Vail is built around pedestrian village cores — cars are banned from Vail Village and Lionshead during ski season. If you are staying in one of the central hotels or at a ski-in/ski-out property, you can leave your car parked for the duration of your stay.
The free Vail transit buses run frequently between Vail Village, Lionshead, East Vail, West Vail, and Cascade Village, operating from early morning until around midnight in ski season. They are reliable and the routes cover most of where visitors need to go.
Paid parking is available at the main structures on either side of the village — expect to pay $30 to $50 per day in peak season. The parking situation can be stressful on busy powder days; arriving early (before 8am) helps. Remote parking with free shuttle service is available at the Lionshead parking garage.
In summer the bike path network along Gore Creek is the most pleasant way to get around the valley floor.