Ski areas and mountain towns

Times are for a clear day with no ski traffic. On winter weekends I-70 westbound fills from about 6:30 to 10 in the morning and eastbound from 2 to 7 on Sunday afternoon, and the drive can double; check cotrip.org before you go.

Ski areas

• Loveland Ski Area: about 55 minutes, 48 miles. The closest big mountain, right at the Eisenhower Tunnel.
• Eldora (above Nederland): about an hour, 40 miles, via Golden and Coal Creek Canyon.
• Arapahoe Basin: about 1 hour 15, 60 miles, over Loveland Pass; high, steep and open late into spring.
• Winter Park: about 1 hour 15, 57 miles, over Berthoud Pass; the Winter Park Express ski train also runs from Union Station on winter weekends.
• Keystone: about 1 hour 20, 62 miles; night skiing.
• Copper Mountain: about 1 hour 25, 67 miles, right on I-70.
• Breckenridge: about 1 hour 35, 72 miles.
• Vail: about 1 hour 40, 92 miles.
• Beaver Creek: about 2 hours, 102 miles.
• Echo Mountain (small hill, tubing): about 45 minutes, 30 miles, above Evergreen.

Mountain towns

• Evergreen: about 25 minutes, 18 miles; Evergreen Lake freezes for skating in winter.
• Idaho Springs: about 30 minutes, 24 miles; hot springs, pizza, and the turn-off for Mount Blue Sky.
• Georgetown: about 40 minutes, 37 miles; Victorian silver town and the Georgetown Loop Railroad.
• Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park: about 1 hour 35, 62 miles; the park uses timed-entry permits in summer.