Car Rental Tips for Your Colorado Ski Vacation

Planning a ski vacation in Colorado? Renting a car can offer you the freedom to explore at your own pace. It also lets you visit some of the smaller resorts that may not have public transportation. But navigating the snowy roads can be a bit tricky if you’re not prepared. One of my first Colorado car rental memories was from one of my family’s annual ski trips. I was sitting in the back seat while my mother drove white-knuckled over a mountain pass in a rear wheel drive car at night in a blizzard. We’ve learned a lot in our 25+ years of living in and driving around Colorado’s mountains. Here are 10 top car rental tips to ensure your Colorado ski vacation experience is smooth, allowing you to focus more on the slopes than the roads.

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1. How to Decide if You Should Get a Car Rental for Your Colorado Ski Vacation

The first step is to decide whether you should rent a car or not. Here are our top 5 criteria to help you decide:

• Are there shuttle services, buses, or trains available from the airport to your destination?
• If yes, are prices within your budget?
• Can you reserve an accommodation either walking distance or on a shuttle route to the ski area?
• Do you plan to visit more than one destination (if yes, can you get a shuttle or public transport between the two)?
• Do you want to take day trips beyond the town and ski area (e.g., snowmobiling, snowshoeing, sleigh rides)? If yes, can you get there by public transport or taxi?
• How experienced are you with winter driving?
• What does your drive look like from the airport to your destination?
• How experienced are you with mountain driving?

If there are shuttle services within your budget, and all of the activities you’re planning to do can be reached by public transport, on foot, or by taxi, you may be better off without a car.

If you are uncomfortable and not experienced with winter or mountain driving, winter in the mountains is not the time to learn to drive in the snow. For those interested in learning, the Bridgestone Winter Driving School in Steamboat Springs gets rave reviews.

However, if you are comfortable driving in the snow, and want the independence of exploring beyond your destination, a car may be the right choice for you.

2. How to Select the Right Car for Your Trip

There are a number of mistakes that my family made on that particular ski trip. They included:

• Arranging this trip relatively last minute (and because of this, we struggled to find cars available);
• Renting from a relatively unknown rental company;
• Agreeing to take a rear wheel drive car despite the impending snow storms;

What should you do to avoid this scenario?

• Use a reputable booking platform. We use and recommend Discovercars.com for a number of reasons. The site allows you to compare prices, read customer reviews, and select the appropriate vehicle for snowy conditions. Insurance options and security deposits are also transparent and easy to navigate.
• Always check the ratings of the rental car company and review feedback from other customers to make an informed decision.

3. What Kind of Car Should You Rent for Colorado in Winter?

When renting a car in Colorado during the winter, opt for an all-wheel drive (AWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicle. These cars provide better traction and handling in snowy and icy conditions. They are ideal for the mountainous terrain you’ll encounter on your way to ski resorts. Most rental agencies will offer a range of AWD or 4WD options, so make sure to book these in advance as they are highly sought after.

None of the major car rental companies include snow tires on their rentals from Denver. If you rent AWD or 4WD cars or SUV’s, they should come with all-weather tires, which are better than standard tires.

4. What Kind of Car Rental Insurance is Required in Colorado?

Rental car companies in Colorado provide the state required levels of liability insurance. Colorado requires $25,000 bodily injury liability insurance per person ($50,000 per accident), $15,000 property damage liability coverage per accident. This means that you do are not required to purchase insurance.

For some, car rental insurance coverage from your personal car insurance or from your credit card or personal insurance may provide additional coverage. Check the details of these before renting so that you are aware of what is and is not covered.

If you do not have any additional coverage, it is highly recommended to purchase additional insurance when you reserve your rental. On Discovercars.com and some other booking sites, it is often less expensive to purchase your insurance coverage when reserving your car vs when you pick up the car.

Keep in mind that the unpredictable winter weather in the Rockies can bring heavy snowfall, icy roads, and reduced visibility. This increases the risk of accidents or vehicle damage.

5. Other Car Rental Reservation Tips

• Opt for unlimited mileage: Colorado ski resorts are relatively far apart.
• Security deposit requirements can vary significantly between rental companies and can impact your budget. Make sure you have enough funds available on your credit card to cover the deposit, and understand the conditions under which it will be fully refunded.
• Payment terms: Discovercars.com allows you to filter between cars that require a pre-payment, partial pre-payment, or pay later.
• Additional driver costs: if you plan to have more than one driver, be sure to check costs for adding the additional driver(s) before reserving.
• Age requirements: for younger or older drivers, be sure to check your eligibility to drive the particular car. Some companies may not allow drivers under 26, for example, while others may charge an additional fee.

