How to Get from Denver Airport to Beaver Creek (Options, Routes, Costs and More)
Going to Beaver Creek, CO from Denver International Airport? When it comes to traveling between these two points, there are plenty of transportation options that will work across all schedules and budgets. You can fly, drive, or take a shuttle, bus or rideshare. This guide will discuss your options in detail, plus the pros and cons for each.
Beaver Creek is one of my favorite destinations – if not my actual favorite – in Colorado.
While it doesn’t get as much attention as the Vails or Aspens of the world, Beaver Creek is right up there in terms of natural beauty and access to world class resorts and amenities.
It’s less busy than other mountain towns. It’s the type of place that those “in the know” travel to instead of competing destinations.
Whether you’re visiting in the winter, spring, summer or fall, there are plenty of reasons to visit this world-class destination.
So, how do you get to Beaver Creek from Denver Airport? It’s actually really easy, and there are plenty of ways to do it.
Know Before You Go
Distance from Denver to Beaver Creek
Beaver Creek, CO is 130 miles from Denver Airport, and it’ll take around 2.5 hours (without traffic) to drive there.
As far as mountain drives go, this one is easy. It’s a straight shot along I-70 – which is a major highway – through the Colorado Rockies.
If the prospect of mountain driving scares you, don’t fear this drive. Yes, it goes through the mountains, but it’s free of terrifying mountain passes. The whole drive is along a major highway.
Should you Drive or Fly?
Beaver Creek doesn’t have its own airport, but Eagle County Airport (EGE) is 28 miles from Beaver Creek on the other side of I-70 (so, farther from DEN) and has a ton of commercial flights per day from lots of destinations.
My thought on choosing to fly or drive between Denver and Beaver Creek is this – if you can fly directly from your origin into EGE, do it. If flying requires you connect through DEN, just drive via a rental car or shuttle. After accounting for wait times between connections, flight times, plus the shuttle time from EGE to Beaver Creek, there isn’t much of a time savings.
Transportation Options
Option 1: Rent a Car and Drive
Suitable for: Everyone
How to Book: rentalcars.com
Renting a car at DEN and driving to Beaver Creek is easy. Hop on a short shuttle to the rental car lot, pick up your rental, and you’re off.
The drive will take you about 2.5 hours from Denver Airport without stops or traffic. Add about 45 minutes to account for the time between landing, grabbing your bags and picking up your car.
Routes
There’s only one route to consider for the drive between Denver Airport and Beaver Creek, and it’s 130 miles along I-70.
Costs
If you’re traveling in the winter, you’ll need an AWD/4WD car. Expect to pay a minimum of $100+ per day.
Renting a car is a great option if you plan on exploring nearby destinations around Beaver Creek (Vail, Breckenridge, Glenwood Springs, Grand Junction, etc.) You’ll need the car to get to these places.
However, if your only destination is Beaver Creek and you plan on staying there the entire time, renting a car might not be the most practical or economical option.
Beaver Creek itself is small, and getting around is easy. There are several free shuttles and gondolas that go into each of the bases and pick up + drop off frequently.
Plus, renting a car means you’ll have to pay to park at your hotel ($50+/night) on top of the rental car fees.
Pros
- Plenty of flexibility over itinerary.
- Easy to pick up from the airport.
- Great if your plan is to explore nearby destinations.
Cons
- Costs can quickly build up.
- There are better solutions if you don’t plan on leaving Beaver Creek.
Option 2: Fly
Suitable for: Everyone
How to Book:
Eagle County Airport (EGE) is the closest airport to Beaver Creek, CO, and flying between DEN and EGE is easy.
If you’re flying to EGE through DEN, you’ll be doing this with United Airlines, which offers daily service year-round. There are a minimum of 3 daily flights, but often more during busy times.
However, many other airlines also fly directly into EGE:
- Alaska Airlines
- Seasonal, from Seattle (SEA) and San Diego (SAN)
- American Airlines
- Daily year-round from Dallas/FT Worth (DTW)
- Seasonal from Chicago (ORD), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), New York (JFK), Phoenix (PHX)
- Delta Airlines
- Seasonal from Atlanta (ATL) and Los Angeles (LAX)
If you’re coming from any of the above destinations, I highly suggest looking into flying into EGE directly instead of connecting through DEN. Flights may be a bit more expensive than DEN, but you’ll save a bunch of valuable time.
