Compare
Vail Mountain Express vs
Bustang & public transit.
Bustang's West Line is the cheapest realistic way into Vail and we will say so plainly. It runs from Denver Union Station to the Vail Transportation Center. Two things to plan around: it does not leave from the airport, so you need the A Line train first, and it drops at the transportation centre rather than your lodging.
Get your fare ↗Call / text (970) 977-8245Bustang & public transit
Cheapest option by a wide margin
Departs Union Station, not the airport
Drops at the transportation centre
Budget 3–4 hours door to door with connections
Luggage and ski gear are your problem at both ends
Vail Mountain Express
Direct from the terminal to your door
Two and a half hours, one vehicle
Gear handled for you
Worth it for groups, families, tight connections and late arrivals — not for a solo traveller on a budget
We are not the cheapest and we do not try to be. For one person travelling light on a flexible schedule, a shuttle or the bus is the better buy and we would rather say so. For groups, families, tight connections, late arrivals and anyone who needs the car to actually be there, a private vehicle is a different product.