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Traveling to Crested Butte
Getting here from there, getting around. |
Getting HereLocated in a remote valley high in the Rocky Mountains, part of Crested Butte’s charm is that it feels very far away from the big cities of the Colorado front range, and the Interstate-served resort areas of Summit County.
However, this doesn’t mean it’s all that hard to get here. A number of major airlines offer direct flights and Denver connections into Gunnison airport in the winter, and there’s convenient shuttle service from the airport to Crested Butte.
Though flights are less frequent in the summertime, there are still a number of daily arrivals and departures on United Express to and from Denver International Airport.
DrivingIf you are driving to Crested Butte from metro Denver, the trip takes about four and a half hours in perfect weather. Add 30 minutes to 1 hour if you are coming from the Denver airport. Add even more time if the roads are snowy.
Winter Road ClosuresFollowing the first big snow storm in the fall, Kebler Pass Road is officially closed into Crested Butte. Cottonwood Pass Road, from Buena Vista to the Taylor Park area, is also closed. These roads reopen with the spring thaw, usually in mid-May.
For the rest of the winter, our only highway access is via US 50 (east-west through Gunnison), and then SR 135 north 30 miles to the end of the road in Crested Butte.
Highway ConditionsCheck with the Colorado Department of Transportation for current road conditions. The routes you will be interested in are:
US 285 from Denver to Poncha Springs
US 50 over Monarch Pass and through Gunnison
SR 135 from Gunnison to Crested Butte
On the left is the current HighwayCam image from Monarch Pass. Monarch is the major pass you need to cross coming to Crested Butte from Denver or points in the midwest.
Getting Around TownUnlike many other destination ski resorts, it’s easy, and in fact preferable, to go without a car in Crested Butte. Alpine Express shuttles meet every flight at the airport, and take you from the airport to town. Once you get to Crested Butte, you won’t want the hassle of alternate-side winter parking and clearing snow off your car every morning. Our town is quite small, and everything is close by. Crested Butte also has convenient free bus service between the ski area, town, and most condominium locations. You can ride the bus practically anywhere you need to go in Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte.
High Country hintsOn the way to Crested Butte? Read our High Country Hints to stay healthy in our high-altitude environment.
Air Travel
The closest local airport is the Gunnison-Crested Butte airport (GUC), a 30 minute drive from the town of Crested Butte. Alpine Express provides shuttles from this airport to local destinations.
You can also get here via Montrose (MTJ), about 1 and a half to two hours away. The Alpine Express shuttle service is offering rides from Montrose to the Gunnison Valley and Crested Butte.
We don't recommend flying just to Denver (DEN), as you are still a long 5-hour drive over mountain passes away from Crested Butte, and there's no scheduled bus or shuttle from Denver to our area.
American Airlines offers one flight daily to and from Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) during the ski season. Check the Gunnison Airport schedule for flight times and more information.
GUC-DFW (Dallas) Daily 737 - December 17, 2009 - April 5, 2010
Depart DFW 1:55 PM, Arrive GUC 2:55 PM
Depart GUC 3:50 PM, Arrive DFW 6:40 PM
Delta Air Lines offers service to Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport (GUC) via non-stop flights from Salt Lake City (SLC) and Atlanta (ATL) during the ski season. Check the Gunnison Airport schedule for flight times and more information.
GUC-ATL (Atlanta) Saturdays Only 757 - December 19, 2009 - March 27, 2010
Depart ATL 11:30 AM, Arrive GUC 1:22 PM
Depart GUC 2:12 PM, Arrive ATL 7:16 PM
GUC-SLC (Salt Lake City) Daily*, CRJ 700-
Depart SLC 11:14 AM, Arrive GUC 12:30 PM
Depart GUC 1:00 PM, Arrive SLC 2:16 PM
*Daily flights December 19, 2009 - January 4, 2010 then on Monday, Thursday, Saturday & Sunday from January 5, 2009 - March 28, 2010
United Airlines / United Express offers daily commuter flights from Denver International Airport, and daily jet service. Check the Gunnison Airport schedule for flight times and more information.
GUC-DEN Daily Regional Jet - December 17, 2008 - April 4, 2010
Weekdays:
Depart DEN 11:22 AM, Arrive GUC 12:31 PM
Depart DEN 3:57 PM, Arrive GUC 5:02 PM
Depart DEN 9:05 PM, Arrive GUC 10:18 PM
Depart GUC 7:14 AM, Arrive DEN 8:33 AM
Depart GUC 12:55 PM, Arrive DEN 2:01 PM
Depart GUC 5:23 PM, Arrive DEN 6:35 PM
Saturday & Sunday:
Depart DEN 8:18 AM, Arrive GUC 9:27 PM
Depart DEN 11:30 AM, Arrive GUC 12:28 PM
Depart DEN 3:17 PM, Arrive GUC 4:22 PM
Depart DEN 6:50 PM, Arrive GUC 8:03 PM
Depart GUC 6:00 AM, Arrive DEN 7:19 AM
Depart GUC 9:48 AM, Arrive DEN 11:07 AM
Depart GUC 1:06 PM, Arrive DEN 2:00 PM
Depart GUC 4:43 PM, Arrive DEN 5:55PM
Ground Transportation
Alpine Express provides a Door-To-Door Shuttle between Gunnison Airport
and Crested Butte, with a fleet of 30 vehicles, from 10-passenger vans to 45-passenger coaches. Short Scenic Ride, Baggage Handling, Luxury Limousine Service are all available.
Discounts are available for groups of 24 or more. Meets each flight during ski season. Please make your reservations prior to arrival. Special prices for children 12 and under.
Rental Cars Avis, Budget, and Hertz offer car and Jeep rentals at the Gunnison airport.
Around Town
Condo Shuttles serve the condominium complexes adjacent the ski area, from 8AM to midnight, leaving every 20 minutes until 8 PM and then every 30 minutes until midnight.
The Mountain Express Bus System wheelchair accessible shuttle buses leave every 15 minutes from town and the mountain, starting at 7:15 AM until 12 midnight.
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