Love Colorado’s high-altitude skiing but would prefer to skip icy, snow-covered roads? You’re not alone. This season there are several convenient alternatives that let you enjoy the slopes without driving—air, rail and expanded bus services make car-free ski trips easier than ever.
Air travel options have expanded for the ski season, with routes serving eight regional Colorado airports. New and improved connections include year-round service between Denver (DEN) and Telluride (TEX) with multiple daily round-trip flights operated by Boutique Air, and nonstop service between Montrose-Telluride (MTJ) and Dallas/Fort Worth (DWF) on American Airlines. Steamboat/Hayden (HDN) also added direct JetBlue flights from Boston (BOS), Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and Long Beach (LGB), improving access to Steamboat Resort from the East Coast and parts of the South and West.
Rail travel provides a relaxing alternative. The Amtrak Winter Park Express runs from Denver’s Union Station, making it simple for travelers arriving at Denver International Airport to take the airport train into downtown and then transfer to the Winter Park Express. This service is more comfortable this year with the addition of a lounge car offering food and beverages, creating a pleasant, stress-free start to a ski day.
On the ground, Bustang motorcoach service, operated by the Colorado Department of Transportation, has added a route to Salida, near Monarch Ski Area. This complements existing Bustang connections to communities near Arapahoe Basin, Copper Mountain, Echo Mountain, Purgatory Resort, Sunlight Mountain Resort and Telluride Ski Resort. Numerous Front Range bus services and other regional shuttles also provide reliable, car-free transport to many ski destinations, offering flexible options for travelers who don’t want to drive in winter conditions.
Choosing one of these alternatives not only reduces the stress of navigating winter roads but also frees you to relax, enjoy the scenery and arrive ready to ski. Whether you prefer the speed of flying, the comfort of a scenic rail trip, or the convenience of scheduled bus routes, Colorado’s expanded transportation options make planning a car-free ski getaway straightforward and practical this season.