Boulder district, Colorado, United States

Places to visit near Boulder

Boulder is a city in Boulder district, Colorado, United States, home to about 107,349 people. Within 50 km by road there are 116 places to visit — 46 hill stations & viewpoints, 9 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 13 wildlife, forests & gardens and 14 museums. The must-see places are Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art (1 km), Andrews Arboretum (1 km) and Museum of Natural History - Henderson Building (1 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Boulder on the map

Boulder at a glance

Location
Boulder district, Colorado, United States
Population
about 107,349
Coordinates
40.0150° N, 105.2706° W
Places within 50 km
116 (116 must-see)
Best time to visit
October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; year-round for museums

Top places to visit near Boulder

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Boulder: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

More places near Boulder

Things to see near Boulder, by type

Hill stations & viewpoints near Boulder

142 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Boulder. The closest is Flagstaff Mountain (4 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

All hill stations & viewpoints in Colorado →

Lakes, dams & reservoirs near Boulder

32 lakes, dams & reservoirs within 100 km of Boulder. The closest is Boulder Reservoir (10 km). Best time: august to december when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in Colorado →

Wildlife, forests & gardens near Boulder

29 wildlife, forests & gardens within 100 km of Boulder. The closest is Walden Ponds Wildlife Habitat (10 km). Best time: november to march for sightings.

All wildlife, forests & gardens in Colorado →

Museums near Boulder

23 museums within 100 km of Boulder. The closest is Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art (1 km). Best time: year-round.

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Parks near Boulder

20 parks within 100 km of Boulder. The closest is Andrews Arboretum (1 km). Best time: year-round, evenings.

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Churches near Boulder

14 churches within 100 km of Boulder. The closest is Pine Street Church (1 km). Best time: year-round.

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A one-day trip from Boulder

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 8 km on the road.

  1. Start in Boulder
  2. 1 km Museum of Natural History - Henderson Building · museum, Boulder
  3. 2 km Chautauqua Park · park, Boulder
  4. 2 km Andrews Arboretum · park, Boulder
  5. 1 km Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art · museum, Boulder
  6. 1 km Pine Street Church · church, Boulder
  7. 1 km Back to Boulder

Plan a longer trip from Boulder — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Boulder

No traveller has reported from around Boulder yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

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How to reach Boulder

    All places near Boulder by distance

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Boulder by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Hill stations & viewpoints46142Flagstaff Mountain (4 km)
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs932Boulder Reservoir (10 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens1329Walden Ponds Wildlife Habitat (10 km)
    Museums1423Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art (1 km)
    Parks1020Andrews Arboretum (1 km)
    Other attractions1215Casa Bonita (44 km)
    Churches1014Pine Street Church (1 km)
    Forts & heritage14Civil War Monument (49 km)
    Waterfalls03Fern Falls (62 km)
    Temples11Sidewinder (46 km)

    Boulder: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Boulder?

    Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art (museum, about 1 km), Andrews Arboretum (park, about 1 km), Museum of Natural History - Henderson Building (museum, about 1 km), Pine Street Church (church, about 1 km), Chautauqua Park (park, about 3 km), Flagstaff Mountain (viewpoint, about 4 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Boulder?

    116 places on Spotwander: 46 hill stations & viewpoints, 9 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 13 wildlife, forests & gardens, 14 museums, 10 parks.

    Which is the nearest viewpoint to Boulder?

    Flagstaff Mountain, about 4 km by road; The Flatirons (5 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest lake to Boulder?

    Boulder Reservoir, about 10 km by road; Gross Reservoir (14 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest sanctuary to Boulder?

    Walden Ponds Wildlife Habitat, about 10 km by road; Walker Ranch Park (11 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Boulder?

    Start in Boulder, visit Museum of Natural History - Henderson Building, then Chautauqua Park, then Andrews Arboretum, then Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, then Pine Street Church, and drive back — about 8 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Boulder?

    October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; year-round for museums.

    Towns near Boulder

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Boulder’s location and population from GeoNames. Data sources & credits.