You can make Denver to Vail in about 2 hours, but the people who love this drive never do it in one straight shot. At around 100 miles on I-70, it is short enough to start after breakfast and long enough to earn a night somewhere memorable close to the park gates.
Open this route in XCRSNLeaving Denver
Aim to clear Denver before the morning rush, or after it, never in it. Fill the tank on the edge of town where prices usually drop, set the playlist, and settle in for the first 36 miles to Idaho Springs.
The headline stop on this route is Eisenhower Tunnel. Leave real time for it; it sets the tone for the whole trip.
Idaho Springs
Idaho Springs sits about 36 miles in. It makes a good spot to stretch, eat something that is not from a gas station, and swap drivers.
Nearby, Summit County ski towns is worth the short detour if the day is going well.
Frisco, the last stretch
Frisco sits about 79 miles in. It is the natural place to stop for the night: hotels are plentiful, rates beat the big-city ends of the route, and you wake up with the hardest miles already behind you.
Rolling into Vail
The final 20 miles always go faster than you expect. Save a little energy for Vail Village; it is a fitting finish.
By the end you will have seen Eisenhower Tunnel, Summit County ski towns and Vail Village, and you will understand why this corridor is a classic.
When to go and how to pace it
One night is the sweet spot. Vail or Frisco, CO is where most people stay, so book ahead on summer weekends.
Check live gas prices along I-70 before you go; they can swing a lot from one state or county to the next. XCRSN prices every leg for your exact car.
