Guides ·
Denver Airport to Ski Resorts: Shuttle vs Bus vs Private Car
Bus to Vail: $27 a person. Shuttle seat: $79–139. Private SUV: from $540 for up to 6. Group math, luggage and cancellation rules compared.
The bus is the cheapest way from Denver International Airport (DEN) to Vail and Summit County. The train plus the Bustang West Line costs $27 per person to Vail and $22 to Frisco. A shared shuttle seat to Vail costs $79–139 per person in winter. Our private SUV costs $540 per vehicle for up to 6 people. For 1 or 2 travelers, a shuttle or bus wins on price. Once you have 4 to 6 people and a pile of ski bags, the per-person gap shrinks, and sometimes it flips.
All fares below are as listed on October 27, 2026. Check with each operator before you book.
Public bus: Bustang, Pegasus and Snowstang
No state bus leaves from the airport
No Bustang, Pegasus or Snowstang bus departs from DEN for the ski areas. Bustang’s FAQ tells you to take RTD’s A Line train to Union Station first. The A Line fare from the airport is a $10 Airport Day Pass.
Bustang West Line
The West Line leaves Union Station from Gate B19. One-way fares are $12 to Frisco, $17 to Vail and $19 to Avon. On weekdays, 15 trips run westbound, starting at 6:00 AM.
By the schedule, the ride takes about 1h45–2h to Frisco and 2h20–2h35 to Vail. Add the A Line ride and your connection at Union Station on top of that.
Luggage limits are firm. You get 2 small carry-on items plus up to 3 items under the bus. Skis or a snowboard count as 1 of those items.
Pegasus van to Vail and Avon
Pegasus is a smaller van on the Denver–Avon run. Union Station to Vail or Avon costs $20, and Frisco costs $13. It runs 6 trips each way Monday through Thursday and 10 Friday through Sunday. The first trip leaves at 6:00 AM. No service on Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Pegasus allows one bag up to 16×16×12 inches, plus one pair of skis or a snowboard per person. Bustang’s FAQ sends travelers with bigger luggage to the West Line.
Snowstang ski bus
Snowstang has not published 2026–27 dates or fares. Its pages read “See you next season” as of October 27, 2026.
Last season it ran on weekends and holiday Mondays, starting December 13, 2025. It made 1 trip each way per day from Union Station, with extra stops at Federal Center and Wooly Mammoth Park-n-Ride.
It served Breckenridge, Arapahoe Basin, Copper Mountain and Loveland. The adult fare was $12.50 each way. Buses headed back at 4:00 PM (4:10 from A-Basin). A ticket guaranteed a ride, but not a seat.
That schedule suits a day trip from Denver. It does not suit a week-long stay that starts at the airport.
Shared shuttle: Epic Mountain Express and Summit Express
A shared shuttle picks you up at DEN and drops you in the mountains. Other passengers ride with you. Epic Mountain Express (EME) carries up to 12 passengers per vehicle.
EME winter seats to Vail cost $79–139 per person. EME seats to Keystone cost $59–129 per person depending on season, so the low end may not apply to ski dates. Summit Express lists a Breckenridge seat from $65 per person door to door, or $50 to the transfer station. Summit Express quotes a 2–3 hour ride, door to door, in Summit County and the Vail Valley.
As of an October 22, 2026 alert, the EME counter at DEN sits temporarily at baggage claim #18, between doors 502 and 504.
Luggage and cancellation rules
| Rule | Epic Mountain Express | Summit Express |
|---|---|---|
| Bags included | 2 per person, plus 1 small personal item | 2 per person, plus a carry-on |
| Skis or board | Count as 1 of the 2 bags | Count as 1 of the 2 bags |
| Extra bag | $10, tell them in advance | $50 per item, each way |
| Where skis ride | External rack, can get wet | Not stated |
| Cancel under 24h | No refund | No refund |
| Cancel earlier | $10 fee per seat | Not stated |
| Book under 24h | +$5 per person | Not stated |
| Weather or traffic delays | Not their responsibility; they recommend travel insurance | Not their responsibility; they move you to the next available shuttle and track delayed flights |
Count your bags before you book. A family of 4 with 4 ski bags and 4 suitcases already uses all 8 included bags. Two more boot bags cost $20 with EME or $100 with Summit Express, one way.
