Directions to Leadville are easy. Surrounded by Colorado’s highest peaks, we are just 100 miles from Denver and 128 miles from Colorado Springs.
DRIVE
Coming from any direction, the Top of the Rockies National Scenic Byway is your route into Leadville or Twin Lakes. From Interstate 70, take Highway 24 (Tennessee Pass) or Highway 91 (Fremont Pass) to arrive at our breathtaking destination. In warm weather months, the scenic byway goes to Aspen, on Highway 82, over Independence Pass. The pass is closed in winter, usually from late October until Memorial Day weekend, weather depending.
Highway 24 and 91 are open year round and plowed regularly by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). Hwy 82 is open to Twin Lakes and 10 miles west of
Winter Travel: Roads into Leadville and Twin Lakes are plowed and open all winter. Colorado traction laws may apply during storms.
Always check current driving conditions before travel at COTrip.org or at @ColoradoDOT.
Traction Laws: During winter storms, Colorado may put its traction laws into effect. Then your vehicle must have snow tires, M+S (mud and snow) tires, and/or four-wheel drive. Chains or an AutoSock may also be required for passenger vehicles. Learn about Colorado’s traction law requirements, for your safety and to avoid a ticket.
FLY
The Leadville-Lake County Airport is North America’s highest public use airport at an altitude of 9,934 feet! No commercial service is available, but private pilots love its convenience.
Denver International Airport has nearly two dozen airlines that serve domestic and international travelers. Eagle County Airport is 62 miles from Leadville and has commercial flights arriving daily.
PUBLIC TRANSIT & GROUND TRANSPORTATION
Denver to Frisco: Epic Mountain Express and Peak 1 Express provide shuttle airport transportation to nearby Frisco. Summit Express serves both Frisco and Copper Mountain. Bustang is an interregional express bus service that stops at the Frisco Transit Center. Its West Line connects local transit entities along the I-25 and I-70 corridors. Bustang also connects to Denver’s Union Station. From there, you can catch the University of Colorado A Line Train to the Denver International Airport.
Frisco to Leadville: Summit Stage has a Lake County Commuter Route, which for a nominal fee travels between Leadville and Frisco, approximately 30 miles to the northeast, directly off I-70 in Summit County. At the Frisco Transit Center, you can catch free buses to Breckenridge and throughout Summit County.
Leadville to Minturn and Vail: The Eagle County Regional Transportation Authority (Eco Transit) buses run morning and evening along U.S. 24 between Vail and Leadville, with a transfer stop at the Forest Service Park and Ride for the Highway 6 and Minturn routes.
In Leadville: Lake County Transit provides free bus service around the city center on Mondays through Fridays. Visit their website to see the bus in real time.
Car Rental: No car rental options are available in Leadville or Twin Lakes. Car rental agencies are located nearby in Avon, Dillon, Silverthorne, and Breckenridge through Enterprise, Summit Rental Car, Breckenridge Rental Car and Vail Rental Car.
CENTRALLY LOCATED + CLOSE TO SKI TOWNS
Our local area, Ski Cooper, is just 15 minutes outside of Leadville. It’s known for its all-natural snow and single base area, which makes it family-friendly and laid back. There are many other ski areas close by. For example, Copper Mountain is just 23 miles over Fremont Pass, and Vail is 44 miles away, making Leadville the perfect hub for an affordable winter vacation.
Map of Leadville, Colorado
