Colorado Springs Is a Military Town — And It Shows
I have lived in Colorado Springs for over 20 years, and one thing I can tell you without hesitation: this is one of the most military-friendly cities in America. It is not a slogan. It is just how the place operates. Five military installations within the metro area. Tens of thousands of active duty service members, veterans, retirees, and their families. The military is woven into everything here — the economy, the neighborhoods, the restaurants, the culture.
And yet, I have never found a single comprehensive list of military discounts specific to Colorado Springs. National lists exist, sure. But they rarely include the local restaurants, the small businesses, or the attractions that actually make this city what it is. So I built one.
This is the list I wish existed when I first moved here. If you are active duty, a veteran, a military spouse, or retired — this is for you. Bookmark it. Share it with your unit. I will keep it updated.
The 5 Military Bases in Colorado Springs
Before we get into discounts, it helps to understand why Colorado Springs has so many. Five bases means a massive military population, and local businesses have responded accordingly.
- Fort Carson — Home of the 4th Infantry Division. Located on the south side of the city, Fort Carson is the largest installation in the area with tens of thousands of soldiers and family members. The neighborhoods of Fountain, Security-Widefield, and the Broadmoor Bluffs area are popular with Fort Carson families.
- Peterson Space Force Base — On the east side near the airport. Headquarters for United States Space Command and NORAD. Large Air Force and Space Force population.
- Schriever Space Force Base — About 15 miles east of the city. A key hub for military satellite operations. Personnel tend to live on the east and northeast sides of town.
- Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station — The famous underground complex built inside Cheyenne Mountain on the southwest side. Iconic for a reason.
- United States Air Force Academy — On the north side of Colorado Springs. Both a military installation and one of the most visited attractions in the state. The chapel is world-famous, and cadets are a constant presence in the community.
Together, these five installations make Colorado Springs one of the densest military communities in the country. That concentration means businesses here genuinely understand and appreciate military customers. The discounts below are not tokenism — they reflect real community ties. For a deeper look at what makes this city tick, check out our 20-year local’s honest guide to Colorado Springs.
Restaurant Military Discounts in Colorado Springs
Eating out is a big part of life here, and plenty of restaurants — both local and chain — offer military discounts. Most require a valid military ID (CAC card, VA ID, or retired military ID). Some extend the discount to spouses. Always ask, because many places offer it but do not advertise it.
National Chains With Colorado Springs Locations
- Chili’s Grill & Bar — 10% military discount. Multiple locations in the Springs, including Powers Boulevard and North Academy. Available every day, not just Veterans Day.
- Applebee’s — 10% discount for active duty and veterans with valid ID. The location on North Academy near Chapel Hills Mall is popular with families from Peterson and the Academy.
- Golden Corral — Known for their free Veterans Day meal every November, but they also offer periodic military appreciation events throughout the year. The location on North Academy gets packed on Veterans Day — go early.
- Outback Steakhouse — 10% military discount with ID. The location on North Academy is convenient for the east side military community. Good for a sit-down dinner without breaking the bank.
- Cracker Barrel — 10% discount year-round for military. The Colorado Springs location is on the south side near I-25 and is a popular stop for families heading to or from Fort Carson.
- Denny’s — 10% discount for active military and veterans. Multiple locations around the Springs. The one near Fort Carson on South Academy sees a lot of military traffic.
- Wendy’s — 10% military discount at most locations. Quick and easy, and the discount applies to the whole order.
- Sonic Drive-In — Discounts vary by location, but most Colorado Springs Sonic locations offer a military discount when you ask. Worth mentioning at the speaker.
Local and Regional Favorites
- Texas Roadhouse — 10% military discount and a reliably packed house on any given Friday night. The Powers location and the one near the Citadel are both convenient. Great steaks at a fair price, and they genuinely appreciate military customers.
- Famous Dave’s BBQ — Military discount available. The Colorado Springs location near the Citadel area has been a local favorite for years. If you are into barbecue, we have a full guide to where to eat in Colorado Springs that covers the local BBQ scene.
- Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers — Military discount available at most locations. Multiple spots around the Springs. Their custard is worth the trip alone.
- Buffalo Wild Wings — 10% military discount. The Powers location is a common gathering spot for off-duty military, especially during football season.
- IHOP — 10% discount for military with ID. The location on South Academy near Fort Carson is practically an unofficial dining hall on weekend mornings.
Pro tip: Even if a restaurant is not on this list, ask. I have been surprised by how many locally owned places in Colorado Springs offer an informal military discount — especially along North Academy, Powers Boulevard, and the areas surrounding Fort Carson. The worst they can say is no.
Attraction and Activity Discounts
Colorado Springs is loaded with things to do, and most of the major attractions offer military pricing. This matters because attraction tickets add up fast, especially with a family.
- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo — Military discount on admission. One of the best zoos in the country, built on the side of a mountain. The giraffe feeding alone is worth the visit. Active duty, veterans, and dependents qualify.
- Garden of the Gods Trading Post — The park itself is free (one of the best things about it), but the Trading Post and surrounding shops offer military discounts on merchandise. The park is a must-see — read our complete Garden of the Gods guide for the full breakdown.
- Pikes Peak — America’s Mountain — Military discount on toll road admission. The summit is 14,115 feet, the views are otherworldly, and the new Summit House is excellent. Worth doing at least once.
- Royal Gorge Bridge & Park — Military pricing on admission. About 45 minutes south of the Springs in Canon City. The bridge spans a 1,000-foot gorge and is genuinely breathtaking. See our best day trips from Colorado Springs for more ideas like this.
- United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum — Located downtown, this museum offers military discounts. It is one of the best museums in the state — interactive, modern, and surprisingly moving. Worth a visit even if you are not a huge sports fan.
