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 2011-12 PARKING INFORMATION
Vail offers a variety of parking options, from short-term parking to all-day skier parking to season parking passes. For more information call 479-2104. Parking pass sales start November 7. To recharge a Value Card, call 477-3461.
Guest Parking Map
The daily rates for close-in structured parking in Vail Village and Lionshead are:
- 0 to 2 hours- free
- 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 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. will be charged $15.00
Rates for short-term parking are:
- 0 to 2 hours - free
- 2 hour maximum parking. $50 fine for exceeding 2 hours
- Arrive after 3 p.m. for free parking until 3 a.m.
Vail Value Card
Sunday-Thursday (non peak) Friday & Saturday, plus holidays (peak)
New 2 to 3 hrs., $7.50 New 2 to 3 hrs., $12
New 3 to 4 hrs., $10 New 3 to 4 hrs., $16
4+ hrs., $12.50 4+ hrs., $20
Good for employees of qualifying Vail business license holders working a minimum of 30 hours per week, Vail residents and Vail property owners.
Eagle County Value Card
Sunday-Thursday (non peak) Friday & Saturday, plus holidays (peak)
New 2 to 3 hrs., $9 New 2 to 3 hrs., $13.20
New 3 to 4 hrs., $12 New 3 to 4 hrs., $17.60
4+ hrs., $15 4+ hrs., $22
Good for Eagle County businesses, residents and property owners.
The winter parking program includes no rate increases for season parking passes and more than 400 free outlying parking spaces with connections to bus service. Parking pass sales will begin Nov. 7 with paid parking scheduled to coincide with the opening of Vail Mountain on Nov. 18.
Parking Passes
Parking pass sales start November 7.
Pink 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. New this year, the pass is also good for parking on the North Frontage Road at Middle Creek daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Available to Vail Village or Lionshead-based Vail business license holders’ employees working a minimum of 30 hours per week. Proof of employment is required. Parking spaces are serviced by the existing transportation system.
Green 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. 26-Jan. 2; Jan. 16 and Feb. 20. Also good for access to Ford Park and soccer field lots from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily. Available to Vail Village or Lionshead-based Vail business license holders’ employees working a minimum of 30 hours per week. Proof of employment is required.
Blue 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. 26-Jan. 2; Jan. 16 and Feb. 20. Available to Vail business license holders’ employees working a minimum of 30 hours per week. Proof of employment is required. Proof of residency or proof of property ownership is needed for residents or property owners.
Silver Pass, $1,800
Limited to 50 passes each per structure and available to qualifying 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 passes, Vail Village or Lionshead, will be sold. In addition, Lionshead silver passes can 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.
Gold Pass, $3,250
For guaranteed parking in the two structures. No eligibility requirements.
Vanpool Pass
Any employee vanpool (vans with seven or more passengers) registered with the town can get either a $150 Pink Pass or receive discounted guaranteed space. Call 479-2349 for details.
Free Parking
The two-hour free parking offer will be good at any time in the Vail Village and Lionshead structures and is intended to create additional incentives to come to Vail for lunch or shopping. Parking will also remain free for vehicles arriving after 3 p.m. and leaving prior to 3 a.m. to generate après ski business. Those parking 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. will be charged the 2 to 3 hour rate.
As an additional option, the town will offer free parking in satellite areas serviced by the town’s free transit system. The inventory includes the following locations available seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.: Gore Creek Trailhead, East Vail Interchange Trailhead, Pitkin Creek Trailhead, Booth Falls Trailhead, Spraddle Creek Trailhead, Red Sandstone Creek Trailhead, Buffehr Creek Trailhead, Davos Trailhead and starting Jan 1., Red Sandstone Park. Parking availability is limited and some spaces are restricted to three-hour trailhead use.
Free parking will also be available at Donovan Park with 90 spaces on days when the pavilion isn’t in use. A sign will be used at the park’s entrance to indicate availability each day. In addition, a limited number of free skier parking spaces will be offered at the Vail Nordic Center at the golf course. Parking availability for both locations will be updated regularly on www.vaileventparking.com.
In addition, first-come, first-served free skier parking, 70 spaces, will be available on the North Frontage Road across from the West Vail Mall seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Additional free skier parking, 100 spaces, will be available on the North Frontage Road west of the West Vail roundabout on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. No permits are required on free parking days.
Free emergency parking along the South Frontage Road will again be activated in overflow parking situations this season. Six temporary bus stops will be in use along the Frontage Road for added convenience.
Hourly Parking
Hourly drive-up rates will be $15 for 2 to 3 hours; $20 for 3 to 4 hours; and a $25 all day cap for 4 to 24 hours. New this winter will be a $25 charge for RVs and other over-size vehicles using the Charter Bus Lot east of the Lionshead parking structure. Charter bus parking will remain free.
Transit/Skier Drop-Off
Other improvements will include newly-constructed skier drop-off spaces in the Lionshead parking structure and a new transit center for ECO buses, scheduled to open this winter.
