Navigating the Rocky Mountain Bus Services to Keep Your Breckenridge Ski Vacation Seamless

Breckenridge, located in Summit County, Colorado, is nestled nicely in the Rocky Mountains just an hour and a half west of Denver. It’s close enough to the airport for convenience but the scenery and recreation would lead you to believe otherwise. Whether you’re looking to spend the day at the ski resort, shopping around town, or sledding, Breckenridge has some great offerings for a well-rounded winter vacation.

There are many ways to get to this quaint mountain town, whether you grab a rental car from the airport or utilize one of the many airport shuttle services that serve Summit County, like Summit Express, a ski shuttle van and charter service, or the more affordable Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) offerings you can catch from Union Station, just a train ride away from the Denver International Airport.

- Getting from the Denver International Airport (DIA) to Summit County — 

Shuttle Van Services:

If you choose the airport shuttle route to get to the ski town, you’ll be brought right from the airport to your accommodation’s safety, having not to fret about the wild, snowy weather that can be encountered on I‑70. Many different options are available, including Summit Express, voted best in Summit County.

• Summit Express: Shuttle Services and Private Charters:

  • Summit Express has scheduled shuttles serving all the major resorts in Summit County. In this case, you can buy a ticket and ride with other ski vacationers heading to the mountain. 

  • They also offer private charters if you and your party would like to hire your own personal driver to make individual stops along the way.

  • For a seat on one of the regular shuttles, tickets are just over $115 but prices may vary depending on what sort of shuttle you book. Private charter prices also vary so contact the company directly for information about booking and pricing.

Colorado Department of Transportation Offerings:

The Colorado Department of Transportation has an extensive bus system, serving all the major ski towns in the state, as well as many other rural parts of Colorado. Bustang and Pegasus have affordable, comfortable, and convenient offerings to get to Summit County.

• Bustang — Traditional, coach style bus transportation. Best for ski vacationers with lots of luggage. 

  • Serves the Frisco Transfer Station every 3 – 4 hours daily via Union Station in Denver (~$12 per single rider, per direction) Tickets can be purchased in advance through the Bustang app. 

• Pegasus — Shuttle van style transportation. Comfortable with fewer riders. Best to reserve a seat well in advance. 

  • Serves the Frisco Transfer Station every 2 – 4 hours via Union Station in Denver. Tickets can be purchased through the CDOT website. (~$13 per single adult rider, per direction)

- Getting Around Breckenridge and the Rest of Summit County — 

Breckenridge and Summit county are known well for their extensive, free bus systems. No need to fret about not having a car around here, whether you’re getting from the airport to your accommodations or you’re lugging your skis and your shopping bags around town. 

• Breckenridge Free Ride System:

  • Breckenridge’s Free Ride System will get you around all the major parts of town, from Tiger Road north of town; to the ice rink off Boreas Pass rd south of town; to the bases of Peaks seven, eight, and nine of Breckenridge Ski Resort… and everywhere in between. Many of the bus stops are within a short walking distance to popular neighborhoods, hotels, and condo complexes.

• This system includes ten different lines, all based out of Breckenridge Station Transit Center, just steps away from Main Street. Just keep an eye on where you are and where you want to go. The My Free Ride App gives users live tracking information on where each bus is which can be a handy tool for getting to dinner reservations or up early for 8:30 am ski school start!

• Secret tip… if you’re looking to not pay for parking but want to work out of the car for the day, the Red Line brings you to the Airport Lot, a large free parking lot just a five-minute bus ride from the BreckConnect Gondola. Route maps here.

• Summit Stage Bus System: 

  • Summit Stage Bus System is the free, county-wide bus network that serves all the way from Fairplay, to Keystone Ski Resort, to Silverthorne, to ABasin, to Copper Mountain. With the convenience and accessibility of this system, it makes not having a car very possible for your ski vacation in Summit County. 

• Keep an eye on the Summit Stage SmartBus System App which shows live updates of where each bus is along its routes. 

You can find more information about transportation in Summit County here…