Important Travel and Transportation Information
Travel Reminders
***URGENT TRAVEL INFORMATION***
***ESTA – Electronic System for Travel Authorization***
Are you visiting the United States from a Visa Waiver Program (VWP) country and currently do not possess a visitor's visa? If so, you will need to complete an official ESTA application by clicking here. You can apply for this for just yourself, or a group of travelers. (To figure out if you are from a VWP county, click here.) In order to complete the application, you will need a valid passport from a VWP country, a valid credit card or PayPal to pay the application fee of $21. See website for more information and requirements.
The application generally takes about 15-20 minutes to fill out and you can check the status of the application by visiting the same site you applied at. Please complete the application at least 2 weeks-72 hours before your scheduled arrival date into the United States. ESTAs are normally valid for 2 years unless you receive a new passport or other important information changes.
***ESTA – Electronic System for Travel Authorization***
Are you visiting the United States from a Visa Waiver Program (VWP) country and currently do not possess a visitor's visa? If so, you will need to complete an official ESTA application by clicking here. You can apply for this for just yourself, or a group of travelers. (To figure out if you are from a VWP county, click here.) In order to complete the application, you will need a valid passport from a VWP country, a valid credit card or PayPal to pay the application fee of $21. See website for more information and requirements.
The application generally takes about 15-20 minutes to fill out and you can check the status of the application by visiting the same site you applied at. Please complete the application at least 2 weeks-72 hours before your scheduled arrival date into the United States. ESTAs are normally valid for 2 years unless you receive a new passport or other important information changes.
Air Transportation
Denver International Airport (DEN) is the recommended airport for this conference. For specific airport information, visit Fly Denver. International travelers to Denver International Airport click here!
If you need to book your air travel, Keystone Symposia has partnered with United Airlines to offer participants with a discount on airfare. Please email info@keystonesymposia.org for discount code and information. MileagePlus members earn Premier Qualifying Dollars and miles for their travel.
Ground Transportation
Epic Mountain Express provides discounted shuttle rates from Denver International Airport to Keystone. Make your reservations by phone at 970-754-7433 (SKI-RIDE), toll free at 1-800-525-6363 or book online. Click here to access our negotiated discounted fares. The discounted rate for 2024 is $75 one way and includes base gratuity and airport taxes. Advance reservations required, and book up quickly, especially on arrival and departure days. When calling or emailing, please reference that you are attending a Keystone Symposia conference and use group code KSSY25 to make sure you get the discounted rate.
PLEASE NOTE - When booking your flight, check the shared shuttle schedule to see if there is an available shuttle that works with your flight times. If you book a flight with a late arrival or early departure, you may need to look into arriving at the airport the night before departure, searching for other shuttle companies or booking a private shuttle. See the Shuttle Schedule for the most up to date schedules.
PLEASE NOTE - When booking your flight, check the shared shuttle schedule to see if there is an available shuttle that works with your flight times. If you book a flight with a late arrival or early departure, you may need to look into arriving at the airport the night before departure, searching for other shuttle companies or booking a private shuttle. See the Shuttle Schedule for the most up to date schedules.
Peak 1 Express also offers shuttles to and from the airport and Keystone Resort at expanded hours. See Shuttle Schedule
Avis provides car rental discounts to Keystone Symposia attendees. To book by phone at the discounted rate, call 800-331-1600 and provide the Avis Worldwide Discount (AWD) number: T487899. Or, book Avis online, and all available vehicles and their discounted rates will display, so you can make your reservation selection easily.
Avis provides car rental discounts to Keystone Symposia attendees. To book by phone at the discounted rate, call 800-331-1600 and provide the Avis Worldwide Discount (AWD) number: T487899. Or, book Avis online, and all available vehicles and their discounted rates will display, so you can make your reservation selection easily.
The Colorado Department of Transportation has strict enforcement of the state's Passenger Vehicle Traction & Chain Laws which states:
During the months of September 1-May 31, and if weather conditions require, CDOT can implement Passenger Vehicle Traction and Chain Laws. Motorists will be alerted to an active Traction or Chain Law by highway signage.
Traction Law (Code 15) - During an active Traction Law, also known as a Code 15, motorists will need to have either snow tires, tires with the mud/snow (M/S) designation, or a four-wheel drive vehicle - all tires must have a minimum three-sixteenth inch tread.
