In winter, the easiest way from Beaver Creek to Vail is the Vail/Beaver Creek Express, a free Core Transit bus that runs every 20 minutes between Beaver Creek Village, Avon Station and the Vail Transportation Center. The express is a winter-only service. In summer the two resorts are linked by two free buses with a change in Avon, and driving is the only option that works at any hour.
Your options between Beaver Creek and Vail
| Option | Season | Cost | How it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vail/Beaver Creek Express (Core Transit) | Winter | Free | Direct bus between Beaver Creek Village, Avon Station and Vail, every 20 minutes. |
| Avon/Beaver Creek Connector plus Highway 6 bus | Seasonal; summer 2026 runs April 12 to November 21 | Free | The Connector, run by Town of Avon Transit, links Beaver Creek Village with Avon. Highway 6 then continues to Vail. Two buses, so allow for the transfer. |
| Driving | Year-round | Vail parking is paid | I-70 from Exit 167 (Avon, the exit for Beaver Creek) to Exit 176 (Vail) is about 9 miles, plus the road between your lodging and the interstate. |
| Taxi or private shuttle | Year-round | Set by the operator | Epic Mountain Express (970-754-7433) runs shared-ride and private shuttles in the Vail and Beaver Creek area. High Mountain Taxi (970-524-5555) is a registered taxi operator at Eagle County Regional Airport. |
The winter express bus
The express is built for exactly this trip: a fast, direct route with Avon as the only stop between the two resorts, and no parking hunt at either end. It is fare-free at every stop. Core Transit charges fares only for rides to or from Gypsum, which includes Eagle County Regional Airport, and Leadville, and riders 18 and under travel free on every route through the end of winter 2026-27.
Skis and snowboards are welcome if you keep them under your control and out of the aisles and seats, and luggage is fine as long as it stays with you and does not block the aisle. Snow, ice or road closures can delay buses, so leave early and check the rider alerts, or follow your bus in real time at track.coretransit.org. If you are staying at Beaver Creek and dining in Vail, look up the last departure on the express timetable before you sit down to dinner, and keep a taxi or private ride as a backup.
Beaver Creek to Vail in summer
The express returns each winter and does not run in summer. Instead, ride the Avon/Beaver Creek Connector to Avon and change to the Highway 6 route for Vail. The Highway 6 route links Vail, Eagle-Vail, Avon and Edwards and is fare-free along its whole length, so none of this trip is charged.
Driving and dinner in Vail
Driving keeps the schedule in your hands, but two things need planning. Winter conditions come first: Colorado's Traction Law can be activated on I-70 from September 1 through May 31, and while it is on, vehicles need qualifying tires or chains. The CDOT traction and chain law page has the requirements.
Parking is the second. Vail's town structures charged $10 an hour in winter 2025/26, capped at $30 on non-peak days and $50 on peak days, with free entry after 3 p.m. and overnight parking at $60. Summer parking is $2 an hour after a free first hour, capped at $10 a day, with free entry after 3 p.m. Arriving after 3 p.m. is the cheaper way to have dinner in Vail. The town sets rates each season; where to park in Vail covers the alternatives, and the Vail restaurant directory helps with the dinner itself.
For the distance between the resorts and how they differ, see how far Beaver Creek is from Vail and how Beaver Creek compares to Vail. If Avon is your base instead, getting from Avon to Vail covers the same buses and parking in more depth.
