Family Weekend at CU Boulder: How to Do It Right

Published September 12, 2025

How to perfect your CU Boulder Family Weekend visit!

Family Weekend at the University of Colorado Boulder is one of the busiest and most exciting times on campus. It’s about a month into school, and families are thrilled to see their kids again—and see what those thousands of tuition dollars are actually going toward. Hotels fill up, restaurants get booked solid, and the CU Boulder football game at Folsom Field sells out. If you plan it right, it’s an awesome chance to experience Boulder life like a local. If you don’t… well, good luck finding a dinner reservation at 6 PM on The Hill. Just know—this isn’t Boulder’s first rodeo. The hotels and restaurants know it’s Family Weekend, so here’s how to not get played:

Places to Stay

No, a hotel shouldn’t cost $600 per night—but that’s exactly what they’ll charge on Family Weekend CU Boulder 2025, because they know the rooms will sell out. Airbnbs and Vrbo rentals are often the smarter move. Not only do you get more space as a family, but you can also stay in a quieter Boulder neighborhood, away from the noise of students celebrating all weekend. Being five minutes outside of The Hill isn’t a bad thing. Book early—months early—because by late summer, everything is basically gone. (And yes, the same advice applies to CU Boulder graduation weekend hotels too.)

Places to Eat

Every restaurant in Boulder will be packed—that’s a given. Make reservations the moment you know you’re coming. Don’t assume you can just walk into Pearl Street or The Hill at peak dinner time—it won’t happen. I’ve seen breakfast sandwich shops in Boulder with lines out the door of dads in Maui Jims and CU polos at 7:00 a.m. Mix it up: grab a couple casual meals (Safeway runs work too) and then plan one or two sit-down dinners. Keep in mind that dinner might not be at a “normal” time, depending on the CU Buffs football game or other events. One last tip: go to Hazel’s Beverage World for alcohol. They’re Boulder’s largest liquor store and won’t run out of your favorites. Smaller shops might.

The Football Game

The football game is the main event of Family Weekend. Tickets sell out quickly, so buy them as soon as they’re released. Even if you don’t care about football, the atmosphere in Folsom Field is worth it. And yes—dress for the theme. For 2025, the Wyoming game is a White Out, which is easy to get right. Bring layers, especially for a night game, because Boulder gets cold fast.

Tips for game day:

- Arrive at least 30 minutes early—the lines to get in are long.

- Getting drinks inside takes even longer. Each person can only buy two drinks at a time (tallboys), and you’ll need an ID at the counter.

- Don’t bother parking. Walk, Uber, or use shuttles. Driving to Folsom will leave you frustrated and stuck.

When to Book Flights

Book flights as early as possible. As soon as you know the weekend, buy them—prices spike fast. Arriving Wednesday or Thursday is ideal. Thursday night works perfectly since it avoids the Friday chaos and gives you a full day in Boulder before the game-day madness.

Denver International Airport (DIA) is about 45 minutes away, and while the shuttle usually works fine, it’s a zoo on Family Weekend. Leaving Sunday morning is brutal—everyone does it. If you can push departure to Sunday afternoon or Monday, you’ll thank yourself.

Coming Outside of Family Weekend?!

If you can’t make Family Weekend, don’t stress. While it’s a fun tradition, coming another weekend has real advantages. Boulder will be less crowded, flights and hotels will be cheaper, and you’ll actually be able to get a dinner reservation. You can still experience a CU Boulder football game on a different weekend, or if that’s not your thing, explore Pearl Street Mall and The Hill when they’re not packed with Family. Honestly, a quieter weekend often makes for better quality time.

Quick Takeaways

- Book early: flights, hotel/Airbnb, dinner, and football tickets.

- Expect crowds: everywhere will be busy, so have backup plans.

- Flexibility is key: schedules shift around the football game.

- Visiting another weekend? Less chaos, cheaper rates, and still plenty to do in Boulder.

Family Weekend is chaotic, but with a little planning, it’s one of the best weekends of the year.

Hidden Gems

There are a few places to stay and restaurants that can seriously level up your Family Weekend experience… keep an eye out for our upcoming list.

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