- North Pole — Santa’s Workshop — Military discount on admission. Located near the base of Pikes Peak, this is a classic family amusement park that has been here for decades. Great for younger kids.
- Cave of the Winds — Military pricing available. Located in Manitou Springs near Garden of the Gods. The cave tour is interesting, and the newer outdoor attractions (including the terror-inducing Wind Walker Challenge Course) are a blast.
- Cheyenne Mountain State Park — Colorado State Parks offers a free or discounted annual pass to active duty military through certain programs. This park borders Fort Carson and has excellent hiking with prairie dog towns, deer, and views of the Front Range.
- Air Force Academy — Free to visit. The Cadet Chapel, visitor center, and grounds are open to the public. No discount needed because there is no charge, but it is worth mentioning because many military families do not realize they can just drive in and explore.
Outdoor activities: Most of the best things to do in Colorado Springs are free — hiking at Red Rock Canyon, Palmer Park, Ute Valley Park, and dozens of other trails costs nothing. Check our guide to the best hiking trails in Colorado Springs for the full list. No discount needed when the best stuff is already free.
Retail, Services, and Everything Else
Military discounts extend well beyond food and fun. Here are the retail stores and service providers in Colorado Springs where your military ID saves you money.
Home Improvement
- Lowe’s — 10% military discount every day for active duty, veterans, and spouses. Register your MyLowe’s account with ID.me to verify once and get the discount automatically. Works in-store and online. The Lowe’s locations on North Academy and Powers are both large and well-stocked.
- Home Depot — 10% military discount (up to $400 max discount per year). Also uses ID.me for verification. Works on most items in-store. Both the Platte Avenue and North Nevada locations are convenient.
Retail
- Target — 10% military discount during specific promotional periods (typically Veterans Day week and Military Appreciation Month in May). Verify through the Target Circle app with ID.me.
- Nike — 10% military discount online through nike.com with ID.me verification.
- Under Armour — 10% military discount. Available online with ID.me.
- The North Face — 10% military and first responder discount through their Pro program.
- Columbia Sportswear — Military discount available. With all the outdoor activity here, this one gets used.
Auto and Transportation
- Phil Long Dealerships — Phil Long is one of the largest dealer groups in Colorado Springs and has a long history of military support. They frequently run military-specific promotions and pricing programs. Multiple locations across the city.
- Firestone Complete Auto Care — 10% military discount on services. Multiple locations throughout Colorado Springs.
- Jiffy Lube — Military discount available at most locations. Quick oil changes with a few bucks off adds up over the years.
Fitness and Wellness
- Planet Fitness — Watch for military-specific promotions during Military Appreciation Month in May.
- YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region — Military membership rates available. Multiple locations, popular with military families for pools, gyms, and youth programs.
Wireless and Tech
- T-Mobile — Military ONE plan with significant monthly savings. One of the better wireless deals nationally.
- AT&T — 25% military discount on wireless plans.
- Verizon — Military discount on select plans.
- Apple — Military and veteran pricing through their online store with ID.me verification.
How to Verify and Claim Your Military Discount
This part trips people up, so here is the simple version.
What ID to Bring
- Common Access Card (CAC) — the standard for active duty. Accepted everywhere.
- VA Health ID Card or VHIC — widely accepted for veterans.
- Retired Military ID — accepted everywhere.
- DD-214 — some places accept this, but it contains personal information. Better to get a VA ID.
- Colorado driver’s license with veteran designation — some businesses accept the veteran marker on your license.
Digital Verification
- ID.me — This is the big one. Free to set up. Verify your military status once, and it works across hundreds of retailers including Lowe’s, Home Depot, Target, Nike, Under Armour, and many more. If you have not set up an ID.me account, do it today. It takes 10 minutes and saves you money for years.
- Military.com Discounts Page — The most comprehensive national database of military discounts. Searchable by category. I use this as a reference when I am checking whether a specific business offers a discount. Bookmark it.
- Veterans Advantage — A paid membership ($4.99/month) that unlocks additional discounts, especially for travel. Worth considering if you travel frequently.
My advice: Set up ID.me first. It is free and covers most of the major retailers. Then bookmark the Military.com discounts page for everything else. Between those two resources, you will catch 90% of the discounts available to you.
Living in Colorado Springs as Military
I chose Colorado Springs after visiting nearly every major city in America during my years with Delta Airlines. I picked it for the scenery, the sunshine (300+ days of it), and the outdoor lifestyle. But if I were military, the reasons would be even stronger.
This city gets military life in a way most places do not. The school districts near Fort Carson and Peterson are used to PCS moves and have programs specifically for military kids transitioning in and out. The healthcare system, including the VA clinic on the east side and Evans Army Community Hospital at Fort Carson, is robust. Tricare providers are plentiful because the demand is there.
The cost of living is higher than it was 10 years ago — true for all of Colorado — but BAH rates reflect the market, and there are still affordable neighborhoods on the east side and in Fountain. The tradeoff is world-class outdoor recreation literally in your backyard.
The military community here is tight. The Armed Services YMCA, the USO at the airport, and dozens of veteran-owned businesses create a support network that goes beyond discounts. If you are PCSing to Colorado Springs, you are going to like it here.
Want to explore what makes this city special? Start with our guide to the best hiking trails and our where to eat guide to hit the ground running.
About the Author: Dominic Ferrara has lived in Colorado Springs for over 20 years. After working for Delta Airlines and visiting just about every major city in the United States, he chose Colorado Springs for its scenery, sunshine, and outdoor lifestyle. He lives on the west side near Ute Valley Park, where he e-bikes, camps, and explores the mountains regularly. His recommendations come from two decades of eating, hiking, and living here — not from a weekend visit.
