Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

Nicknamed the Race to the Clouds, this storied hill climb sends race cars up 156 turns and nearly 5,000 vertical feet toward the Pikes Peak summit each June, following a course that has tested drivers since long before modern racing safety standards existed. Fan Fest booths let children sit in race cars and meet drivers in a much calmer setting than race day itself.

Downtown Colorado Springs’ Fan Fest gives families an easy, low-key way to see cars and drivers up close before race day itself, while the mountain’s hairpin turns offer genuinely dramatic viewing for those willing to arrive well before dawn for a place along the course.

Restricted mountain access and predawn spectator arrival make a Colorado Springs-area Stay considerably more comfortable than a same-morning drive from farther away. Pack serious layers for summit-level cold even on a warm valley morning, and add Garden of the Gods or Pikes Peak’s own hiking trails to extend the visit. It is one of motorsport’s genuinely historic mountain tests, best watched with real advance planning. Cell service can be unreliable on the mountain itself, so agree on a meeting point with the family in advance.