Ground Transportation Options for Vail/Eagle Airport

There are several ground transportation options available at Eagle/Vail County Airport. These include shared vans, taxi service, private SUVs and car rentals. There are several factors to consider when arranging how to travel to and from Vail Airport. The most important of these is going to be budget, number of travelers and time of year.

Transportation Options at Vail/Eagle Airport

If you are flying into Eagle County Regional, you will need to arrange for ground transfer to and from the airport.  It is important to arrange your means of Eagle Airport transportation well in advance, especially during the very busy winter season, as many services sell out fast, and the last thing you want is to be stranded at the airport in the middle of a blizzard.

1. Private SUV

A private Eagle/Vail Airport SUV service with a chauffeured SUV allows the greatest flexibility, convenience and piece of mind of all the options available at EGE. With a confirmed reservation you will know for sure that there will be a driver to meet you as you disembark your flight. Typically these companies use large high-end SUVs with 4WD which is the preferred means of transfer through the Rockies, especially during the winter months when weather conditions might become dangerous very quickly.

A private SUV allows for 6-7 people to safely and comfortably sit together, and there is ample room for luggage and cargo. Rooftop ski boxes allow for transfer of all sporting equipment. Usually these vehicles also provide high speed WiFi access as well as in-seat entertainment systems, which make for a very comfortable and stress free journey from Eagle Airport.

The added benefit of this Vail airport transfer option is the fact that your driver is a licensed professional with local knowledge of roads and terrain, who will be able to make detours and provide assistance as needed. This person’s job and only concern is your safety and convenience.

2. Shared Vans

Shared vans operate out of Eagle-Vail Regional Airport. Their main attraction is a lower price fare compared to a private transportation service, however there are many limitations that need to be considered before taking this route. First of all, if you are traveling with a group or family greater than 3 in number, then it might actually be just as expensive to pay for individual shared shuttle tickets, rather than your own private car.

The other major limitation is that typically luggage space is very limited per person, and you will find yourself crammed into a full van with many strangers, very little in the way of personal room, and be forced to wait for other flights to land, as well as make frequent stops as others disembark. A shared van is nothing similar to an executive van, in fact it’s probably most similar to traveling by bus.

The added travel time, lack of cargo and personal space, and increased stress in general makes a shared van only really viable if you are traveling solo or as a couple, and are on a tight budget.

3. Car Rentals

There are a couple of major car rental services at EGE. Having a rented car does of course provide the most flexibility for your stay in the Rockies, but again there are some very important considerations to make before choosing this transportation option from Vail Airport.

First of all, there is the cost. Car rentals in Eagle County are going to be substantially more expensive than the rest of the United States. Gas prices in the mountains are also typically 30-50% higher than the rest of the country. Parking rates (if you can find a spot) are also outrageously expensive. So the real question is; how much driving are you really going to be doing, and is it worth getting a car?

The other major point of concern is how comfortable are you driving through hazardous snow and ice conditions on the road? It takes a certain amount of skill and experience to drive through the roads up in the mountains during winter – it’s not for the faint of heart. And be sure to only rent 4WD vehicles with studded snow tires, otherwise you might very well find yourself in an unpleasant situation stuck on the side of the highway.

4. Taxi

Traditional taxi services are available to and from Vail/Eagle Regional airport. The costs are generally slightly cheaper than private car reservations, but availability during busy seasons is far from ideal. Relying on a cab to be there when you land is probably not the wisest decision.

Mostly these operators are driving smaller sized sedans, so luggage and sport equipment transportation from EGE become problematic. If you are coming solo, or as a couple, a Taxi might be a good choice; but again taking a gamble on a cab being there when you land is pretty risky.

5. Rideshares

Rideshares have only recently started being allowed for passenger pickups and dropoffs. For many years, they operated “under the table” by putting the destination location as the nearby Costco and adding a message to “meet outside the airport”.

Vail Airport officials decided that this practice was detrimental to the airport and travelers in general, so now there is a designated spot for rideshares to operate just outside the airport terminal (though it is still a good walking distance away from the other ground transportation hubs)

This might be the cheapest way to travel to and from Eagle Regional, but the major concerns are: reliability of the vehicles and reliability of the driver. Unlike professional transportation services available at Eagle airport, the rideshares do not have any licensing, or maintenance requirements. Who knows if your driver decides to ski that day instead of picking you up, and who knows when the last time those breaks were checked.

Which Transport to choose at Vail/Eagle County Regional Airport?

Of all the choices for ground transit to and from Eagle Vail Regional, booked private shuttles (like those provided by Blue Sky Limo) give the most piece of mind, the most flexibility and the greatest amount of comfort and convenience. If these things are important to you, then this is going to be your best choice.

If budget is an issue, then go with a Taxi service. Those companies and drivers are regulated and licensed, and their cars are regularly maintained as per industry standards. A ride share should be your last choice and only if money is of very limited means. If you’re a student coming into the Rockies for a few days of “shredding the gnar”, go for it!

If you’re planning on commuting around the Rockies a fair amount and visiting several resorts, checking out the shops in Eagle, or coming in the summer when roads are great, then renting a car might be your best choice.

Whichever ground transportation option suits you best, please be sure to enjoy your stay in the Colorado Rockies!