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Vail Raises Parking Fares by 25% for Winter Season

Originally posted on Powder | By Ian Greenwood | Last updated Sep 23, 2025 1:26 PM ET

Paid parking is set to become a bit more expensive in the town of Vail, Colorado, after the town council approved an expansion of hourly parking on peak days.

Last season, those parking in retail spots in the Vail Village and Lionshead Parking Structures on peak days paid $10 an hour for a maximum of $40 across four hours.

This upcoming winter, five hours are billable for a maximum of $50, a 25% increase from last year.

The increase in parking fares is to raise additional funds to repair Vail’s aging parking structures, and follows the first-ever implementation of paid summer parking in the town. Parking revenue also goes towards Vail’s free public transportation system.

Peak dates are Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and during the holidays. The first hour of parking remains free, as does parking after 3 p.m., as long as visitors don’t stay overnight. Overnight parking costs the same as it did last winter: $35 at the Red Sandstone Garage and $60 at the Vail Village and Lionshead parking structures.

Non-peak day parking is capped at $30.

If notching Michelin stars is your thing, Vail, Colorado, is a good place to start.Photo: Adventure_Photo/Getty Images

According to the Vail Daily, the Town of Vail Parking Operations Manager Steph Kashiwa said the town’s parking and mobility task force aimed to “not to change anything too much, but also to get a little funding as well.”

The paid winter parking begins on November 14—the same day that Vail Mountain is expected to open—and continues until April 19, 2026. Parking passes that provide locals with discounts go on sale on October 23.

The Town of Vail expects to share the details of the 2025-26 parking program on its website in early October.

On opening day, Vail Mountain will offer “sweet treats, warm drinks, swag giveaways and so much more!” The Express Lift Bar is hosting the first après event of the season with music from DJ Littlefoot alongside brats, beers, and complimentary whiskey tasting.

This week, Colorado ski resorts were treated to widespread snowfall, with mountains like Winter Park, Arapahoe Basin, and Breckenridge showing off a dusting of snow on their slopes.

Winter’s almost here. Just make sure you know where to park.

This article first appeared on Powder and was syndicated with permission.

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