When planning a vacation to Steamboat Springs, CO, the first thing that comes to mind is spending beautiful days on spectacular mountains with lots of outdoor recreation like hiking, mountain biking, skiing, and snowboarding. However, we never know for sure when clear skies will give way to cloud cover and rain. Still, a rainy day is not always a day lost, at least not in Steamboat Springs.

Even though we all love the town's natural beauty and great outdoors, there's still fun to be had indoors. Don't know exactly what to do in Steamboat Springs when it's raining? We've got you covered with this list of the best rainy-day activities in and around Steamboat Springs, CO.

Grab your umbrella, and let's go for a ride! 
 
 

Dive into a literary adventure at a charming library or bookstore.

The best companion for a rainy day? A good book. Maybe it's the soothing sound of rain that enhances our focus, making reading on a rainy day uniquely charming and enjoyable. And why not combine it with some city exploration?

Even if sitting in the heart of downtown, the Bud Werner Memorial Library is one of the best-kept secrets in town. It offers a fantastic and free reading space with views overlooking the Yampa River and comfortable chairs. It's not all about reading; the library also screens movies and puts on special events year-round. There are special activities for kids, including storytimes and hands-on activities.

Where else to find nice books? A nice bookshop! Off the Beaten Path Bookstore, also in Downtown Steamboat Springs, is a local favorite. You can browse their great collection of books, buy a tasty treat from the café, and check out the puzzle games to take back home—there you go, another great idea for a rainy day.
 

Delight in the warmth of a cozy cafe with your favorite coffee or tea in hand.

Here's another great companion for a rainy day: a steamy cup of coffee or tea.

With their warm and inviting atmosphere and pleasant aromas, coffee shops are delightful places to visit when it's raining. You can gather with friends, read a good book, catch up on some work, or simply enjoy the slow moment, watching the rain through the window while staying dry and cozy inside.

Wondering about nice coffee shops in Steamboat Springs to enjoy on a rainy day? Here are some ideas:

Creekside Cafe may be the perfect place for it. With a cozy, bright atmosphere and an abundance of greenery, it offers a perfect setting for a chilly, rainy day.

Also, Big Iron has a great environment, whether you want to meet with friends or get your study on. Not to mention, the coffees, teas, and pastries are fantastic! Some even say their London Fog is one of the best in the US!

Finally, Lil' House Country Biscuits & Coffee is known for its breakfast and food options that include many options of North Carolina southern-style comfort food, as well as egg platters, breakfast burritos, and sweet pastry treats. If the rain lasts long, no worries – they welcome you to enjoy free coffee refills.

Learn about local heritage and history at the Tread of Pioneers Museum.

Housed in a 1901 Queen Anne–style building with turn-of-the-century furnishings, the Tread of Pioneers Museum is a great spot to educate yourself about the history and heritage of Steamboat Springs, making for a wonderful rainy day activity.

The institution has a mission to preserve, share, and celebrate local history, showcasing amazing exhibits on Native American art, skiing, agriculture, mining, pioneer settlement, town development, and more. The displays are quite varied and include interactive elements. The little ones will find the hands-on exhibits and scavenger hunt pretty fun and engaging.

The ski history section is particularly interesting for everyone, allowing you to explore old photos from the 1900s. On the upstairs floor, there's an early kitchen that's quite a sight!

You'll need an hour or so to see the most interesting areas, and on your way out, you can make a stop by the museum's gift shop to pick up a souvenir to remember a wonderful rainy day in Steamboat Springs.
 

Unwind and rejuvenate at a local spa.

This one is more for the grown-ups. Visiting a spa is a fantastic idea to escape from the rain and fits right into anyone's holiday plans, right? After all, you don't go to Steamboat Springs just to explore the outdoors; you also want to relax, don't you?

Here are some spas that are particularly good around Steamboat Springs, CO:

• The Old Town Hot Springs has full packages to help you make the most of your rainy day in a cozy and intimate setting.

• Rocky Mountain Day Spa at The Sheraton, at the base of the ski area, is one of Steamboat’s best day spas where you can get pampered with hot stone massages and detoxifying facials, for instance. They offer packages that combine several options.

• Life Essentials Day Spa is one of Steamboat’s most awarded day spas, offering an array of services for you to relax in Colorado style. 

• Waterside Day Spa, a lovely day spa and salon nestled along the Yampa River with great views. Their Salt Suite is a big hit, with anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial benefits.

• The Grand Spa offers several different massages, body treatments, and facials that will provide the perfect remedy that your body requires.