Plus, when you factor in ground transportation costs from DEN, it might even out anyway.
Of course, there is still the issue of getting from EGE to Beaver Creek itself. It’s just under a 30 minute drive, and you can either take a shared shuttle or book a rideshare.
Pros
- Most convenient option, most of the time.
- Can be cheaper than driving.
Cons
- Not door to door – you’ll still have to get from EGE to your final destination.
Option 3: Book a Shuttle
Suitable for: Everyone
How to Book: https://www.epicmountainexpress.com/
One of my favorite ways to travel between Denver Airport and Beaver Creek, CO is via shared shuttle. Shared shuttles are door to door service between DEN and your final destination. A shuttle will drop you off at your hotel, residence, Airbnb, etc.
Shared mountain shuttles are easy to book, and there’s little to do beyond booking and showing up.
They’re also a great option if you plan on staying in Beaver Creek the whole time (so you don’t need a car), and if flying into EGE isn’t a viable option.
A one-way fare between DEN starts at $79, so the costs can add up if there’s multiple travelers in your party.
Of course, one of the drawbacks to a shared shuttle is being on a shared schedule. There are multiple departures per day between Denver Airport and Beaver Creek, so depending on your flight’s arrival time, you may have to wait a bit once you land.
One thing to keep in mind – the last shuttle to leave DEN during the winter is at 6:30pm, so if your flight arrives later than that, plan on one of the other options recommended here.
Pros
- Easy to pick up from the airport.
- Let someone else do the driving.
- Economical for smaller parties.
Cons
- Departure times are limited.
- Costs can quickly build up if there are multiple people in your group.
Option 4: Rideshare Apps
Suitable for: Everyone
How to book: Uber app or Lyft app
Yes, you can take an Uber or Lyft from Denver International Airport to Beaver Creek!
And it’s pretty easy.
If you’ve already downloaded a rideshare app, it’s simple to book a ride once you’re at the airport. Prices will vary depending on the size of the vehicle you need and time of day/traffic conditions, but you should expect to spend between $180-$300.
The benefits over using a shuttle are that you can book it at the airport when needed (and not be subject to a schedule), and the costs are going to be relatively the same or cheaper if you have 2 or more people in your party.
There are a few drawbacks to booking a rideshare, but your main problem will be driver availability. It’s not a long journey, but out-of-town trips typically have fewer drivers pick them up. You might also have to deal with longer travel times and limited luggage space depending on the driver’s vehicle.
Pros
- Easy to arrange.
- Can be fairly cheap.
- Can be ordered on demand.
- Potentially limited driver availability.
- You won’t have your own car in Beaver Creek.
Option 5: Take a Bus
Suitable for: Those on a tight budget
How to book: https://ridebustang.com/bustang/#west_line
There isn’t a bus that goes directly from Denver Airport to Beaver Creek, but you can catch the Bustang from Denver’s Union Station.
To do that, you’ll need to take the A-line train to Union Station and then catch the Bustang from there. Beaver Creek’s bus station is Avon Station.
There are 9 daily departures from Union Station, so unlike other destinations that only have 1 Bustang per day (i.e. Telluride), the Bustang to Avon offers several times and options.
Once you’re on the Bustang, it’s only a 2 hour and 40-minute ride to Avon.
It will cost you $17 for a single ride from Denver to ride, and there are some discounted options for seniors and students. Keep in mind, though, that you’ll also have to pay for the Denver Airport to Union Station train, which is an additional $10.50.
While this is by far the most affordable option, it’ll take the longest, but it’s a great choice if you’re on a limited budget.
- The most affordable option.
- Aside from stops, buses can be easy.
- Let someone else do the driving.
- Takes the longest.
Final Thoughts
Traveling between Denver Airport and Beaver Creek is easy, and there are lots of ways to do it.
Ultimately, it boils down to what you plan on doing once you’re there. If you’re going to stay in Vail the whole time, fly or take a shuttle. If you want to explore nearby destinations, rent a car.
Whatever you decide, there’s no doubt that you’ll enjoy this world class destination.
