I-70 is a nightmare with traffic and frequently closes due to accidents--follow CDOT on social media or check out the COsnow subreddit to see how bad it gets.

We are considering going next winter break - are there other things to do around Denver or side trip in addition to 4 nights in Vail or Beaver Creek?

I think 3 days skiing is fine, but we did Breck over Christmas, and I was shocked at how knocked out by the altitude we were. Everyone but my husband took a day to walk around the town and explore rather than ski. My kids are pretty young, but I have been at altitude plenty of times and was still pretty surprised. We found the travel super easy- caught a shuttle from the airport both ways and traffic was a bit bad, but nothing like around here, lol.

We’ve gone this week for several years now. This year we fly on Wednesday, go tubing upon arrival. Ski Thursday, Friday, Saturday and fly home on Sunday. Only miss 2 days of school. It’s perfect. Precise days shift with MCPS day off.

Anonymous wrote:3 days of skiing. 4 days is a lot. By 5-6 days we are beyond done. We are doing 3 days next year on some of the Fcps holidays. Drive to Vail is quick if no snow and traffics. But that is really the X factor. Southwest has some good nonstops from Dulles.

3 is the minimum I would go for. We typically ski 5-6 days when we go.

Anonymous wrote:3 days of skiing. 4 days is a lot. By 5-6 days we are beyond done. We are doing 3 days next year on some of the Fcps holidays. Drive to Vail is quick if no snow and traffics. But that is really the X factor. Southwest has some good nonstops from Dulles.

Yes...I did this last February and it was 7.5 hours. Really painful start to the trip where we intended to ski 3 days but only got one day on the slopes due to high wind and lift closures.

Depends on how good of shape you’re in and how much you love skiing. My kids are in the phase where they’ll do 5 straight day—open to close and throw in a night session or two in there. We do no less than 4 days of skiing when traveling to CO.

If you are not hardcore skiers 3 straight days will be plenty. The only downside to three days is it won’t leave you much time to enjoy everything else that avail offers, especially if the skiers are exhausted. A non-ski day can be nice for other activities

Do they own the place you are staying at in Vail? Unless there is a particular reason to go to Denver flying in/out of Eagle County would be far superior for you. The only risk is weather delays.

3 days of skiing. 4 days is a lot. By 5-6 days we are beyond done. We are doing 3 days next year on some of the Fcps holidays. Drive to Vail is quick if no snow and traffics. But that is really the X factor. Southwest has some good nonstops from Dulles.

None. The "slopes" there suck.