6. Plan Your Flights and Drive Times Carefully

If you’re not experienced driving in snow, it’s advisable to schedule your flights in such a way that you can drive to the ski resort during daylight hours. Or, if arriving at night, consider spending a night in Denver, driving up to the mountains during daylight hours. Daylight driving can be significantly safer, especially in unfamiliar or challenging road conditions. This planning helps reduce the stress of navigating icy roads at night and enhances your overall safety.

Times to avoid due to traffic include:

• Driving to the mountains from Denver on Friday afternoons and evenings. It sometimes feels like the whole city is driving to the mountains. You can get stuck in long traffic jams.
• Driving from the mountains to Denver on Sunday afternoons (or holiday afternoons) can have the same challenges. Saturday afternoons can also be slower, though not quite as bad as Sundays.

If you are skiing in Crested Butte, Steamboat Springs, Aspen, Telluride (or other areas further from Denver), consider flying into the regional airports closer to these ski areas to avoid traffic issues.

7. How to Prepare for Winter Driving

It’s crucial to be prepared for winter driving. This includes checking the weather forecasts regularly, keeping an emergency kit in your car, and understanding the basics of winter driving. Don’t forget to ask the rental agency if they provide winter tires or chains, which can be essential for safe driving in snowy conditions.

The rental agency should provide a spare tire, emergency kit (including jumper cables, air compressor, safety triangle, and more), and ice scraper. It is worth double checking this at pickup. Additionally, the following are also highly recommended to have in your vehicle in winter:

• First aid kit (at least a travel sized one such as this one);
• Flashlight or waterproof headlamp with extra batteries’
• Windshield washer fluid (especially when traveling in winter). This may not be needed for a short winter drive, but can be critical for longer drives during and after snow storms.
• Snow shovel (it’s easiest to bring a collapsable snow shovel);
• Extra warm hat, socks, gloves, and/or blanket.

Don’t overlook the snow shovel. A friend of ours got stuck in deep snow with no snow shovel, while out of cell range. The only thing they could shovel with was a ski that was in the car, which didn’t work effectively. Be prepared and don’t get stuck like they were for hours.

8. Use Technology to Plan and Stay Connected

Some of the top apps and technologies we use and recommend for our travels include:

Car charger for your phones or other devices	For a ski trip, a USB-A and USB-C car charger is ideal. Consider a car charger with multiple outlets.
Portable charger for your phones and other devices	It may also be helpful to have a portable charger that can be used as a backup.
Map apps for your phone (such as Google Maps or Apple Maps)	Before hitting the road, map out your route and download the map on your phone. Consider bringing a physical road atlas as backup. Iif traveling in North America, the National Geographic Road Atlas 2024: Adventure Edition is a great choice, including national park details.

9. Bring Essential Water and Food

Go into your trip with the assumption that you may break down. Bring along supplies for the day, and also an emergency batch of backup supplies. Most are in a rush to get to the mountains after landing in Denver. Take a few extra minutes to stop off at to get some basics for your car, or bring these along in your luggage. If you’re headed west on I-70 from the Denver airport, one of the most convenient places we’ve found to stop is at exit 266 in Wheat Ridge. You’ll find a large grocery store, liquor store, and more just off the highway.

Drinks and food for the day:

• Fill a few liter water bottles with water, and if desired, also electrolytes. Refillable water bottles are ideal, since you can fill these at many rest areas, some trailheads, and tourist attractions. If you are going to be in the back country, a Life Straw or similar water bottle is preferable.
• Our favorites electrolytes are Nuun strawberry lemonade and Liquid IV.
• Food to bring along is quite individual. We pack lots of fresh fruit and veggies, nuts, sandwiches, as well as snacks with protein (meat, cheese). Caffeine and sugar may provide quick energy, but can be followed by low energy.

10. Keep Sufficient Fuel in the Tank

Keeping sufficient fuel in the tank of your rental car during a Colorado winter is crucial for both comfort and safety. Cold mountain mornings often require warming up your car to defrost windows and ensure a smooth start, which can consume more fuel than usual.

Unexpected road closures due to snowstorms, avalanches, or accidents are common in the Colorado mountains. Having a full tank ensures you won’t be stranded in the cold without heat. Maintaining at least half a tank of fuel at all times not only helps you stay prepared for delays but also gives you peace of mind, allowing you to focus on enjoying your winter adventures without worry.

Colorado Ski Car Rental Wrap-Up

By following these tips, you can ensure a more enjoyable and safer ski vacation in Colorado. Whether you choose to drive yourself or use a shuttle service, the key is to plan ahead and choose the option that best fits your comfort level and travel needs. Happy skiing!

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