By Air
Vail is serviced by both the Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE), which is just a 40 minute drive from the resort, as well as Denver International Airport (DEN) which is 2 hours east of Vail. The drive is breathtaking as you enter the Rockies.
Eagle County Regional Airport is the closest airport to Vail. Roughly a 40 minute drive (56 km) however flights are generally more expensive than flights into Denver International Airport as flights do not operate as often. Also note Eagle County Regional Airport is more likely to shut down due to winter weather whereas Denver International Airport doesn’t get much snow and is well prepared for extreme weather conditions.
Denver International Airport is a hub for United Airlines, Frontier, Delta and Southwest. Southwest is a great lower budget option for those travelling to the ski fields as they do not charge bag or change fees- amazing for those chasing powder or taking their own equipment.
Shuttle Bus
The Epic Mountain Express is a shuttle service that offers door to door service from Denver International and Eagle County Airport. The drivers for Epic Mountain Express are trained in mountain driving and it also offers complimentary Wi-Fi. This shuttle service allows for groups of three or more passengers. The shuttles with Epic run hourly from 8:00am until 11:00 pm.
Another great shuttle service is Peak 1 Express featuring door- to door service leaving every 60-90 minutes.
Bustang is an affordable bus service departing from Denver Bus Centre. Some take the train from the airport to Union Station. The MetroRide city bus takes 6- minutes to get to Union Station and the Bus Centre. Departure times are limited leaving at 2:30 pm and 5:00. For those leaving Vail, the bus departs at 7:05 am and 8:40 am. The cost is approximately $25 AUD each way.
If landing in Denver, you can arrange a private shuttle with Eagle Vail Express. If you decide to take a shuttle to the resort you can take in the Rocky Mountain views along Interstate 70. You’ll drive through the historic gold rush towns such as Idaho Springs and Georgetown. Keep a lookout for the engineering masterpiece Eisenhower Tunnel. Eagle Vail Express is a private luxury transportation company that offers direct service to your destination without having to make multiple stops. Vail Express supplies vehicles such as SUV’s, Mercedes Springs and luxury town cars.
Car Hire
Driving is a great idea if you are travelling with a few people and baggage. It would be best to pre-book a car hire if this is the route you are wanting to take. This way you don’t run the risk of getting a vehicle that suits your group.
A few of the car hire companies you’ll find at Denver International Airport are Advantage, Hertz, National, Payless and Thrifty.
For winter driving, we recommend choosing a 4WD or all-wheel drive otherwise the car may require winter chains. It’s also worth checking the road conditions to check the I-70 status on road closures. This can happen in areas such as Eisenhower Tunnel, Vail Pass and the Continental Divide. The best part of this drive is that it is solide freeway driving for those who aren’t comfortable on windy narrow mountain roads.
If you are wanting to hire a car as an international driver, Colorado recognises drivers licenses from other countries for up to 90-days.
Note you must be 25 years of age in order to hire a car in the US. However some may make an exception in return for a higher rate. It would be best to contact the hire company if you are under the age of 25 to be sure hiring a car at a higher rate is possible.
