Vail, Colorado To Charge for Summer Parking for First Time Ever

Alongside launching the paid summer parking program, the Town of Vail also said it would expand the free summer schedule of the Vail Transit system, including 15-minute East Vail service, West Vail Express and Lionsridge Loop service, and additional Sandstone service.

The paid summer parking will be in place between May 30 and September 28 and will cost $2 an hour, with a maximum payment of $10 per day. The first hour of parking is free, and parking between 3 p.m. and 4 a.m. will come at no cost in the Vail Village and Lionshead structures.

Overnight rates at the Vail Village and Lionshead parking structures will be $60 and $35 at the Red Sandstone Garage, matching wintertime rates. 

A slew of parking passes will reduce or eliminate the cost of parking in Vail this summer, and summer-specific parking passes will be available for purchase beginning in mid-May. Those who purchased winter parking passes for the 2024-2025 season will have their pass extended automatically without any additional fees.

To view preliminary details about parking passes, click here.

In addition to raising funds for repairs, the paid parking program also addresses an element of Vail's strategic plan—lowering the number of local residents using parking structures—said Greg Hall with the town's public works department, the Vail Daily reports.

The reasoning behind that goal? Avoiding the costly construction of additional parking spaces, Hall said. "Every parking space that you don't have to build is a significant savings to the town, long term," he added.

The details of Vail's summer parking plan will be available on www.vail.gov before the end of April, and expanded transit details will be available on www.vail.gov/bus in the coming weeks.