Every skier and snowboarder who lives along the Foothills of Colorado knows the struggle of getting to the ski resort in the morning. Traffic can be a nightmare on any given day, and days of heavy snow can make travel near impossible. Fortunately there are a few ski resort options that require less time spent on the major interstate and make for a slightly-easier day trip from the Denver area. These are the 5 best ski resorts for a day trip from Denver.
Eldora Mountain Ski Resort
With no traffic, a drive from Denver (Union Station) to Eldora Mountain Ski Resort can take between 1 hour 5 minutes and 1 hour 10 minutes. Depending on the route taken, and the origin point of the drive, no time is required along I-70, though I-25, which is often a nightmare on its own, can be a part of the route. Eldora has 10 chairlifts and 62 trails when 100% open.
Winter Park Resort
A drive from Denver to Winter Park typically takes around 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes with no traffic, but a significant portion of the route is along I-70. That said, travelers to the resort get off the interstate long before Eisenhower Tunnel, one of the worst choke points along the road. Berthoud Pass can be slow moving, especially on snowy days, and does have the potential to close, so make sure you check ahead of time if you’re headed that way. If you want to skip the ski traffic altogether, you can take the Winter Park Express ski train to the mountain. Winter Park has 23 lifts and 171 trails.
Loveland Ski Area
Unlike the earlier mentioned resorts, the drive to Loveland Ski Area is almost entirely along I-70. However, as the mountain sits on top of Eisenhower Tunnel and the exit is often just before things get bad, a drive to Loveland can be pretty easy. In fact, when there’s no traffic, it takes just slightly more than an hour to get to the ski area. That’s easily one of the fastest large ski areas to access. Loveland has 2 separate base areas, 9 lifts, and 94 trails.
Arapahoe Basin
With no traffic, a drive to Arapahoe Basin is just 15 minutes longer than a drive to Loveland Ski Area. It all depends on the conditions of Loveland Pass, though. When Loveland Pass is slow moving, that section alone can add 20 minutes to your drive. If the pass is shut down and you’re forced to drive through Eisenhower Tunnel to access the ski area, well, good luck! Arapahoe Basin has 1,428 acres of skiable terrain.
Echo Mountain
Echo Mountain is a very small little ski area, with just one chairlift and one carpet. But it is easily the closest ski area to Denver. While it requires some time on I-70, you’re basically off the highway before you even realize you’re on it. With no traffic, a drive to Echo can take just 50 minutes. Additionally, Wednesday-Saturday during the regular season, Echo offers night skiing until 9pm, meaning you don’t have to wake up wicked early to get in a solid day. Echo offers just a handful of trails, but if you’re learning or just looking to ski for a more affordable price, that’s the place to go.
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