Denver → Tabernash
Denver to Tabernash & Devil's Thumb Ranch Car Service
Tabernash is 99 miles from Denver International, and most people going there are headed to Devil's Thumb Ranch. The drive crosses the Continental Divide on Berthoud Pass, then runs past Winter Park and Fraser to a county road.
Elevation profile
- Distance from DEN
- 99 mi
- Typical drive
- 1h 55m
- Elevation
- 8,403 ft
- Climb from DEN
- 6,027 ft
Passes on this route
- Berthoud Pass 11,307 ft closes for avalanche control in winter; detour via the Eisenhower Tunnel, CO-9 and Kremmling
How far, how long
Devil’s Thumb Ranch sits outside Tabernash, 99 miles from Denver International and 75 miles from downtown Denver.
The ranch puts the summer drive at 115 minutes, just under 2 hours. We do not publish a winter figure. Berthoud Pass decides that on the day.
The road: exit 232, then US-40
The route leaves I-70 at exit 232 and turns onto US-40. From there it runs through Empire, climbs Berthoud Pass, and drops into Winter Park and Fraser.
Tabernash is the stop after those towns, not before them.
Over the Continental Divide
Berthoud Pass crosses the Continental Divide at 11,307 feet. Wind and snow close it in winter.
When it closes, the detour runs through the Eisenhower Tunnel, north on CO-9 to Kremmling and back east on US-40, a far longer drive than the pass. Build extra time into any winter arrival with weather in the forecast.
Tabernash itself sits at 8,403 feet. That is 3,123 feet above Denver.
The last miles past Fraser
Winter Park is not the end of this drive. If the resort is your stop, see our Denver to Winter Park page instead.
About 2 miles past Fraser, the route turns right onto County Road 83. Take the right-hand fork, and the ranch is 3 miles further on. The address is 3530 County Rd 83, Tabernash.
Those 3 miles are a county road, not a highway. Give us the ranch address when you book, not just “Winter Park”.
Devil’s Thumb Ranch and the Nordic trails
The ranch runs nearly 120 km of groomed cross-country trails. USA Today readers voted its Nordic Center the top cross-country resort in North America in 6 of 7 recent years.
Many guests bring Nordic gear, not downhill skis. Tell us how many ski bags you have when you book.
No airline closer than Denver
Granby-Grand County Airport serves general aviation only. No scheduled airline flies there.
For an airline passenger, Denver International is the realistic airport for Devil’s Thumb Ranch.
Vehicles and rates
A Chevrolet Suburban or a Lincoln Navigator seats 6 passengers. Groups of up to 12 ride in the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. Cargo details are on the fleet page.
We do not publish a set rate for Tabernash yet. Send your date, passenger count and bag count, and we will quote the trip. Published rates for other destinations are on the rates page.
What the price includes
- 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.
Questions we actually get asked
- How long does it take to drive from Denver airport to Tabernash?
- 99 miles and 1h 55m in clear conditions. Winter weekends run longer.
- What is the high point of this route?
- Berthoud Pass at 11,307 ft. Weather closes it 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?
- Tabernash sits at 8,403 ft, which is 3,123 feet above Denver. Standard guidance above 8,000 feet is to gain no more than 1,000 feet of sleeping elevation per night — a transfer covers that in 1h 55m, which is why the first night often feels rough.
- 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.