Goodwill Bins S Academy Blvd Colorado Springs, Colorado Goodwill Outlet Store

While Colorado is lucky enough to have a handful of Goodwill Outlets, the location on South Academy Boulevard in Colorado Springs has a reputation for being the most laid-back and spacious of the entire Front Range bunch. This is the place where the state’s adventurous, outdoor-loving spirit meets a friendly, community-focused shopping experience. The moment you walk in, you’ll be struck by the sheer size of the place and, more importantly, the width of the aisles. It’s a small detail, but it makes a huge difference, allowing for an easy-to-navigate, less-congested treasure hunt.

The atmosphere here is a wonderful mix of focused but calm. You’ll find military families from the nearby Fort Carson, their carts filling up with practical household goods, digging right alongside adventure junkies kitted out in hiking gear, all of them on the hunt for their next great score. Sprinkled in are the e-commerce flippers, politely and methodically working their way through the Goodwill bins. The vibe is reinforced by the store’s firm rule barring children under the age of sixteen from the main digging area, a policy that helps keep the environment geared toward efficient and safe bargain hunting for adults.

The bins themselves are a direct and fascinating reflection of the city’s unique identity. This is Colorado, after all, so you can expect to find an absolute abundance of high-performance snow-sport gear. We’re talking ski pants, insulated jackets, and goggles, often from high-end brands and in nearly new condition. You’ll also find rugged tactical backpacks and other military-style gear, a clear nod to the city's significant armed forces presence. And, of course, there’s plenty of Air Force Academy swag to be found, perfect for any proud parent or alum. It’s a treasure trove of gear for the adventurous soul.

The staff keeps the floor fresh and exciting by rotating in new bins on a steady and reliable twenty-five-minute cycle. This brisk pace ensures that there’s always something new to discover, no matter what time of day you arrive. For first-timers, a key piece of advice is to have a plan for parking. The lot is generous, but this is a popular spot, and it fills up incredibly early. Your best bet for getting a convenient spot close to the door is to arrive right at opening time.

Many of the local regulars have perfected the art of the multi-visit day, a strategy that is pure genius. They’ll arrive at the Goodwill outlet for the morning rush, getting the first crack at the day’s new inventory. After an hour or two, they’ll break for some of the city’s famous green-chile- smothered breakfast burritos to refuel. Then, they’ll swing back to the store for the big noon restock, which is when a massive new wave of merchandise often hits the floor. It’s a strategy that pays off handsomely, because this is one of the few places in the world where scoring a high-end Patagonia shell, a pristine pair of hiking boots, or a perfect set of skis for mere pennies on the pound isn’t just a wild dream—it’s a totally realistic possibility.