Denver → Glenwood Springs
Denver to Glenwood Springs Car Service
Glenwood Springs is 180 miles from Denver International, all of it on I-70. It is where the winter road to Aspen leaves the interstate, and the final miles run through Glenwood Canyon.
Elevation profile
- Distance from DEN
- 180 mi
- Typical drive
- 3h–3h 30m
- Elevation
- 5,761 ft
- Climb from DEN
- 5,878 ft
- SUV from
- $750
Passes on this route
- Eisenhower Tunnel 11,158 ft highest vehicular tunnel in the United States
- Vail Pass 10,662 ft
Rates by vehicle
One way, per vehicle — SUV, up to 6 passengers. Taxes, tolls and gratuity included. Photos show the models we drive, not our own cars.
Get a quote for this vehicle180 miles, one interstate
The drive follows I-70 west from start to finish. It passes through the Eisenhower Tunnel at 11,158 feet, crosses Vail Pass at 10,662 feet, and descends Glenwood Canyon to the town exits.
Summer drive time runs 3 hours to 3 hours 30 minutes. Vail is 120 miles from the airport, so Glenwood adds another 60 miles of I-70 beyond it. See our Denver to Vail page for the shorter run.
Glenwood Springs is also where the winter route to Aspen turns south off I-70. If Aspen is your final stop, start with our Denver to Aspen page.
You end up lower than you think
The town sits at 5,761 feet. That is only 481 feet above Denver.
You top out at the tunnel, then give back almost 5,400 feet before arrival.
Glenwood Canyon closures
Here the risky season is summer, not winter. Most of the more than 25 mudslide closures since the 2020 Grizzly Creek Fire came in the monsoon.
A canyon closure stops the interstate between you and town. On a summer storm day, check the CDOT road status before you fly and send us your arrival time early.
Winter: the traction law
Colorado’s traction law covers I-70 from Morrison to Dotsero, September 1 to May 31. Tire rules and fines are in Colorado traction law, explained.
Hot springs and Hanging Lake
Glenwood Hot Springs Pool bills itself as the largest hot springs pool in the world. It opens daily from 9 am to 9 pm.
Hanging Lake sits in Glenwood Canyon and needs an advance reservation. From May 1 to October 31, access is a $12 shuttle or a $9 walk or bike permit. Book it before you book the ride.
Flying into Eagle instead
Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE) is 32 minutes from Glenwood Springs. That drive stays west of Vail Pass and the tunnel. Details are on our Eagle airport page.
Private car or Bustang
CDOT’s Bustang West Line runs from Denver Union Station to Glenwood Springs for $28 per person. You first take the train from DEN to Union Station.
For 6 people, the Bustang fares total $168. Our SUV starts at $750 one way for the whole vehicle, up to 6 passengers. The difference buys a pickup at Denver International and no transfer downtown.
Vehicles
A Chevrolet Suburban or a Lincoln Navigator seats 6. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter takes up to 12. Cargo space is on the fleet page, and all published rates are on the rates page.
What the price includes
$750one way, per vehicle (SUV, up to 6 passengers), everything included
- Airport waiting included — a delayed flight is not a rebooking
- Flight tracking — pickup moves with your arrival
- Your driver waits at the vehicle in the designated pickup area, not inside the terminal
- I-70 Mountain Express Lane tolls on peak days
- Child seats at no charge, on request
- Bottled water in the vehicle
- Gratuity — included, not added at the end
- Traction-law compliant vehicle, September through May
No meter, no surge pricing, no fuel surcharge. The number you are quoted is the number you pay.
Per vehicle or per seat: the actual math
Shared shuttles charge each passenger. We charge for the car. Which one wins depends entirely on how many of you are travelling.
| Passengers | Shared shuttle, total | Our car | Per seat with us | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $28 | $750 | $750 | Shuttle |
| 2 | $56 | $750 | $375 | Shuttle |
| 3 | $84 | $750 | $250 | Shuttle |
| 4 | $112 | $750 | $188 | Shuttle |
| 6 | $168 | $750 | $125 | Shuttle |
On price alone the shuttle wins at every group size on this route. Shuttle rates come from the operator's own page: CDOT's Bustang West Line runs Denver Union Station to Glenwood Springs for $28, after the train from DEN.
Price is not the only difference. A shared shuttle, bus or train carries other passengers, makes other stops and leaves on its own schedule. The private car leaves when your flight lands and drives to one address.
Questions we actually get asked
- How long does it take to drive from Denver airport to Glenwood Springs?
- 180 miles and 3h–3h 30m in clear conditions. Winter weekends run longer.
- How much is a car from Denver airport to Glenwood Springs?
- From $750 one way for an SUV with up to six passengers — the price is for the vehicle, not per passenger. Tolls, child seats and gratuity are included. Larger groups ride in a Sprinter, quoted on request.
- Which high points does this route cross?
- Eisenhower Tunnel at 11,158 ft, Vail Pass at 10,662 ft. Weather closes them from time to time, and any detour adds time.
- Do I need snow chains or a special vehicle?
- Not in our car. Colorado enforces its traction law on I-70 between Dotsero and Morrison from September 1 through May 31, and every vehicle in our fleet carries compliant tires for the full season. In a rental it is your problem: the fine is $100 plus a $33 surcharge, and all-wheel drive alone does not satisfy the law.
- How high is it, and will the altitude bother me?
- Glenwood Springs sits at 5,761 ft, 481 feet above Denver — below the 8,000-foot line where sleeping-elevation guidance starts.
- Will our skis and luggage fit?
- A Suburban gives 41.5 cubic feet with all three rows up and 98.8 with the third folded. Ski bags are long rather than bulky, so the constraint is usually shape, not volume — tell us the passenger count, bag count and ski bag count and we will size the vehicle.
- Where do I meet my driver at Denver airport?
- Pre-arranged private cars meet passengers on Level 5 of the Jeppesen Terminal, at Island 2. Your driver waits at the vehicle in the designated pickup area, not inside the terminal.
- What happens if my flight is delayed?
- Airport waiting is included in the price. A delayed flight is not a rebooking.
- Should I fly into EGE instead?
- EGE is about 32 minutes from Glenwood Springs. Tell us which airport you are landing at when you request the quote.