Colorado Mountain Travel
Ways to leave your car at home
Enjoy yourtrip to the mountains completely car-free by using transit options such as Bustang or Pegasus, which can take you from Denver Union Station or the Denver Federal Center-Lakewood RTD light rail station to Idaho Springs, Frisco, Vail, Avon, and beyond. All these mountain communities have transit systems to help you get where you want to go, or use local taxi services, Uber & Lyft. Learn more about the many options available to and around the mountains at www.GoI70.com/transit
Want to try carpooling? Use TreadShare, a carpool app that connects drivers and passengers heading in the same direction in Colorado so they can share a route and split the associated costs.
Pro tip: If you decide to go to the mountains, use GoI70’s travel forecast to help plan the best time to travel to avoid traffic!
Pegasus
Pegasus is the Colorado Department of Transportation’s express shuttle that began providing passenger service in May 2022. Pegasus departs year-round from behind Union Station, at 17th Street and Wewatta Street with stops at the Denver Federal Center in Lakewood, Idaho Springs, Frisco, Vail and Avon. A Pegasus shuttle seats up to 11 people, is wheelchair accessible, and equipped with USB ports, power outlets, and Wi-Fi. Each vehicle also has bike racks and ski/snowboard containers. A one-way fare from Denver to Frisco is only $13.
One fully booked Pegasus shuttle is the equivalent of removing six two-person vehicles, helping to alleviate traffic congestion during peak travel times. And Pegasus can utilize the Express Lanes on weekends, when traffic nearly doubles. The service allows passengers to connect to local transit providers at each stop, making it easier than ever to get to the mountains car-free (and carefree!). Ticketing and schedule information is available online at https://ridebustang.com/pegasus-shuttle-van/
I-70 Carpooling
TreadShare is a carpool app that connects drivers and passengers heading in the same direction so they can share a route and split the associated costs. Doing your part to reduce single-occupancy vehicles on the road pays off! It decreases congestion, reduces emissions, and leaves more money in your wallet. Download the TreadShare app and share the journey!
Bustang West Line
The Bustang West Line offers bus service between Denver and Grand Junction, including stops at Denver Union Station, Denver Federal Center-Lakewood, Idaho Springs, Frisco, Vail, Avon, Eagle Airport, Glenwood Springs, and points further West. Bustang’s West Line runs multiple round trips, seven days a week with fares ranging from $5 to $43 depending on the length of the trip. Schedules and ticketing are available online at Bustang west.
Snowstang (Winter Only)
Five Colorado ski areas opted to partner with the Colorado Department of Transportation on their ski bus service, Snowstang. This service allows riders to avoid winter driving and provides the ability to relax instead of dealing with traffic. Plus, Snowstang drops riders off right at the lift/gondola for quicker access to the slopes! Through this partnership, Snowstang limits greenhouse gas emissions, takes vehicles off I-70 and stress off overwhelmed resort parking lots allowing more customers to hit the slopes.
Pick up locations are Denver Union Station, Denver Federal Center-Lakewood and the Dinosaur Lots at the I-70 Morrison Exit. Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, Copper Mountain Resort, Loveland Ski Resort, Steamboat Ski Resort, and the Town of Breckenridge and Breckenridge Ski Resort are all Snowstang
If You Do Drive: I-70 Travel Tips
Travel on I-70 can be challenging but there are tips to make your drive to and from the mountains easier:
- Avoid the Peak Travel Times. If heading eastbound on Saturday or Sunday, plan to leave the mountains after 7 p.m. Check the weekend and holiday Travel Forecast.
- Check the road and traffic conditions before you travel at www.cotrip.org.
- Spend a Sunday night in the mountains and head to work or school early Monday morning.
- Prepare for I-70 mountain driving conditions. Understand the Traction and Chain Laws which are in effect Sept 1-May 31, regardless of current weather conditions.
- Create or join a carpool thorough TreadShare.
- Consider taking a bus, train, van to the mountains and leave the driving to someone else.
Visit goi70.com for more tips on traveling the I-70 mountain corridor
I-70 Travel Tips in Espanol can be found at GoI70.com/espanol
