Getting Around Summit County Without a Car

Many visitors to Summit County assume they need a car, but the county is one of the easiest places in the Colorado mountains to get around without one. Breckenridge, Frisco, Silverthorne, Dillon, Keystone and Copper Mountain are all linked by free public buses, and several towns and resorts add their own free shuttles. Leaving the car at home also means no winter driving on mountain passes and no hunting for parking at the ski areas.

The Summit Stage: free buses between towns

The Summit Stage is the county's bus system, and it is fare-free. Its routes connect the towns with each other and with the ski areas at Breckenridge, Keystone and Copper Mountain. The main hub is the Frisco Transit Center, where many routes meet, so a trip from one end of the county to the other usually means one change of bus in Frisco.

Buses run year-round, with more frequent service in the busy winter and summer seasons. Schedules change by season, so check the current Summit Stage timetable or its real-time bus tracker before you head out, especially for early mornings and late evenings.

Breckenridge: the Free Ride and the gondola

Breckenridge, at about 9,600 feet, runs its own free bus system, the Breckenridge Free Ride, with routes through town and out to many of the neighborhoods where visitors stay. Main Street itself is compact and easy to walk.

The BreckConnect Gondola is free to ride and carries passengers from the edge of downtown up to the base areas at Peak 7 and Peak 8. For many skiers it is the simplest way to reach the slopes from town, with no parking needed at the base.

Keystone, Copper Mountain and the other towns

Keystone spreads across several villages, including River Run and Lakeside Village, and free shuttles move guests around the resort area, with the Summit Stage connecting Keystone to Dillon, Silverthorne and Frisco. At Copper Mountain, most lodging sits in its walkable villages close to the lifts, and the Summit Stage links Copper with Frisco.

Frisco, Silverthorne and Dillon sit close together around Lake Dillon. Each has a walkable core with restaurants and shops, and Silverthorne is home to the outlet stores. In summer, the paved Summit County Recreational Pathway links the towns for walking and biking, with rental bikes easy to find.

Getting to Summit County

Without a car, most visitors arrive from Denver or Denver International Airport by a shared or private airport shuttle, several of which serve the Summit County towns and resorts. Colorado's state-run Bustang intercity bus also runs along I-70 between Denver and the mountains, with a stop in Frisco. Book airport shuttles ahead in the busy holiday weeks.

A few tips for the altitude

Every Summit County town sits above 9,000 feet, and the ski areas go much higher, well above where most visitors live. Waiting for a bus or walking around town can feel harder than usual on the first day. Take it easy at first, drink plenty of water, go light on alcohol the first night, wear sunscreen and get a good night's sleep. Talk to a doctor about any medical questions before your trip.

If you would like recreational oxygen during your stay, Peak Oxygen delivers in-home and portable oxygen concentrators to lodging across Summit County, so there is nothing to pick up and no car needed. It is for recreational use at altitude and no prescription is needed. Deliveries do not require you to be present. See our Breckenridge, Frisco and Keystone oxygen rentals, check prices and availability, or call us at (970) 368-9190.