Pay a visit to any of the above and you're sure to turn the rainy day into a soothing and pampering experience.

Enjoy bowling with the whole family, including Fido, at The Snowbowl.

Bowling, anyone? The Snowbowl has been a much-loved entertainment venue, drawing locals and visitors alike since 1977. After undergoing a major facelift a few years ago, it became one of the most fun spots in Steamboat Springs to hang out.

It boasts 12 bowling lanes that are sure to provide visitors with a lot of activity and keep them active on a rainy day. They also have huge TVs, a full-service bar, and a great menu. The burgers are incredible!

Also, you're not the only one who gets to have some fun. Feel free to bring Fido along. The Snowbowl is dog-friendly now. They have the Dog Bowl, a large outdoor turfed area for humans and animals to enjoy, and they even have a dog menu. How cute is that? Some rainy-day fun for the whole family, indeed.

Experience the thrill of playing bumper cars on ice at Howelsen Ice Arena.

Immerse yourself in a Winter Wonderland Vibe. The Olympic-sized Howelsen Ice Arena is a great place for you to cool off in the summer months and enjoy activities like ice skating and ice hockey at any time of the year, no matter the weather.

This is the only ice facility in Colorado to offer Bumper Cars On Ice, a uniquely thrilling experience for both you and your family. With nine 20-minute bumper car sessions, you can play tag, race each other, and try to see who can spin the fastest. Trust us: Maneuvering bumper cars on ice presents another layer of challenge with the slippery setting.

The perfect combo? You can ice skate and do the bumper cars, and that's double the fun. Everything is clean and well-maintained, with a focus on safety and friendly staff, and reasonable rates. It's a great idea for a social or family fun activity on a rainy day. Heads up: making a reservation is recommended as spaces fill up fast.

Overcome puzzles and challenges within a time limit at Crooked Key Escape Rooms.

Looking for something even more thrilling than bumper cars? Escape rooms are the ultimate thrilling experience to have on a rainy day. With their immersive storytelling, hidden elements, and surprises, they are designed for team building and enjoyable problem-solving. Believe us when we say overcoming challenges and solving puzzles within the time limit is a pretty rewarding experience.

At Crooked Key Escape Rooms in Steamboat Springs, you will find four different escape rooms with varying levels of challenge. To give you a sense of how it works: In "Taphophobia," for instance, you are trapped in an Edgar Allan Poe dream — trying to overcome your fear of being buried alive! In "FLASHOVER," you pretend to be a firefighter and have to go through several physical and mental challenges to save cute pets within 60 minutes.
 

Watch a movie and munch on some popcorn at Wildhorse 6 Stadium Cinemas.

Have you seen the latest blockbuster yet? Going to the cinema is not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Steamboat Springs, but when it's rainy outside, you have the perfect excuse to do so without feeling FOMO for not exploring the outdoors.

Featuring all-new movies and loads of movie snacks, Wildhorse 6 Stadium Cinemas is a great place to spend an afternoon. Despite being a small-town cinema, they do have a good and pretty up-to-date selection of the newest movies, a great sound system, and comfortable seats.

Get your tickets and don't forget to indulge in a movie-watching essential: fluffy and crispy popcorn. This place is all about embracing the magic of cinema! 

 
Embark on an adventure into the world of local craft breweries.

Another one for the grown-ups on a rainy day: Sample locally crafted beer and learn how it’s made. Colorado is the destination for high-quality craft brews, and it only comes behind California in numbers for microbreweries. Each brewery has its own unique flair. Some of the local favorites are Storm Peak Brewing and Mountain Tap Brewery. They'll please any beer lover for sure.

The best part? Besides the exquisite beverages, cozy interior, and social opportunities, these establishments are pretty committed to giving back to their communities and keeping Steamboat Springs the wonderful place that it is. Cheers!
 

Top Rainy Day Activities in Steamboat Springs, CO

We know rainy days often have a bad rep, potentially disrupting plans for a perfect day outdoors, but with so many options for fun indoors, you may even want them to happen more often!

Do you know what else is great to do on a rainy day? Staying in and enjoying the comfort of your vacation rental. If you ask us, being snuggled up in a cozy cabin during a rainy day is the ultimate way to spend it!

While in town, why not stay in style with the great backdrop of the Rocky Mountains in one of the most iconic rental properties and complexes Steamboat Springs has to offer?

Retreatia offers luxury properties, ski-in/ski-out options, and downtown lodgings, some pet-friendly. Staying in one of our properties, we guarantee you'll have nothing less than a 5-star experience, something that will definitely enhance your Steamboat Springs vacation.