Many Utah ski resorts are easily accessible without a vehicle, thanks to public transit, shuttles and local services. Let’s chat about why and how to skip a car on your next ski vacation.
Benefits of a Car-free Ski Vacation
- Less stress – Not into the idea of driving in snowy conditions? Skip the car and let someone else do the driving.
- Save time – Get dropped off right at the lodge versus parking and walking or taking shuttles.
- Save money – Rental cars aren’t cheap, especially if you opt for all-wheel drive. Additionally, you will save the cost of parking.
- More eco-friendly – Using mass transit and shuttles reduces carbon emissions and traffic congestion. For example, if just 50 skiers ride the bus up Big Cottonwood Canyon instead of driving, they could save approximately 1,018.5 kg of CO2. That’s a significant impact.
So how do you plan a ski vacation without a car? Let’s go through the details so you can start planning! Likely, the ideal solution will include a couple of transportation modes.
If you know that you want to skip the car rental, plan to visit a resort easily accessible without one. Luckily, this includes most of Utah’s ski areas.
Choose the Right Lodging
The key to a car-free holiday is to book lodging where cars are unnecessary.
- Consider on-mountain lodging at or near the resort. While rooms may be more expensive, some of the cost is offset by not paying for a car and gas.
- Another great option is to book at a resort with its own free shuttle service to/from the mountain.
- Book accommodations on a UTA or Park City Transit route (more on both below) so you can just step out onto your ride.
The Ski Utah Booking Engine is a great place to search because it is specific to searching for lodging near ski areas.
UTA Ski Bus + TRAX
The UTA Ski Bus, combined with TRAX, is one of the best ways to get around without a car, especially if you’re skiing the Wasatch resorts such as Alta Ski Area, Snowbird, Brighton, Solitude Mountain Resort, Solitude Mountain Resort, Powder Mountain, and Snowbasin Resort. One-way ski bus fare is about $5, or free if you're using a Ski Super Pass, Ikon pass, or similar. Transfers within two hours are valid on UTA. To learn details on how to ride the ski bus, including pick-up locations so you can book lodging nearby, check out this post.
Perfect for: Getting from your lodging to the slopes and back. It can also get you from the airport to lodging with transfers from TRAX to a bus.
Park City Transportation Options
Downtown Park City and its resorts are well-connected by free transit, including Park City Transit, Main Street Trolley and High Valley Transit. During the summer months, Transit to Trails even offers free shuttles for hikers and bikers to popular trailheads. With such a comprehensive system, it’s simple to skip the car when staying in Park City. It was even named one of the top “No Car Needed” areas by On the Snow. For more details, review this guide.
Perfect for: Getting from your lodging to the slopes and back. Also good for rides to après ski or dinner.
Alta Town Shuttles – Includes Alta Ski Area and Snowbird
Once you arrive, there’s no need for a car thanks to three shuttle options serving the Town of Alta throughout the ski season.
The Alta Town Shuttle
Runs approximately every 30 minutes 7am-6pm, between Snowbird Entry 4 and Albion Base, plus stops in between.
Alta Night Shuttle
An on-demand pickup service between Alta and Snowbird from 6pm-10pm. Call for service 801-301-0122.
Alta Resort Bypass Shuttle
Transportation to and from Alta to condos and homes along the bypass road (does not serve Snowbird Resort). 8:30am-5pm daily. Call for service 801-301-0122.
For details on these shuttles and more, visit Alta’s Getting Here page.
Perfect for: Getting from your lodging to the slopes and back. Also good for rides to après ski or dinner.
Private Mountain Shuttle Services
For a ride offering both convenience and comfort, you can’t beat a private mountain shuttle. Unlike a ride-share service, you can be assured these services provide drivers and vehicles capable of traveling in snow. They are also set up to transport your gear. Even if you plan to use public transport for the bulk of your stay, a shuttle is a good option to get to on-mountain lodging (such as in Park City, or up any of the canyons) and back to the airport after your stay.
Perfect for: Transferring from the airport to lodging and back. Also good for rides to the slopes on your own schedule with door-to-door convenience.
Here are a few shuttle options:
- Alta Shuttle & Canyons Express
- Canyon Transportation
- Peak Transportation
- Snow Country Limousine
- Unity Executive Transportation
What about ride share?
Ride shares such as Uber and Lyft work okay for rides from the airport to lodging on fair-weather days if the vehicle will fit your gear. Specifically, I suggest considering them if your lodging is in the Salt Lake Valley, as heavy snow accumulations are rare.
Hopefully, this guide inspires you to skip a car for your next ski vacation. With so many benefits, it’s worth considering so you can simply focus on the important things like fun days on the slopes, chill evenings by a fire, and letting go of stress.