Passenger Vehicle Chain Law (Code 16) - During severe winter storms, CDOT will implement a Passenger Vehicle Chain Law, also known as a Code 16 - this is the final safety measure before the highway is closed. During a Passenger Vehicle Chain Law, every vehicle on the roadway is required to have chains or an alternative traction device (like AutoSock).
Fines - Motorists driving with inadequate equipment during a Passenger Vehicle Traction or Chain Law could be fined more than $130. If a motorist blocks the roadway because they have inadequate equipment during a Passenger Vehicle Traction or Chain Law, they could be fined more than $650.
For more information, click here.
Getting Around
From Denver International Airport
Traffic on Interstate 70 tends to build up going westbound on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings and eastbound on Sunday afternoons, as Front Range residents and visitors make their way to and from the mountains for weekend getaways. This weekend traffic often mixes with snowy and/or icy conditions, causing additional delays and closures. Here are some tips for surviving the weekend traffic:
* Go online to www.CoTrip.org, the Colorado Department of Transportation's (CDOT) travel information page, for access to real-time cameras and travel speeds, as well as roadside message signs advising about potential delays.
* Stay late. CDOT's hourly traffic counts at the Eisenhower Tunnel show that the busiest times are Saturdays around 8 a.m. and Sundays from 2 p.m. onward; to avoid the Sunday rush, stay for dinner and leave at 6 p.m.
* Tune in to local Channel 22 to see live feeds from CDOT's 19 traffic cameras set up between Vail and Idaho Springs. The cameras provide real-time estimates of travel time to Denver, along with weather conditions.
* On the drive east to Denver, take the U.S. 40 frontage road at Georgetown (exit 228) and stay with it until it merges back into I-70 east of Idaho Springs (exit 241). But be prepared for a gamble, as traffic can back up there, too. You will need to travel slowly, but will be able to enjoy the historic Colorado mining towns where the gold rush began on January 7, 1859.
*** New since 2016*** the Colorado Department of Transportation will have stricter enforcement of the state's Passenger Vehicle Traction & Chain Laws which states:
If weather conditions require, CDOT can implement Passenger Vehicle Traction and Chain Laws. Motorists will be alerted to an active Traction or Chain Law by highway signage.
Traction Law (Code 15) - During an active Traction Law, also known as a Code 15, motorists will need to have either snow tires, tires with the mud/snow (M/S) designation, or a four-wheel drive vehicle - all tires must have a minimum one-eighth inch tread.
Passenger Vehicle Chain Law (Code 16) - During severe winter storms, CDOT will implement a Passenger Vehicle Chain Law, also known as a Code 16 - this is the final safety measure before the highway is closed. During a Passenger Vehicle Chain Law, every vehicle on the roadway is required to have chains or an alternative traction device (like AutoSock).
Fines - Motorists driving with inadequate equipment during a Passenger Vehicle Traction or Chain Law could be fined more than $130. If a motorist blocks the roadway because they have inadequate equipment during a Passenger Vehicle Traction or Chain Law, they could be fined more than $650.
For more information, click here.
- As you leave the airport, take Peña Boulevard to Interstate 70, westbound
- Travel west on I-70, through the Eisenhower Tunnel, to Silverthorne Exit 205
- After exiting, turn left and continue 6 miles (9.6 km) east on U.S. Highway 6
- Distance is approximately 90 miles (145 km)
- The drive takes approximately 2 hours, depending upon road and traffic conditions
Traffic on Interstate 70 tends to build up going westbound on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings and eastbound on Sunday afternoons, as Front Range residents and visitors make their way to and from the mountains for weekend getaways. This weekend traffic often mixes with snowy and/or icy conditions, causing additional delays and closures. Here are some tips for surviving the weekend traffic:
* Go online to www.CoTrip.org, the Colorado Department of Transportation's (CDOT) travel information page, for access to real-time cameras and travel speeds, as well as roadside message signs advising about potential delays.
* Stay late. CDOT's hourly traffic counts at the Eisenhower Tunnel show that the busiest times are Saturdays around 8 a.m. and Sundays from 2 p.m. onward; to avoid the Sunday rush, stay for dinner and leave at 6 p.m.
