Hotels in Vail

Vail: Colorado's High-Alpine Resort Town

Vail, Colorado sits at 8,150 feet (2,484 m) in the Eagle River Valley, about 100 miles (161 km) west of Denver along I-70. Founded in 1962 by Pete Seibert and Earl Eaton, the town was built around Vail Mountain, which now spans 5,317 skiable acres across Back Bowls, Blue Sky Basin, and Front Side terrain. The ski area receives an average of 354 inches of snow annually, making it one of the largest ski resorts in North America by acreage.

Where to Stay in Vail

Accommodations cluster in three main zones: Vail Village, the pedestrian core modeled on an Austrian alpine village with ski-in/ski-out access; Lionshead, a quieter enclave roughly half a mile west connected by the Eagle Bahn Gondola; and West Vail, a more residential area attracting budget-conscious visitors. Summer draws nearly as many guests as winter — the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater hosts the Bravo! Vail music festival each June, and the Vail Valley trail network opens for mountain biking and hiking.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE) is 35 miles west; Denver International Airport (DEN) is 100 miles east with shuttle service.
• Parking: Vail Village and Lionshead structures charge daily fees; free parking is available at the Ford Park lot in summer.
• Season: Ski season typically runs late November through mid-April; peak lift ticket prices exceed $300/day purchased at the gate.