Rental car and the traction law
From September 1 through May 31, Colorado’s traction law covers I-70 between Dotsero and Morrison. Every ski route in this post runs on that stretch.
Your tires need 3/16 inch of tread and a snowflake, all-weather or M+S rating. Chains or an approved traction device also qualify. AWD or 4WD alone does not exempt you. Ask the rental counter what tires the car has before you leave DEN.
Our traction law guide covers the details.
Rideshare
We don’t list rideshare prices here; check the app for your date. The traction law applies to every passenger vehicle on the corridor, rideshare cars included.
Private car
A private car carries only your group. We charge per vehicle, one way, for an SUV with up to 6 passengers. Tolls are included.
| Route from DEN | Private SUV, up to 6 |
|---|---|
| Vail | $540 |
| Breckenridge | $540 |
| Keystone | $460 |
| Winter Park | $460 |
| Steamboat | $950 |
| Aspen | $960 |
Tip is optional. 20% is customary, and you choose the amount, or no tip, when you pay.
Your driver tracks your flight. The driver waits at the vehicle in the designated pickup area, not inside the terminal. You leave when your group is ready, without waiting for other passengers.
Price by group size
Bus and shuttle totals below are the per-person fare times the number of travelers. The private price stays the same from 1 to 6 people.
Vail, Breckenridge and Keystone
| Group | Bus to Vail (A Line + West Line, $27 pp) | EME to Vail, winter ($79–139 pp) | Private to Vail | Summit Express to Breckenridge ($65 pp) | Private to Breckenridge | EME to Keystone, by season ($59–129 pp) | Private to Keystone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $27 | $79–139 | $540 | $65 | $540 | $59–129 | $460 |
| 2 | $54 | $158–278 | $540 | $130 | $540 | $118–258 | $460 |
| 4 | $108 | $316–556 | $540 | $260 | $540 | $236–516 | $460 |
| 6 | $162 | $474–834 | $540 | $390 | $540 | $354–774 | $460 |
What the numbers say:
- Vail: for 4 people at the top of the winter range, the private SUV costs $16 less than 4 seats. At the low end of the winter range, the shuttle stays cheaper even for 6.
- Breckenridge: the shared shuttle is cheaper even for 6 people. Six seats cost $390, which is $150 less than our $540.
- Keystone: EME’s $59–129 range varies by season, not only winter. At $129 a seat, 4 seats cost $516, more than our $460. Check the seat price for your ski dates before you compare.
Winter Park, Steamboat and Aspen
| Route | Shared shuttle operator | 1 shared seat | 6 shared seats | Private SUV, up to 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Park | Home James | $88 | $528 | $460 |
| Steamboat | Steamboat Express | $126.50 | $759 | $950 |
| Aspen | Roaring Fork Express | $130, before airport fees | $780, before airport fees | $960 |
For Winter Park, a group of 6 pays $68 less in a private car than in 6 shared seats. For Steamboat and Aspen, 6 shared seats still cost less than the private SUV.
Which option fits
- Solo or a couple, light bags, flexible day: take the A Line and the West Line. It costs $27 to Vail.
- Solo or a couple flying in with ski bags: a shared shuttle starts at DEN and takes 2 bags per person, skis included.
- Group of 6 to Breckenridge, watching every dollar: the shared shuttle costs $390 against our $540.
- Group of 4 to 6 to Vail or Keystone: compare seat prices for your dates. At the top of the range, the private SUV costs less.
- Group of 6 to Winter Park: the private SUV costs $460 against $528 for 6 shared seats.
- Driving yourself: check your tires against the traction law before you leave the rental lot.
- Day trip on a weekend: watch for Snowstang’s 2026–27 schedule.