Vail sits 165 kilometres west of Denver on Interstate 70, making it about two hours by car in normal conditions. During winter weekends and holidays the I-70 corridor can be extremely congested — check road conditions and consider travelling mid-week or early morning.
Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE), 55 kilometres west of Vail in Gypsum, serves direct flights from major US cities during ski season (typically mid-November through early April). United, American, and Delta all run seasonal routes; Denver and Los Angeles are the most common gateways. In summer, flight options are limited and most visitors drive.
Amtrak's California Zephyr stops at Glenwood Springs, 60 kilometres west, not Vail itself. From Glenwood Springs you can take a taxi or bus transfer into the valley.
Several shuttle companies run door-to-door transfers from Denver International Airport — the journey takes roughly two and a half hours depending on conditions. Colorado Mountain Express and Epic Mountain Express are the main operators.