Packing guide for the Mountain West: Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming
Much of this region is at high altitude. Denver is about a mile (1,600 m) above sea level, and many towns are higher. The air is thin and dry, the sun is strong, and temperatures can change a lot between day and night. Winters bring snow, especially in the mountains, and summers are warm and dry, sometimes with wildfire smoke.
States in this guide: Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
General information only. Weather varies a lot inside each region and from year to year. Check the forecast for your city on weather.gov before you pack, and follow the official travel rules linked below.
Your packing checklist
Tick items as you pack. Your ticks stay on this device only. Share the list, print it, or set reminders below.
All year
- Layers: T-shirt, fleece and a light jacket
- Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat
- Lip balm and moisturizer
- Refillable water bottle
Winter
- Warm winter coat
- Waterproof boots
- Hat and gloves
Summer
- A few N95 masks for wildfire smoke
All year
- Layers you can add and remove: a T-shirt, a fleece and a light jacket on the same day is normal.
- Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat: the sun is stronger at altitude.
- Lip balm, moisturizer and a refillable water bottle for the dry air. Drink more water than usual in your first days while your body adjusts to the altitude.
Winter (November to April)
- A warm winter coat, waterproof boots, a hat and gloves. Mountain towns get heavy snow.
- Ski and snow gear can be rented or bought used locally, so don’t pack it.
Summer and wildfire smoke
Summer days are warm and dry, and nights are cool. During wildfire season, smoke can make the air unhealthy. Check air quality at AirNow.gov and consider a few N95 masks.
For documents, medicines, electronics, food and money, see our general packing guide for newcomers. It applies to every region.