Best Time of Year to Move in Colorado Springs (2026)

If you have any flexibility in your move date, when you move can save you more money than almost any other decision. Move on the wrong week and you’ll pay a 30% premium, fight to find a quality crew, and risk a rushed job. Move during the right window and you’ll get the best movers in town for substantially less.

We’re Colorado Springs movers who’ve watched these seasonal patterns play out over 18 years and 800+ 5-star reviews. Here’s the honest 2026 guide to timing your move for maximum savings, smoothest service, and the lowest stress.

The Short Answer

• Cheapest time: Mid-January through late February. Save 20-35% vs summer.
• Best weather window: Late September through mid-October.
• Most expensive window: Last weekend of June through end of July.
• Best day of week: Tuesday or Wednesday, mid-month.
• Worst days: Last Saturday of the month, June 30, July 31.
• Booking lead time: 6-8 weeks in summer; 1-3 weeks in winter.

If you can move on a Tuesday in February with mid-month dates, you’ve already locked in the best price-to-service ratio of the year.

Why Summer (May-August) Is the Most Expensive Season

Roughly 40-50% of all U.S. moves happen between Memorial Day and Labor Day. In Colorado Springs, three forces stack on top of that national peak:

1. Fort Carson PCS season

Permanent Change of Station orders for active-duty military cluster heavily between April and September. With ~25,000+ soldiers stationed at Fort Carson plus families at Peterson SFB, Schriever SFB, and the Air Force Academy, that’s thousands of additional moves competing for the same crews. See our military relocations guide for PCS-specific timing.

2. School-year transitions

Families with kids time moves to land between school years. The window between mid-June and mid-August is so concentrated that some Colorado Springs movers book solid for July four months in advance.

3. Weather and daylight

Long days, dry weather, and predictable conditions mean both DIY movers and pros prefer summer — driving demand up across all categories.

The result: Summer rates run 25-40% higher than winter. Crews are stretched thin. Top-tier movers book out 6-8 weeks. And if you wait until late spring to call, you may end up with whoever’s left.

Why Winter (November-March) Saves 20-35%

Winter is the moving industry’s slow season — and that’s exactly why it’s the smart move financially.

What you get in winter

• Lower hourly and flat rates — typically 20-35% off peak
• First-pick crews — the senior teams aren’t booked solid, so you get experienced foremen
• Schedule flexibility — same-week and even same-day moves are often possible
• Faster service — without back-to-back jobs, crews aren’t rushed
• More attentive packing — same reason
• Negotiation room — winter is the easiest time to lock in a binding ceiling at a competitive rate

What you trade away

• Cold mornings (10-30°F is normal in January)
• Occasional snow that can delay or shift your date
• Shorter daylight (plan for darker afternoon unloads)
• Ice management on driveways, walkways, and stairs

In our experience, the trade is overwhelmingly worth it. A $1,800 summer move becomes a $1,200-$1,400 winter move, and the crew is fresher, less fatigued, and more attentive. For seniors and people with valuable items, winter is the calmer, more careful season.

The Shoulder Seasons: April, September, October

April

Late winter discounts are gone, but PCS season hasn’t fully kicked in yet. Weather can swing wildly — 70°F one day, snow the next. Decent rates and good availability if you book 2-3 weeks ahead.

September

The sweet spot. Summer demand collapses after Labor Day, but the weather is gorgeous — sunny, dry, 60-75°F days. Crews are no longer slammed. Rates drop 10-20% off August. September is arguably the best overall month in Colorado Springs.

October

Cooler but still beautiful through mid-month. Foliage in the foothills. Aspen turn (which means more weekend traffic west of town, but doesn’t affect in-town moves). Rates drop further. The risk: an early snowstorm in late October isn’t unusual.

Day-of-Week Pricing

Within any given month, the day matters almost as much as the season:

Mid-week + mid-month = cheapest. A Wednesday, July 16 move costs noticeably less than a Saturday, June 28 move — same crew, same truck, same job.

The month-end trap

Lease turnovers concentrate the last 3 days and first 3 days of every month. The very worst dates of the year combine month-end + Saturday + summer:

• Saturday, June 28, 2026
• Saturday, July 26, 2026
• Saturday, August 30, 2026

If you have any flexibility, avoid these like the plague.

