Colorado ski towns from Main Street to the bowls
This is leg 1 of 2, the opening leg.
Travel leg · Breckenridge, Vail & Aspen
Breckenridge to Vail
Breckenridge and Vail sit about 33 km (20 mi) apart in a straight line, with Vail to the north-west. It is leg 1 of 2 on our Breckenridge, Vail & Aspen itinerary, a 7-day trip. Here is how long it takes by car, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 33 km · 20 mi
- Est. road distance
- 39–46 km
- Est. drive time
- 30–55 min
- Direction
- Heading north-west
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 50–80 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By car
Most travelers on our Breckenridge, Vail & Aspen itinerary do this leg by car. We estimate 39–46 km (24–28 mi) of road and 30–55 min behind the wheel, so check live traffic before you set off.
Fly into Denver (DEN); Breckenridge is about 2 hours west via I-70 and CO-9, Vail 45 minutes on from Breckenridge over Vail Pass, and Aspen about 2 hours from Vail via Glenwood Springs because Independence Pass is closed in winter. Eagle County (EGE) near Vail and Aspen (ASE) have direct winter flights, so you can fly out of Aspen. Colorado's traction law applies on I-70 in winter: use an all-wheel-drive car with winter tires and carry chains. Once parked, free town buses run in all three towns, and free shuttles link the four Aspen Snowmass mountains.
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Vail
Alpine-style village under a huge mountain; 2 nights for the Back Bowls and Bridge Street.
Vail Ski Resort
One of North America's largest ski areas, with groomed front-side runs, the open Back Bowls and Blue Sky Basin.
Bridge Street
Vail Village's pedestrian main street, running from the covered bridge over Gore Creek up to the lifts.
Pepi's
Austrian restaurant and bar in the Gasthof Gramshammer, opened by ski racer Pepi Gramshammer in 1964.
Sonnenalp Hotel
Family-run Bavarian-style hotel in Vail Village with fireplaces in the rooms and a spa.
Gondola One
High-speed gondola from Vail Village to Mid-Vail, the main way onto the mountain from the village.
Lionshead Village
Vail's second base village, west of Vail Village, with the Eagle Bahn Gondola, shops and an outdoor ice rink.
Before you leave Breckenridge
Victorian mining town and big ski resort; 2–3 nights for Peaks 6–10 and Main Street.
Breckenridge Ski Resort
Ski area across Peaks 6 to 10 of the Tenmile Range, with the Imperial Express chair topping out at 12,840 feet.
Main Street
Main Street of Breckenridge's historic district, lined with restored 1880s storefronts, shops and restaurants.
Hearthstone
Long-running restaurant in a restored Victorian house on Ridge Street, one block above Main Street.
On this curated route
Where Breckenridge → Vail sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Vail to Breckenridge is the same 33 km in a straight line, heading south-east. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Breckenridge to Vail: questions travelers ask
How far is Breckenridge from Vail?
Breckenridge is about 33 km (20 mi) from Vail in a straight line, with Vail to the north-west. By road, we estimate 39–46 km (24–28 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Breckenridge to Vail?
An estimated 30–55 min, assuming 39–46 km of road at average speeds of 50–80 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.
Which itineraries include the trip from Breckenridge to Vail?
Our Breckenridge, Vail & Aspen itinerary includes this leg. Breckenridge, Vail & Aspen runs about 7 days across 3 stops, best in Dec – Mar.
Onward from Vail
- Vail to Aspen 63 km
Guides for both ends
- Breckenridge travel guide
- Breckenridge weather best time to visit
- Vail travel guide
- Vail weather best time to visit
Vail by month
Plan Breckenridge → Vail with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.