Parking at Garden of the Gods in short
Garden of the Gods is a city park in Colorado Springs, and driving your own car through it is free. There are several lots along the park roads. The one at the Visitor and Nature Center has fewer than 200 spaces, and on summer days and holidays it can be full. Plan for a second choice.
This is an independent guide, not the website of the city or the visitor center. Rules and hours below are the figures for 2026 and can change, so follow the signs and any notices on site.
How to enter and where to park
Cars enter from 30th Street. Have a second choice ready.
Visitor center lot
Cars enter at the roundabout on 30th Street and turn west into the park. The visitor center lot has fewer than 200 spaces. From there you can walk into the park through the pedestrian tunnel.
Visitor center →Overflow Lot 1
This lot is across from the visitor center on Gateway Road. Buses, trailers and campers may stop at the center only to load and unload in the marked zone. They should wait and park in the overflow lot.
Lots inside the park
A city park map from 2022 shows a main lot north of the Central Garden and further areas called Scotsman, Spring Canyon, High Point, South Garden and Balanced Rock. Follow the signs, because the layout may have changed since that edition.
Lot numbers
City event notices for 2026 name Lot 1, High Point (Lot 9) and Balanced Rock (Lot 15) as free outer lots. Lot 15 is the one for Balanced Rock.
Park roads: one-way loops, bike lanes, speed
The roads are narrow and shared. Drive slowly.
The park has one-way roads with paved bike lanes. The loop of Garden Drive and Juniper Way is described by the operator as about 6 miles (9.7 km) long and hilly, with some grades up to 15 percent. Do not expect oncoming traffic everywhere, and do not stop or park in bike lanes or walking lanes. The speed limit is 20 mph (about 32 km/h) for cars, bikes and e-bikes alike. Camping and sleeping in vehicles are not allowed, and the gates are locked at night.
In 2024 and 2025 there were closure reports for waterline works in the park. The city completed that project in 2025, so those reports are no longer current.
Tours that save you the parking
Jeep, trolley, Segway and bike tours at Garden of the Gods, plus day trips to Pikes Peak and Manitou Springs, with live prices and availability.
The free summer shuttle
A seasonal service, not a year-round bus.
The operator lists a free shuttle that runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on 23 to 25 May, 5 June to 23 August and 4 to 7 September. The listing prints no year, and the weekday note for the September dates is inconsistent, so confirm the dates before you rely on it. The loop calls at the visitor center, the Central Garden, the Gateway and Juniper area, the overflow lot and Rock Ledge Ranch, about every 15 minutes. The vehicles are ADA accessible.
Do not count on the shuttle in October or in winter. Also note that a trolley tour is a paid, open vehicle that does not stop along the way. It is not the free shuttle.
| Option | Cost | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Free summer shuttle | Free | Summer dates listed by the operator |
| Driving through the park | Free | Daily, within park hours |
| Trolley tour (35 to 45 minutes) | $22 per person plus concession fee | See tours |
| Walking in from the visitor center | Free | Daily, through the pedestrian tunnel |
Bikes, e-bikes, dogs and other rules
These rules apply on the roads and the lots, too.
E-bikes
Since 1 July 2025, Class 1 e-bikes are allowed only on selected city urban and regional trails. Class 2 and 3 are banned on trails, and all e-bikes are banned on city open space. A guided e-bike tour on the roads does not mean the trails are open to e-bikes.
Quiet mornings
On a few mornings each year the city closes the park roads to motor vehicles for events such as Hike & Bike and Motorless Morning. Those are single events, not a permanent car ban. The city announces the dates each year.
Dogs, drones, fire
Dogs must be on a leash and their waste picked up. Drones are not allowed. Under the city's burn restrictions, in effect since 17 February 2026, smoking outdoors and recreational fires are banned in city parks.
Staying on paths
Use the official paths and take nothing from the park. Do not feed or touch wildlife. Take photos only from the lots and official paths.
Trails →Tips for a smoother arrival
Simple ways to avoid a full lot.
Come early. The park opens at 5 a.m., long before the visitor center opens at 9 a.m., so an early start gives you more choice of spaces. In summer, thunderstorms are possible, and July and August are the wettest months in the Colorado Springs climate normals. If you hear thunder, get into a building or a fully enclosed car. If the center lot is full, go to Overflow Lot 1 and walk through the tunnel. If you plan to see only one rock, drive to its lot instead. Hours for the building and the shop are on the visitor center page, and the best months are on the best time page.
More pages for your visit
Pick what fits your plan.
Visitor and Nature Center
Hours, exhibits, the Geo-Trekker film and the separate Trading Post.
Trails
Loop lengths and climbs, from the Central Garden to Siamese Twins.
Balanced Rock
The rock next to Lot 15 and how to see it safely.
Getting there
Airports, the Denver drive and the bus from Denver.
Parking: frequently asked questions
Is parking at Garden of the Gods free?
Driving through and parking in the park is free. Tours, the film and the guided walk are separate and cost money.
Where do I park for Balanced Rock?
Balanced Rock has its own lot, called Lot 15 in the city's 2026 event notices. You can photograph the rock from the parking area. See the Balanced Rock page.
Can I camp or sleep in my vehicle?
No. Camping and overnight stays are not allowed in the park, and the gates are locked at night. For places to sleep, see where to stay.
Does the free shuttle run all year?
No. The operator lists it for summer dates only, between about 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Confirm the dates before you plan around it.
Where should a bus, trailer or camper park?
Large vehicles may load and unload only in the marked zone at the visitor center. They should then wait and park in Overflow Lot 1 on Gateway Road.
Are the park roads closed for construction?
The waterline works that caused closure reports in 2024 and 2025 were completed in 2025. Always follow current signs on site.