The Altitude Factor

This one catches transplants off guard, and it’s worth taking seriously.

Colorado Springs sits at 6,035 feet elevation — and many neighborhoods (Black Forest, Woodland Park, Cripple Creek, Monument) are higher still. At those elevations:

• Oxygen saturation is ~20% lower than at sea level
• Anaerobic effort (carrying heavy items up stairs) hits much harder
• Hydration needs are 30-50% higher
• New arrivals can experience altitude headaches and fatigue for 2-7 days

What this means for your move

For DIY movers from low elevation: A move you’d handle in 8 hours at sea level often takes 12-14 hours here. Friends recruited from out of state will tire faster. Build in more breaks, more water, and a real plan for stairs.

For professional moves: Reputable Colorado Springs movers adjust crew sizes and pacing for altitude. We typically run a 3-mover crew where a flatlander mover would run 2, and we factor altitude fatigue into our estimates. If a quote from a Denver- or out-of-state-based company seems too low for the job size, it might be because their team hasn’t worked at 6,000+ feet before.

For mountain communities (8,000+ ft): Moves to Woodland Park, Cripple Creek, or Victor add another layer. Crews need acclimatization, and DIYers should plan a 2-day move minimum. See our mountain moving guide for specifics.

Weather Considerations Specific to Colorado Springs

The Front Range has its own weather quirks worth planning around:

Sudden snow (October-April)

Front Range snowstorms can shift from “60 and sunny” to “8 inches” in 24 hours. Reputable movers monitor the forecast and have a clear reschedule policy. Ask about it before booking.

Summer afternoon thunderstorms (June-August)

Almost every summer afternoon in CS sees a 3-5pm thunderstorm. Pros plan loads to wrap before the storms hit. DIY movers routinely get caught with a half-loaded truck in a downpour.

I-25 ice and closures (December-March)

The I-25 corridor between Colorado Springs and Denver gets shut down a few times each winter for blowing snow, jackknifed trucks, and black ice. If you’re moving to or from Denver in winter, build a 24-48 hour weather buffer into your dates.

Wind events

The Front Range can hit 50-70 mph wind gusts a few times a year, especially in spring. Tall trucks and shrink-wrapped furniture don’t love this. Schedule around forecasted high-wind days when possible.

Wildfire season (June-September)

Smoke days happen. They don’t typically stop a move, but they can make outdoor work miserable for crew and homeowners alike.

For more on year-round timing, see our winter moving guide and fall moving advantages post.

Military PCS Season: April-September

If you’re active-duty military, your timing isn’t fully in your control — but understanding the rhythm helps:

• Peak PCS window: Mid-May through mid-August
• Block-out periods: Some bases have move-out blocks the last week of June and last week of July when post housing is overwhelmed
• DITY/PPM moves: If you’re doing a personally procured move, request quotes 6-8 weeks ahead in summer
• DLA, TDY-en-route, and short-fuse orders: Even short-notice PCS can be handled — but a Colorado Springs mover who works with the military daily makes a real difference

iHaul iMove handles Fort Carson, Peterson SFB, Schriever SFB, and Air Force Academy moves constantly and understands the unique logistics — gate access, base housing inspections, weight ticket requirements for PPM reimbursement, and short-notice flexibility.

Booking Lead Time Guide

How far ahead should you call?

Booking earlier than these minimums never hurts — a quality mover will hold your date with no deposit or a small refundable one. Booking too late means accepting whoever still has a truck open, which is often not the company you wanted.

For a full pre-move countdown, see our moving checklist timeline.

Get an Honest 2026 Quote

Whether you’re racing to PCS out of Fort Carson in July, planning a January savings move, or eyeing a Tuesday in September, iHaul iMove gives you transparent, binding-ceiling estimates and the same crew quality regardless of season.

Call 719-357-5865 or click below for your free Colorado Springs moving estimate.

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iHaul iMove has been Colorado Springs’ family-owned moving company since 2008. Explore our residential moving, labor-only moving, and full service areas — including Briargate, Broadmoor, and the Tri-Lakes region.