Transportation Tips for Steamboat Springs, Colorado

While Steamboat Springs, Colorado may be a bit off the beaten track, leave your horse and riding gear at home. Take it from a Colorado local and frequent visitor there, Steamboat Springs is easily reached by air or automobile.

Air Travel
Direct flights to the Yampa Valley Regional Airport in Hayden are available on five major airlines during the ski season. Use the new www.FlySteamboat.com to find your affordable flight. Once you arrive, there is no need for expensive rental car contracts. Let inexpensive Alpine Taxi & Limo make the 30 minute drive to your Steamboat Springs vacation. Be sure to make transportation reservations ahead of time as the vans fill up quickly.

Alternate Airports
The closest alternate airport to Steamboat Springs is the Eagle County Airport. You can visit Vail, Colorado before making the 1.5 hour drive to Steamboat Springs. If you are flying into Denver International Airport, Storm Mountain Express or Alpine Taxi can transport you to your destination. In the fall of 2009, very limited Greyhound bus service to Steamboat Springs from Denver was restored. The schedule can be found here.

Automobile Rental
If you decide to rent a car in Denver it's about a 3 to 4 hour drive to Steamboat Springs in good weather. Drive west on Interstate 70 to the Silverthorne exit. Turn right onto Hwy 9 and take it to Kremmling. Turn left onto Hwy 40 and it will take you to Steamboat Springs. Be sure to slow down for the elk herd that tends to stand in the middle of the road just north of Kremmling. A Colorado State Patrol car also lurks on the west side of Rabbit Ears Pass. Taking Hwy 131 from I-70 to Steamboat in the wintertime is not a recommended route, as it tends to be an icy road.

Train Travel
While freight trains still run through Steamboat Springs, passenger rail service to Steamboat Springs was discontinued in 1966. For a very scenic and leisurely trip to Steamboat Springs, you can still take Amtrak's California Zephyr train service to Granby, Colorado, rent a car, and take US Hwy 40 to Steamboat Springs. You can see the headwaters of the Colorado River and the rock formation that gives Rabbit Ears Pass its name.

Steamboat Springs Transportation
Once you arrive at your vacation accomodations, a rental car is completely unnecessary. Steamboat Springs has a free bus system that runs frequently between town and the ski resort. The bus schedule has early morning hours while midnight revelers will have transport home too. The route maps for Steamboat Springs Transit can be downloaded at http://steamboatsprings.net/departments/transportati on_services/bus_service

Once in town or at the Steamboat Ski Resort, everything is typically within walking distance or a quick bus hop away. All groceries stores, shopping centers, restaurants, and brewpubs are on a bus-line. The bus drivers are friendly and know the best restaurants and bars. If you have questions about town, they are a good resource. Many hotels do have a private shuttle that will come and pick you up or drop you off. Carry your cell-phone and they are a quick call away.

Getting to Steamboat Springs is uncomplicated and well worth the effort. Don't worry about getting to your destination, instead start thinking about skiing and all that untracked champagne powder(tm).