5 Things to Know About Doing Pikes Peak and Cave of the Winds in One Morning

You can do both in a single morning, but only if you treat Pikes Peak as a drive-through and skip spending time at the summit.

Start at 7 AM. Drive up Pikes Peak Highway takes about 1.5 hours up and 45 minutes down with minimal stops.

Head straight to Cave of the Winds for the 10 AM Discovery Tour, which runs about 75 minutes. You’ll be done by 11:30.

Reserve Cave of the Winds tickets in advance—they sell out. Skip add-ons like the Haunted Lantern Tour, as those require an afternoon.

Decide if rushing is worth it. The summit is the main attraction of Pikes Peak. If you only want a quick parking lot photo, go for it. Otherwise, pick one attraction or give yourself the full afternoon.