Driving conditions from Denver to Winter Park
 

Two questions:

1) We are on a bit of a budget and have found a reasonable hotel in Winter Park for $150 per night but Denver has a Marriott for $80 per night. Would you suggest doubling your expenses for the convenience of staying in Winter Park?

2) How are the driving conditions between Denver and Winter Park? We are from the flatlands where the sun shines 365 .... are we ok in a rental car?

THanks

You mean to ski in Winter Park? When is trip? No way would I do this if skiing. Tough drive over Berthoud Pass in bad weather. Just bite the bullet and stay in WP. Actually wouldn't do it anyway. Waste of time driving it up and back each day. Yuck. Which Marriot?

Unless you are going to just go for a single day, no way on earth would I drive back and forth and I am used to snow and mountain driving!

We stayed here:
Best Western Alpenglo Lodge

78641 Us Highway 40
Winter Park, CO 80482

[In July] It was perfectly fine and we got it on hotwire. Clean and a decent free breakfast.

Driving conditions in winter is fine between Denver and Winter Park provided it has not been snowing and it is not on the weekend. The vast majority of the time the road is clear and dry but afternoon of early morning of little snow can make it more challenging. It does not snow everyday in the mountains. Second, $70 savings can be eaten a bit by the gasoline and inconvenience of driving each day. It is nice to go back to the hotel, perhaps a hot tub, rather than driving an hour or more back to Denver.

Finally the weekend is tough. The day skiers pouring into the mountains on Saturday and Sunday morning, especially if the weather is nice, can be bumper to bumper. And same in the afternoon when the lifts close. Your $70 is a bit of a false savings.

Valuable information ... thank you so much! Easy decision after reading the advice here.

I agree. Stay in Winter Park. Berthoud Pass is well-maintained. We prefer it to driving on I-70 through the Eisenhower Tunnel.

http://www.devilsthumbranch.com/find...ccommodations/

Here are a couple of hotels I'd also recommend in Winter Park.

Another option for you, would be to stay in Denver and take the Ski Train to Winter Park, depending on the days you want to ski:

https://www.winterparkresort.com/pla...r-park-express

The ski train service is limited to weekends Jan to March. It is OK but if you can arrange it is best to ski during the week and avoid the weekends if you can.

Depending on the days you have available, the Ski Train now offers one-way fares. You could ride up on a Sunday, and return the next Friday, if that works. Or any variation on that.

If you only have the weekend to ski, I wouldn't be concerned about it. Winter Park is a large ski area. Whatever your ability, you should find appropriate terrain. All ski areas are busier on weekends. Don't let that deter you, if it's your only chance to go.

https://www.winterparkresort.com/pla...r-park-express

"Starting August 25, you can book weekend rides, one way or round trip, from Denver’s Union Station to the platform right at Winter Park! The train will hit the tracks January 5th, and continue running Saturdays, Sundays and select Fridays each month. Book now, as the train will only run until March 25th, make sure to get your ticket today. Stay for the week, the weekend, or the day, without the hassle of traffic, parking, or icy roads."

Thank you ... I did hear about the ski train and it sounds great but won't work with our itinerary.

I would wonder how on earth the ski train would work when "we are on a budget". $58 RT/person. That is close to the one day hotel difference all by itself.

Gretchen, that cost could be somewhat offset by not having to rent a car or worry about driving, per the OPs question:
"2) How are the driving conditions between Denver and Winter Park? We are from the flatlands where the sun shines 365 .... are we ok in a rental car?"

If they are in winter park and skiing there I'd assume they wouldn't need a car.
But there is also the probability that a rental car is less than $58/day X2 people (at least--we don't really know how many).

I would HATE the driving conditions on Berthoud Pass in snow.

I think they have seen the light and hopefully will enjoy Winter Park.

Gretchen, as you know -- advice from people who don't live here should always be taken with the "grain of salt."

...All ski areas are busier on weekends..... Ya -- you can say that but for the front range slopes - (Breck, Copper, W Park, Keystone) they tend to be overwhelmed on nice weekends. Easy to have 30 min plus lift lines and the high speed chairs dump a lot of people on the slopes quickly making for very crowd slopes. I would try to avoid skiing on the weekend because it is a very different experience. If that is you only choice, then you do it but mid-week is far more relaxed. Some skiing is always better than no skiing.

"I would HATE the driving conditions on Berthoud Pass in snow."

In snow, we actually prefer Berthoud Pass to I-70 and the Eisenhower tunnel, because it's well-maintained and designed. The curvey road keep most drivers from flying down the straight shoot from the tunnel.

PS "Gretchen, as you know -- advice from people who don't live here should always be taken with the "grain of salt.""

If this refers to me, I live in Denver and have owned a weekend home in Winter Park/Grand County since the late 70s. So I know a bit about it. More than a grain of salt.

And, yes, I stand by this: "All ski areas are busier on weekends. Don't let that deter you, if it's your only chance to go."

No matter where it is located, every ski area has more skiers on weekends. Duh. I was not referring to whether or not they are "overwhelmed".

BTW, this makes little sense, if you're arguing with my point:
"...All ski areas are busier on weekends..... Ya -- you can say that but for the front range slopes - (Breck, Copper, W Park, Keystone) they tend to be overwhelmed on nice weekends. Easy to have 30 min plus lift lines and the high speed chairs dump a lot of people on the slopes quickly making for very crowd slopes. I would try to avoid skiing on the weekend because it is a very different experience. If that is you only choice, then you do it but mid-week is far more relaxed. Some skiing is always better than no skiing."

Loss of ski time and your lift pass investment per hour, because you are driving from Denver, possible snow if you are concerned with driving conditions, no ski mountain ambience and convenience of staying in Winter Park, all to save less than $100 / night? Wouldn't be my choice