Vail is a major ski resort and international travel destination that is located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains in central Colorado. Vail has excellent highway connections to the region’s largest airport – Denver International Airport – and also has a small regional airport located about 35 miles (56 kilometers) to the west.
Vail is located along Interstate 70 – the major East-West highway connection across the Rocky Mountains. Travel time from Denver International Airport to Vail is about 2 hours. Public transportation is available from Denver International Airport with van service that provides frequent departures. Rental cars are also an attractive option for those who wish to combine individual vacation plans with attendance at the Conference.
The trip between Denver International Airport and Vail passes through spectacular
scenery of the Central Rocky Mountains. (
Pre-Conference optional technical excursions)
between Denver International Airport and Vail on Sunday June 3 offer participants
the opportunity to travel to Vail with geologists as tour guides providing an
introduction to the sites and history and geological conditions affecting the
Interstate transportation corridor across the Rocky Mountains.
| Denver International Airport Information |
Denver International Airport (DIA) is the only major airport to be built in the
United States in the last 25 years. The current facility is the sixth busiest airport
in the United States and 10th busiest in the World. Travelers can reach or depart
DIA with convenient connections on many airlines to almost any large worldwide
destination.
Currently there are non-stop international flights to several Canadian and Mexican destinations, and to London, England (Heathrow) and Frankfurt, Germany. Asian destinations are served with good connections through North American west-coast gateways. European and African destinations are served by North American east-coast gateways or through European cities. There are few major cities in the World that cannot be reached by air in two stops from Denver.
DIA is located at some considerable distance (about 23 miles, or 37 km) northeast of downtown Denver. Several ground transportation options are available within the Denver region and to the ski resorts, such as Vail, located to the west in the Rocky Mountains.
Because Vail is located along Interstate 70, the major east-west highway
connection across the Rocky Mountains, and is a major tourist destination, several
companies offer public transportation from DIA.
Colorado Mountain Express
Colorado Mountain Express provides shuttle service between DIA and Vail in both directions. Their current published rates are $73.00 one-way. However they have offered discounts (with one-way fare of $66.00) to participants of the 1st North American Landslide Conference.
Click on the Colorado Mountain Express button to obtain more information on rates and schedules, and to make travel reservations.
| Colorado Mountain Express |
Rental Automobiles
The route between DIA and Vail passes through spectacular scenery of the Central Rocky Mountains. There are many interesting locations to visit in the region, so rental cars are also an attractive option for those who wish to combine individual vacation plans with attendance at the Conference.
Denver International Airport has contracted with 10 rental car companies to provide a wide selection of vehicle rental opportunities to passengers. All the companies provide courtesy shuttle service to their facilities and have service counters located in main Jeppesen Terminal, Level 5.
Click on the Automobile Rental at DIA button to connect to all Automobile Rental options at DIA.
| Automobile Rental at DIA |
Denver International Airport Hotels:
Conference participants may wish to stay overnight near Denver International Airport before or after the conference. Denver International Airport does not have an onsite hotel; however, over 20 lodging facilities are located within 10 miles of the airport and most provide free shuttle transport to/from the airport terminal.
Click on the DIA Hotels button to connect to all hotels near DIA.
| DIA Hotels |
| Eagle County Airport |
Vail also is served by a smaller regional airport – Eagle County Airport – located about 35 miles (56 km) from Vail. Flight choices are more limited, especially in the summer months, but their web-site currently shows direct flights from Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago, and Denver in June 2007. The existence of such flights at the time of the Conference should be confirmed, however.
Flying to Eagle County Airport avoids the 130-mile (200-kilometer) highway drive from DIA; however, ticket costs for such flights may be significantly higher. Also the ground transportation costs between Eagle Airport and Vail are currently about $35.00 one-way.