What to Wear to Denver in the Winter - Outfits For Travel (2024)

FAQs

What should I pack for Denver in December? ›

You will also want to pack layers, as the weather can change quickly. A good rule of thumb is to dress in layers, with a warm coat or jacket. Some suggested clothing items to pack for Colorado in December include: long sleeve shirts, sweaters, jeans, pants, a jacket or coat, closed-toe shoes, and a hat.

Denver Fashion Week, one of America's fastest-growing fashion platforms, is back again for Spring 2023. Collections from local, national, and international designers will range from streetwear, activewear, lifestyle, kids, and sustainability to high fashion.

Denver's monthly mean temperature for December is 30.0 degrees and is Denver's coldest month of the year, according to the NWS. The coldest December in Denver (since records have been kept starting in 1872) was in 1983 when the month ended with a mean temperature of only 17.4 degrees.

Dress in Layers.

No matter how cold it is outside, we suggest your bottom layer be a light t-shirt, or, at the very least, a long-sleeved tech fabric shirt. This is especially important if you're exercising or doing any sort of manual labor. It's actually possible to overheat when it's cold outside.

Winters are mild with an average daily high temperature of 45 degrees Fahrenheit and days reaching 60 degrees are not uncommon. Snow doesn't stay on the ground long in Denver so golf courses and outdoor cafes are able to stay open all year.

Driving on Colorado roads during winter requires specific tires to help ensure safe travel. Read the information below to check if your tires are winter-safe.

What should you not wear on a plane? ›

As a general policy, most airports make you take your shoes off at security check, especially if you're wearing boots or shoes with big soles where you can hide things. It's not a matter of luck but a matter of rules. These are some of the most airport-friendly shoes: Flat sandals.

During airport screening, you'll be asked to remove coats and jackets, including bulky outerwear such as hoodies, parkas, sweaters, and vests.

Denver is a laid-back city, and most people dress casually (call it “mountain-chic”), even at work. But if you like getting dolled up for dinner, go for it.

Every city has their hipster area and, located just north of LoDo and Five Points, the River North Art District (or RiNo for short) is Denver's. Like most hipster hangouts, this industrial neighborhood is the result of gentrification and sports all the usual flowers and scars of that process.

What began as Denver's first city block is today one of the city's most chic fashion districts. More than 200 fashion lines from the runways of New York, London, Paris and Milan are on display.

But typically cooler temps and snowy days start to appear in October. Although in 2022 we have already started seeing snow fall on the mountains starting in August. Temperatures can get cold earlier in the year and the transition from fall to winter is fast.

Typically January is the 6th snowiest month of the year, on average. Normally, Denver's snowiest months of the year are March and April.

The first snowfall of winter for Denver often arrives in October, but the snow can begin as early as September or as late as November. The season's last snowfall lands in April or in May. Denver is normally free of snow every year during June, July and August.

We recommend wearing very warm winter coats and winter boots that are suitable for the snow. What is this? For any outdoor winter activities in Colorado, we recommend wearing thermal ski underwear as a first layer in order to keep you warm, even if you don't ski.

How do people dress for winter hiking in Colorado? ›

Think leggings or long johns. On top of that, look for a pair of pants that are waterproof or water-resistant. If the weather is going to be particularly cold or wet, look for a pair of insulated pants, such as snow pants, that will give you an extra layer of warmth.

Denver's Christmas Weather Statistics

The high temperature on Christmas Day averages 43.8 degrees and a low of 18.2 degrees. Records for the date range from a high of 69 degrees recorded in 2005 down to a low of -10 degrees in 1983. In terms of snowfall, the most ever received on the holiday was 7.8 inches in 2007.

Snow. December's snowfall varies a lot from year to year in Denver. Between 2.5 and 9 inches (6 to 27 cm) of fresh snow arrives in half the years. Less new snow lands in one out of four Decembers, while another twenty-five percent are snowier.

Driving on Colorado roads during winter requires specific tires to help ensure safe travel. Read the information below to check if your tires are winter-safe.

During a Traction Law, all motorists are required to have EITHER: 4WD or AWD vehicle and 3/16” tread depth. Tires with a mud and snow designation (M+S icon) and 3/16” tread depth. Winter tires (mountain-snowflake icon) and 3/16” tread depth.

According to CDOT's website, Code 15 (also known as the Traction Law) requires that motorists “need to have either snow tires, tires with the mud/snow (M/S) designation, or a four-wheel drive vehicle — all tires must have a minimum one-eighth inch tread.”

Snow socks will only improve traction slightly on ice, much less so than snow chains. Against snow chains, snow socks generally provide less grip on snow and ice. Snow socks tend only to be for use on smaller vehicles like cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks.

Unlike those on a car, airplane tires are treaded with several long grooves allowing them to roll at faster speeds and also helping channel water, expelling it backward. (There are no such things as snow tires for airplanes.)

Is it hard to drive in Denver in the winter? ›

Advice for Snowy and Icy Driving Conditions in Colorado. It doesn't take long for conditions to become treacherous in states that have winter weather for part of the year. Roads can get slick and icy fast, making driving a challenge for even the most seasoned driver.

CDOT has approved the AutoSock as the first named alternative traction device to chains that is accepted within the state for both commercial and passenger vehicles. For more information, check out their site: Passenger or Truck . PDF visual chart with winter tips for Colorado Chain Laws.

Denver requires that property owners clear snow and ice from their sidewalks, including adjacent ADA ramps, so that EVERYONE has safe access throughout the city!