* Tune in to local Channel 22 to see live feeds from CDOT's 19 traffic cameras set up between Vail and Idaho Springs. The cameras provide real-time estimates of travel time to Denver, along with weather conditions.
* On the drive east to Denver, take the U.S. 40 frontage road at Georgetown (exit 228) and stay with it until it merges back into I-70 east of Idaho Springs (exit 241). But be prepared for a gamble, as traffic can back up there, too. You will need to travel slowly, but will be able to enjoy the historic Colorado mining towns where the gold rush began on January 7, 1859.
*** New since 2016*** the Colorado Department of Transportation will have stricter enforcement of the state's Passenger Vehicle Traction & Chain Laws which states:
If weather conditions require, CDOT can implement Passenger Vehicle Traction and Chain Laws. Motorists will be alerted to an active Traction or Chain Law by highway signage.
Traction Law (Code 15) - During an active Traction Law, also known as a Code 15, motorists will need to have either snow tires, tires with the mud/snow (M/S) designation, or a four-wheel drive vehicle - all tires must have a minimum one-eighth inch tread.
Passenger Vehicle Chain Law (Code 16) - During severe winter storms, CDOT will implement a Passenger Vehicle Chain Law, also known as a Code 16 - this is the final safety measure before the highway is closed. During a Passenger Vehicle Chain Law, every vehicle on the roadway is required to have chains or an alternative traction device (like AutoSock).
Fines - Motorists driving with inadequate equipment during a Passenger Vehicle Traction or Chain Law could be fined more than $130. If a motorist blocks the roadway because they have inadequate equipment during a Passenger Vehicle Traction or Chain Law, they could be fined more than $650.
For more information, click here.
Embassy & Visa Information
Due to the constantly changing nature of travel, we urge people to research their own travel requirements. This includes Passport and Visa requirements, documentation for re-entry into country of residence and any other identification needed. Please allow sufficient time in advance of the meeting for processing of all necessary documentation.
Be sure to confirm air and hotel arrangements at least 24 hours in advance of departure. As a reminder, never leave your wallet and passport unattended while traveling, and have photocopies of all identification and credit cards in case of theft or loss.
If you require a visa to enter the U.S., please check with your local U.S. Embassy or Consulate to obtain the necessary documentation as soon as possible.
For U.S. Visa information, click here.
To locate an Embassy near you, click here.
***ESTA – Electronic System for Travel Authorization***
Are you visiting the United States from a Visa Waiver Program (VWP) country and currently do not possess a visitor's visa? If so, you will need to complete an official ESTA application by clicking here. You can apply for this for just yourself, or a group of travelers. (To figure out if you are from a VWP county, click here.) In order to complete the application, you will need a valid passport from a VWP country, a valid credit card or PayPal to pay the application fee of $21. See website for more information and requirements.
The application generally takes about 15-20 minutes to fill out and you can check the status of the application by visiting the same site you applied at. Please complete the application at least 2 weeks-72 hours before your scheduled arrival date into the United States. ESTAs are normally valid for 2 years unless you receive a new passport or other important information changes.
Be sure to confirm air and hotel arrangements at least 24 hours in advance of departure. As a reminder, never leave your wallet and passport unattended while traveling, and have photocopies of all identification and credit cards in case of theft or loss.
If you require a visa to enter the U.S., please check with your local U.S. Embassy or Consulate to obtain the necessary documentation as soon as possible.
For U.S. Visa information, click here.
To locate an Embassy near you, click here.
***ESTA – Electronic System for Travel Authorization***
Are you visiting the United States from a Visa Waiver Program (VWP) country and currently do not possess a visitor's visa? If so, you will need to complete an official ESTA application by clicking here. You can apply for this for just yourself, or a group of travelers. (To figure out if you are from a VWP county, click here.) In order to complete the application, you will need a valid passport from a VWP country, a valid credit card or PayPal to pay the application fee of $21. See website for more information and requirements.
The application generally takes about 15-20 minutes to fill out and you can check the status of the application by visiting the same site you applied at. Please complete the application at least 2 weeks-72 hours before your scheduled arrival date into the United States. ESTAs are normally valid for 2 years unless you receive a new passport or other important information changes.