Vail Mountain is in Eagle County, in central Colorado, right off Interstate 70 at exit 176, about 100 miles west of Denver and 30 miles from Eagle County Regional Airport. That one exit serves both base areas, Vail Village and Lionshead Village. The ski area sits on National Forest land and the Town of Vail is a separate municipality at its foot, which matters if you are asking where Vail is for a reason other than skiing.
Where exactly is Vail Mountain?
Vail Mountain rises directly above the Town of Vail in Eagle County, Colorado, at Interstate 70 exit 176. It is 97 miles west of downtown Denver and 119 miles from Denver International Airport, with its base at 8,120 feet. The ski area operates on White River National Forest land under a Forest Service permit.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| County | Eagle County, Colorado |
| Distance from Denver | 97 miles from downtown Denver and 119 miles from Denver International Airport, which sits on the far side of the city. Vail lists about 1.75 hours of driving from Denver, and traffic and weather change that |
| Nearest commercial airport | Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE), 30 miles away |
| Interstate exit | Exit 176, for Vail Village and Lionshead Village |
| Elevation | Base 8,120 feet, top 11,570 feet |
| Skiable terrain | 5,317 acres by Vail's count |
How do you get to Vail ski resort by car or plane?
By car, drive west on I-70 from Denver to exit 176; Vail lists about 1.75 hours from Denver, though traffic and weather change that. By plane, Eagle County Regional Airport is 30 miles away and Denver International is 119 miles. Airport shuttles serve both, and Core Transit buses link Vail with Gypsum, the airport's town.
From Denver or the airport, drive west on I-70 to exit 176. Heading back east on a weekend, Vail advises leaving the mountains after 7 p.m. to stay out of the worst traffic. Winter conditions change the trip, so check the Colorado Department of Transportation's road reports before you leave.
Flying into Eagle County Regional Airport puts you about 30 miles from the villages, and Epic Mountain Express runs private and shared airport shuttles to Vail from both Eagle and Denver International. Core Transit connects the Vail Transportation Center in Vail Village with Avon, Edwards, Eagle and Gypsum, where the airport is. Most Core Transit routes are free, with a $3 fare on trips that include Gypsum or Leadville. Routes, seasons and the closest airport in more detail are in getting to Vail and the closest airport to Vail.
What mountains surround Vail?
Vail lies along Gore Creek in Eagle County, which sits between the Gore Range to the northeast and the northern Sawatch Mountains to the southeast. Interstate 70 enters the county from the east over Vail Pass, at 10,662 feet. The ski area's Forest Service permit covers 12,353 acres of the White River National Forest.
Eagle County lies between the Gore Range to the northeast and the northern Sawatch Mountains to the southeast. Interstate 70 enters the county over Vail Pass from the east, and the town of Vail lies along Gore Creek. Much of the county's public land belongs to the White River National Forest, and Vail is one of the ski areas that operate there under a Forest Service permit. Vail Resorts' annual report puts the permit area at 12,353 acres, more than twice the roughly 5,300 acres of skiable terrain, which includes the seven Back Bowls and Blue Sky Basin. For the range question, see what mountain range Vail is in.
What are Vail's base villages?
Vail Mountain has two main base villages, both reached from exit 176: Vail Village, where Gondola One leaves, and Lionshead Village, a car-free area at the Eagle Bahn Gondola. Both are pedestrian areas with a ticket office. They are a 10 to 15 minute walk apart, and a free in-town bus links them.
- Vail Village reaches the mountain through Gondola One. The Vail Village Parking Garage is a 7-minute walk from the lift.
- Lionshead Village is closed to cars and buses, with a short walk to the Eagle Bahn gondola (Gondola 19), Chair 8 (Born Free Express, winter only) and the Lionshead Children's Ski School. The Lionshead Parking Garage, at 395 S Frontage Rd W, is a 5-minute walk from the gondola.
Both villages have a ticket office. The walk between them takes 10 to 15 minutes, and a free in-town bus runs all day and into the evening. Garage rates are set by season, so use where to park at Vail and Vail's parking page for current prices. The Town of Vail runs welcome centers at 241 South Frontage Rd. in Vail Village and 395 East Lionshead Circle in Lionshead. Golden Peak, another part of the mountain, has its own guide in where Golden Peak is.
Is Vail ski resort the same as the Town of Vail?
No. Vail Mountain is a ski area that Vail Resorts operates on National Forest land, while the Town of Vail is a separate municipality at its foot, incorporated in 1966, four years after the mountain opened in December 1962. The town counts about 5,000 permanent residents and about 5,000 part-time residents.
Vail was built for skiing. Before 1961 the area had almost no settlement: the meadows held ranches, a sawmill and wildflowers, and the town was planned as a resort from the start. The opening day is covered in when Vail opened. Today the town is surrounded by 350,000 acres of national forest.
For the town's own position, county and government, see where Vail, Colorado is. The height of the village and the summit is in how high Vail is, and the size of the mountain in how many skiable acres Vail has.
