You can spend a whole week in the Vail Valley without driving, and many visitors should. The buses are free, the villages are walkable, and the roads in winter reward people who leave the driving to someone else. Here's how the pieces fit.
Town of Vail buses
Vail runs one of the largest free, year-round bus systems in the country. Buses link Vail Village, Lionshead, Golden Peak, Cascade and the neighborhoods of East and West Vail. Most village routes start around 6:30 a.m., and live schedules are on ride.vail.gov.
For guests staying in town, the free buses between Vail Village and Lionshead make the two villages feel like one.
Core Transit
Core Transit is Eagle County's regional bus, formed on August 4, 2024 when ECO Transit and the Eagle Valley Transportation Authority merged. If you've read older guides that mention ECO Transit, this is it.
- Most routes are free. Trips to or from Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE), Gypsum or Leadville cost $3.
- The free Vail/Beaver Creek Express runs about every 20 minutes in winter.
- The 2026–27 winter schedule was set to begin November 22, 2026; check coretransit.org for times.
Avon Transit
Avon's town shuttles are free. The Blue Line serves West Avon and the Red Line East Avon, and they stop at Beaver Creek's Elk Lot. Avon Station is the valley's transit hub, where Core Transit and Bustang meet.
Beaver Creek shuttles
- Free lot shuttles link the Bear Lot, Elk Lot and the Covered Bridge from 5:30 a.m. to 1 a.m.
- Village Connect is a free, on-demand, door-to-door shuttle within the resort, from 7 a.m. to midnight, booked in the app.
- Day lots charge before 1 p.m. in winter and are free after; overnight parking isn't allowed in the lots or garages.
Parking in Vail
Vail has two main parking structures. The Vail Village structure is about a 7-minute walk from Gondola One and also serves Golden Peak; the Lionshead structure is about 5 minutes from the Eagle Bahn Gondola. Daytime rates change by season and peak days, so check the Town of Vail's current rates before you go. Entry has been free in the evening, from 3 p.m., in both recent winter and summer seasons, which makes driving in for dinner easier.
When the structures fill in winter, overflow parking has been offered along the Frontage Road, with buses into the villages. In summer, the Donovan Park lot offers free day parking with the free bus into both villages.
Uber and Lyft
Both operate in Vail, but cars can be scarce at busy times and late at night. For a flight, book your transfer ahead rather than counting on an app.
To and from Denver without a car
Bustang, the state's intercity bus, runs its West Line from Denver Union Station to the Vail Transportation Center ($17 one way) and Avon Station ($19), with 15 trips a day each way. Children 2–11 ride for half fare. It's a good budget option, but it doesn't stop at Denver International Airport, so flyers need to get to Union Station first. Pegasus, Bustang's van service, runs between Union Station, Vail and Avon, with 6 round trips Monday to Thursday and 10 Friday to Sunday.
A private transfer, for the long drives
Free buses cover the villages well. A private transfer earns its keep on the long drives: airport arrivals with luggage and skis, the trip home to Denver, and a ski day or lodging move over Vail Pass. Every Vail Moments ride is door to door in a luxury SUV or 11-passenger Ford Transit.
- Eagle airport to Vail and to Beaver Creek
- Denver airport to Vail and to Beaver Creek
- Vail to Breckenridge and to Keystone over Vail Pass
- Vail to Denver airport for the trip home
Ready? Book your ride. Driving yourself in winter? Read our Vail Pass winter driving guide first.
Frequently asked questions
Is the bus free in Vail?
Yes. The Town of Vail buses are free and run year-round, connecting the villages, ski bases and neighborhoods. Most village routes start around 6:30 a.m.
What happened to ECO Transit?
ECO Transit merged into Core Transit on August 4, 2024. Most Core Transit routes are free; trips touching the Eagle airport, Gypsum or Leadville cost $3.
Is there a bus from Vail to Beaver Creek?
Yes. Core Transit's free Vail/Beaver Creek Express runs about every 20 minutes in winter.
Can I take a bus from Denver airport to Vail?
Not directly. Bustang's West Line runs from Denver Union Station to Vail for $17, but it doesn't serve the airport, so you'd need to get to Union Station first.
Do Uber and Lyft work in Vail?
Yes, but cars can be scarce at busy times and late at night. Book ahead for anything time-sensitive, like an airport transfer.