Directions & Transport
CB is remote by design — the drive in is part of the experience. Here's every way to get here.
Arrival map
This map shows the main arrival choices before the rest of the trip gets locked in. Gunnison is the primary approach to compare first. Denver is the helpful backup or add-on choice. The lines are planning corridors, not turn-by-turn road geometry, so use live directions before you drive.
Second Star gear guide
Road Trip Essentials
Road-trip packing list
Phone mounts, coolers, emergency kits, chargers, packing pieces, and glovebox backup for scenic drives and weekend routes.
Car Phone Mounts
$26.98
Road Trip Coolers
$275.00
Car Emergency Kits
$49.99
The closest airport is Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport (GUC), located just 28 miles south of CB — about a 30-minute drive. Gunnison County's current schedule supports Denver (DEN) and Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) service on specified dates. Do not assume a Houston or other nonstop without checking the live airport schedule.
Rental inventory and private airport transfers require advance confirmation. Gunnison County currently links Alpine Express as an airport shuttle option; its route and dates are not interchangeable with the free Mountain Express town service.
Denver International (DEN) is the most common fly-in option for the drive. Plan for about 4 hours in good conditions — though that can stretch in winter with snow or traffic on I-70.
The classic route: I-70 W → US-285 S → US-50 W → CO-135 Nto Crested Butte. You'll pass through Salida and Gunnison. The last 28 miles on CO-135 from Gunnison to CB is a beautiful, straightforward valley drive.
Head south on I-25, west on US-50 through Cañon City and Salida, then north on CO-135. The Monarch Pass stretch on US-50 is stunning but watch for winter closures. A popular option for skiers flying into COS.
Head east on I-70 to CO-92 to Gunnison, then north on CO-135. The scenic route option: from I-70 to CO-65 over Grand Mesa — one of the world's largest flat-top mountains — adds time but is spectacular.
In town
Free shuttle
The 2026 summer Town Shuttle runs every 20 minutes from 7:35 a.m. to midnight through September 27; use the live seasonal schedule for later dates.
Bike path
CB is a real bike town, and the route between town and Mountain Village has a dedicated path.
Rental car
A car helps for Gunnison, Kebler Pass Road, and fishing spots. For ski-base parking, the shuttle is usually easier.
Before the drive
Gunnison County reported Kebler and Cottonwood passes open in May 2026, while GMUG Stage 2 restrictions remain active until rescinded. Neither fact certifies a future travel day.
Keep exploring
Winter Park, Breckenridge, Steamboat Springs, Crested Butte, and Beaver Creek now form a linked Colorado mountain cluster in the portfolio.
