, Colorado is also located in the southeast corner of the state, once again right next to the Kansas border. Its low elevation and minimal snow fall make it one of the warmest places in Colorado.
While Lamar is a small farming community, Pueblo is just down the road, so you can easily access the city life if need be.
The town itself is home to many small but interesting museums, as well as the Arkansas River for a taste of the natural beauty of the area.
3. Campo
Average Summer Highs: 93 degrees
Average Winter Highs: 47 degrees
Average Number of Sunny Days per Year: 261 days
Average Inches of Snowfall per Year: 26 inches
Location: Check on Google Maps
Campo is the smallest town on our list of the warmest cities in Colorado with only 103 residents. It sits just above the border of the Oklahoma Panhandle and is beautifully warm for most of the year.
Tourists often stop through Campo on their way through Colorado to enjoy Picture Canyon and its rock carvings, fossil impressions, and beautiful rock faces.
Campo still averages 26 inches of snowfall per year, but remember that is less than half of the state average.
2. La Junta
Average Summer Highs: 94 degrees
Average Winter Highs: 45 degrees
Average Number of Sunny Days per Year: 256 days
Average Inches of Snowfall per Year: 21 inches
Location: Check on Google Maps
Southeast Colorado hosts another one of the warmest places in Colorado: La Junta. This fun small town is home to Bent’s Old Fort, Comanche National Grassland, and even prehistoric dinosaur tracks.
With an average summer temperature of 94 degrees and an average year-round temperature of 69 degrees, visiting the small town of La Junta along the Arkansas River can feel like a tropical getaway while still staying close to home.
1. Las Animas
Average Summer Highs: 95 degrees
Average Winter Highs: 48 degrees
Average Number of Sunny Days per Year: 264 days
Average Inches of Snowfall per Year: 16 inches
Location: Check on Google Maps
Las Animas, Colorado tops our list as the warmest place in Colorado. Nearby to many of the other warmest places in Colorado, Las Animas can be found in the southeast corner on the Arkansas River, where life is slow, but the sun shines often.
Not only is it consistently warm with an average yearly high of 70 degrees, but it’s also the home of the hottest day on record in Colorado.
In 2012, Las Animas reached a scorching 114 degrees, and has even been known to reach the 80s during the winter.
It also receives the lowest amount of snowfall out of any city in Colorado and is also tied with Springfield for the most number of sunny days per year.
Warmest Places in Colorado – Summary
Overall, the warmest places in Colorado are:
- Las Animas
- La Junta
- Campo
- Lamar
- Grand Junction
- Pueblo
- Holly
- Springfield
- Cortez
- Canon City
They all offer great weather all year-round relative to other cities in Colorado that experience much more cold and snow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where in Colorado Does it Snow the Least?
The cities in Colorado where it snows the least amount are also the ones that are the warmest (and are on this list).
Therefore, the answer is Las Animas, Colorado and Grand Junction, Colorado, where the snowfall for the year is just 16 and 17 inches, respectively. That is about one-quarter of snowfall compared to the Colorado state average.
