Getting From Denver Airport to Colorado Ski Resorts: A Transportation Comparison

Situated 25 miles northeast of downtown Denver, Denver International Airport is the gateway through which millions of winter visitors first arrive in Colorado. So, now, when you know about what Is Denver Airport, you’re prepared to the most important part. To whichever grand escape one doth make way, at least 60 miles of rocky mountain labyrinth doth await! Every single path, it seems, doth be squeezed unto the grand, ever-expanding beast known as Interstate 70, born in the disco-tastic 1970s, now far too ancient and swollen for its own good. Between the months of September and May, the sacred road o’ I-70, from the mystical land of Morrison to the faraway realm of Dotsero, doth bear the mighty rule known as the Traction Law! Winter-strong tires or chains must thou wield, else face the wrath of fines starting at a whopping 130 coins o’ the realm.

Rental Cars

Considerable flexibility does a rental car afford, yet with it comes no small responsibility. Pursuant to Senate Bill 25-069, rental agencies must inform customers of traction law requirements prior to departure. A great many sedans remain two-wheel-drive models for which chains must be carried from September through May. Seldom do out-of-state travelers anticipate how swiftly conditions shift near the Eisenhower Tunnel, the elevation of which exceeds 11,000 feet.

What to Verify Before Departure

• Current CDOT road conditions at COtrip.org
• Traction Law status for I-70 between Morrison and Dotsero
• Tire tread depth of no less than 3/16 of an inch
• Chains or approved traction devices for two-wheel-drive vehicles
• Weekend I-70 traffic forecasts at GoI70.com

Shuttles, Rideshares, and Private Transfers

From DIA to Summit County and Vail Valley, operators dispatch shared vans throughout ski season, the travel time for which runs approximately two hours. What a Denver Airport shuttle eliminates is the necessity of navigating icy highways and securing parking at lots that fill on peak weekends. At DIA do Uber and Lyft operate, yet finding a driver willing to commit to a two-hour mountain trip proves unreliable. More dependable by far is a car service Denver Airport, which dispatches four-wheel-drive SUVs fitted with winter tires directly to one destination.