Transportation & Parking

Contact: Vail Transit, 970-479-2178

TRANSIT INFORMATION

The Town of Vail Transit Department provides free year-round bus service throughout Vail. In fact, the town's bus service is considered to be the largest free transportation system in the country offering its residents and guests timely service to and from Vail Mountain and throughout town.

Vail also provides real-time arrival information to passengers within the Vail Village, LionsHead and Golden Peak corridor. The real-time information is provided by NextBus Information Systems, which uses Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) technology to track buses while en route and then transmits the information to the Internet and digital bus signs. Vail is one of the only ski towns in North America to offer its passengers this technology.

Additionally, regional bus service with modest fares is provided daily by ECO Transit with service to Vail, Leadville, Minturn, Eagle-Vail, Avon, Edwards, Eagle and Gypsum.

WINTER 2009-10 PARKING INFORMATION
Vail offers a variety of parking options, from short-term shopper parking to all-day skier parking to season parking passes. For more information call 479-2104.

The daily rates for close-in structured parking in Vail Village and LionsHead are:

  • 0 to 1.5 hours- free
  • 1.5 to 2 hours- $10
  • 2 to 3 hours- $15
  • 3 to 4 hours- $20
  • 4 to 24 hours- $25 All day cap
  • Arrive after 3 p.m. for free parking in both structures until 3 a.m.*

* Arrivals from 1:30 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. will be charged $10.00

Rates for short-term premier parking are:

  • 0 to 30 minutes - FREE SKIER DROP OFF
  • 30 minutes to 2.5 hours - $15
  • 2.5 to 3 a.m.- $65
  • Arrive after 3 p.m. for free parking until 3 a.m.

 

Parking Passes

  • Gold Parking Pass, $3,250. For guaranteed parking in the two structures and Ford Park and soccer field outlying lots. No eligibility requirements.
  • Silver Pass, $1,800. Limited to 50 passes each per structure and available to business license holders in Vail Village and LionsHead on a first-come, first-served basis, with guaranteed parking in one structure. One pass per business until Dec. 5 at which time any remaining LionsHead silver passes will be sold to merchants in Vail Village for parking in the LionsHead structure. This pass must be purchased using the credit card or checking account of the business.
  • Blue Parking Pass, $1,100. For Vail property owners, residents and employees of qualifying Vail business license holders, good for parking in the two structures with restrictions. Good 7 days a week at LionsHead structure and Monday through Thursday at Vail Village structure with the exception of the restricted days of Dec. 18-Jan. 3; Jan. 18 and Feb. 15. Also good for access to Ford Park and soccer field outlying parking lots from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily. To be eligible, bring proof of 30 hour per week employment at businesses located in Vail Village or LionsHead, proof of residency or proof of property ownership.
  • Green Parking Pass, $500. For employees of eligible Vail business license holders, good for parking in the LionsHead structure Monday through Thursday with the exception of the restricted days of Dec. 18-Jan. 3; Jan. 18 and Feb.15. Also good for access to Ford Park and soccer field lots from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily. To be eligible, bring proof of 30 hour per week employment at businesses located in Vail Village or LionsHead.

  • Pink Parking Pass, $150. For employees of eligible Vail business license holders, good for parking at gated lots at Ford Park and soccer field, 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily. To be eligible, bring proof of 30 hour per week employment at businesses located in Vail Village or LionsHead. Lots are serviced by the existing transportation system.

  • Vail Value Pass, $12/$20. Good for employees of Vail business license holders, Vail residents and Vail property owners. Rate is $12 Sunday through Thursday; $20 Friday and Saturday. To be eligible, bring proof of 30 hour per week employment in Vail, proof of residency or proof of property ownership. Debit card holders will use 155 spaces on the top deck of the Vail Village parking structure and 75 spaces on the southern middle deck of LionsHead. All spaces are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. No vehicles over 7’4” in height. New pass is required for activation and transfer of previous balance. Stop by the Vail Municipal Building parking office to complete initial purchases and transfer of balances.
  • Eagle County Value Pass, $15/$22. The Eagle County Value Pass is being offered on an experimental basis. Good for residents, employees or property owners within Eagle County. Rate is $15 Sunday through Thursday; $22 Friday and Saturday. Debit card holders will use 155 spaces on the top deck of the Vail Village parking structure and 75 spaces on the southern middle deck of LionsHead. All spaces are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. No vehicles over 7’4” in height. The Eagle County Value Pass is available for purchase at the parking office on the lower level of the Vail Municipal Building. Eagle County purchasers must show proof of eligibility such as a driver's license with Eagle County address, utility bill or tax bill.

Permit-Only Employee Parking

  • Middle Creek/North Frontage Road Green Parking Permit, $100
    Good for 7-day-a-week parking 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. next to Middle Creek Apartments and Children’s Garden of Learning just west of Main Vail Roundabout. To be eligible, bring proof of 20 hour per week employment at businesses located in Vail Village or LionsHead. The 40 spaces are available on a first-come, first served basis. Rearview mirror hang tag must be displayed.
  • Wendy's/North Frontage Road Yellow Parking Permit, $100
    Good for Monday through Friday parking 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. west of the Shell service station on both sides of the road and the former Wendy’s lot. To be eligible, bring proof of 20 hour employment by a Vail business license holder. The 175 spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Rearview mirror hang tag must be displayed.

Vanpool Spaces
Any employee vanpool (vehicles with seven or more passengers) registered with the Town of Vail can purchase a Blue Pass, Green Pass, Pink Pass or Value Card, or receive discounted guaranteed debit card spaces at the $12 non peak and $20 peak rate. Call Mike Rose at 970 479-2349 for more information.

Free Outlying Parking
All areas listed below are serviced by existing Town of Vail transportation system.
Frequency varies from 15 min. during peak to 1 hr. non-peak.

Available all days from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.:

  • Red Sandstone Park, 15 spaces
  • Spraddle Creek Trailhead, 18 spaces
  • East Vail Interchange Trailhead, 12 spaces
  • North Trail Trailhead, 12 spaces, 6 have a time limit of 3 hours

Free Outlying Parking Update: A portion of parking spaces at outlying trailheads are being limited to three-hours to better accommodate park and trail access. In addition, skier parking is prohibited at Stephens Park in West Vail.

Available from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on days that no events are taking place at Donovan Park:

Available peak days or Saturdays and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.:

  • North Frontage Road by the West Vail Mall, 80 spaces (Friday, Saturday, Sunday)
  • Former Wendy's lot in West Vail, 75 spaces (Saturday and Sunday)
  • North Frontage Road west of West Vail roundabout, 100 spaces (Saturday and Sunday)

Premier, close-in parking also will be offered in the Vail Village and LionsHead parking structures. Intended for short-term use, follow the signs to 55 spaces available on the top deck of the Village structure, just east of the Information Center. There are also signs leading to 25 spaces at the LionsHead structure on the second level through the charter bus lot. The rate is up to 30 minutes free, then $15 for 30 minutes to 2 ½ hours, then $65 for 2 ½ hours to 24 hours. All enteries are free after 3 p.m.

The remaining 150 spaces are available for up to 24 hours at $25. All spaces available on a first-come, first-serve basis. No vehicles over 7’ 4” in height. Call (970) 479-2104 for additional information.