Your Guide: Getting from Estes Park to Steamboat Springs

Alright, so you’re planning a trip from the gates of Rocky Mountain National Park over to Ski Town, USA®. Great plan. It’s a classic Colorado journey that takes you through some seriously stunning landscapes. How you get there, though, really depends on what time of year you’re going.

The Routes: Summer Scenery vs. The Winter Way

This is super important. There are basically two ways to do this drive, and one of them closes for more than half the year.

The Summer Route (Late May - Mid October, weather permitting): This is the one you want if you can do it. You’ll cut through Rocky Mountain National Park on Trail Ridge Road (US-34) to Grand Lake, then hop on US-40 the rest of the way to Steamboat. It’s spectacular.

The Year-Round Route: When Trail Ridge Road closes for the winter (and it’s a long winter up there), you have to go the long way ‘round. You’ll head south from Estes, usually down through Boulder, hit I-70 West for a bit, then take CO-9 North up to Kremmling to meet up with US-40.

What Are My Options? A Travel Breakdown

Let’s be real, driving is your only practical choice. There isn’t a magic bus connecting these two towns directly.

Travel OptionEst. Cost (One-Way)Est. TimeConvenience
Rental Car$70 - $120/day + gas3.5 - 4 hoursBest Option. Gives you total freedom.
Private Car Service$600 - $800+3.5 - 4 hoursSuper pricey, for a luxury experience.
Uber / Lyft$400 - $600+3.5 - 4 hoursNot realistic. Finding a driver is a gamble.
Shared Shuttle / BusN/AN/ANo direct services operate on this route.

Best Travel Option: Get Your Own Wheels

A rental car is the hands-down winner. It’s the most cost-effective and gives you the freedom to stop wherever you want, which you definately should. If you take the summer route, you’ll need a car to get through the national park anyway.

Cheapest Travel Option: Also Your Own Wheels

Since there are no budget-friendly bus or shuttle services that run directly between Estes and Steamboat, driving yourself is also the cheapest way to go. Carpooling would be the only way to make it cheaper.

So, What’s the Damage? A Look at Pricing

Why Make This Trip?

Closest Airports

For Estes Park: The main airport is Denver International Airport (DEN). It’s about a 90-minute drive away. It’s a huge, modern airport and you can easily rent a car there.

For Steamboat Springs: You have two options.

  1. Denver International Airport (DEN): It’s about a 3-hour drive from Steamboat, but it has the most flight options and the cheapest rental cars.
  2. Yampa Valley Regional Airport (HDN): This airport is MUCH closer, only about 30 minutes from Steamboat. It’s a smaller, regional airport. It gets a lot more flights in the winter to serve the ski resort, often direct from major cities. Flights and rental cars here can be more expensive due to the convenience.

Local Events to Check Out

In Estes Park:

In Steamboat Springs: