Getting to Leadville without the white-knuckle part
Leadville sits at the head of the Arkansas Valley between the two highest peaks in Colorado, and every way in crosses high ground. From Denver International the drive is about 124 road miles and two and a half hours in clear conditions: I-70 west, then US-24 south from Minturn, or the Copper Mountain side over Fremont Pass at 11,318 feet.
Neither route is difficult in a properly equipped vehicle with a chauffeur who drives it regularly. Both are unpleasant in a rental sedan in February. Our vehicles meet or exceed Colorado's Traction Law, carry chains, and our chauffeurs monitor CDOT before and during every mountain run. If I-70 shuts down or a pass closes, dispatch reroutes or moves your pickup window and tells you early.
Lake County Airport (LXV)
Leadville has its own public-use airport, and it holds a record no other field in North America can claim: at 9,934 feet above sea level, it is the highest public-use airport on the continent. Land there and the FBO hands you a Certificate of Navigation.
The FBO is the Leadville Air Center, run by Lake County. It operates seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. with on-call coverage after hours for a $50 callout fee, and the pilot lounge stays open around the clock. Jet A and 100LL are available, with self-serve fueling 24/7 year-round. There are two courtesy vans, short-term hangar space and ramp parking.
Be honest about the aircraft, though. The runway is 6,400 feet by 75 feet with a 20,000-pound weight-bearing capacity and there is no control tower. Between those numbers and the density altitude that comes with 9,934 feet, LXV is a turboprop and light-aircraft field. It is not the place to bring a heavy jet, and it is not the alternate to plan for if Aspen goes down. For that, Rifle is the field with the runway.
What LXV is good for: owner-flown arrivals into eight ski areas inside an hour, and high-altitude aircraft testing, which the county actively courts in summer. If you are flying yourself in and want a vehicle waiting at the Air Center rather than a courtesy van and a plan, give us the tail number.
Where people actually go from here
Ski Cooper is 14 miles up US-24 at Tennessee Pass, the least crowded lift-served skiing in this part of the state. Copper Mountain is 28 miles over Fremont Pass, Vail is 41 miles, and Breckenridge is 43 by way of Copper. Twin Lakes and the Mount Elbert trailheads are 20 minutes south, and the Leadville Race Series brings a specific kind of visitor to town every August.
One route note that costs people plans: CO-82 over Independence Pass closes for the winter, so the 57-mile summer drive to Aspen is not available from November into late spring. In winter the Aspen run goes the long way around through Glenwood Springs, and it is a different trip and a different quote.
Common Runs to and from Leadville
Denver Airport → Leadville
I-70 west, then US-24 or over Fremont Pass. Two and a half hours in clear conditions.
Leadville → Ski Cooper
US-24 north to Tennessee Pass. The shortest lift-served ski run in the county.
Leadville → Lake County Airport
Two miles southwest of town, at the Leadville Air Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the drive from Denver airport to Leadville?
About 124 road miles and two and a half hours in clear conditions, via I-70 west and then either US-24 south from Minturn or CO-91 over Fremont Pass. Winter storms, traction restrictions and I-70 closures can add an hour or more, so we build a seasonal buffer into the pickup time rather than hoping.
Does Leadville have an airport?
Yes. Lake County Airport (LXV) is two miles southwest of town, and at 9,934 feet it is the highest public-use airport in North America. The FBO is the Leadville Air Center, run by Lake County, open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. with after-hours on-call service for a $50 callout fee.
What aircraft can use Lake County Airport?
The runway is 6,400 feet by 75 feet with a 20,000-pound weight-bearing capacity, and there is no control tower. Combined with the density altitude at 9,934 feet, that makes LXV a turboprop and light-aircraft field. Larger jets heading for this part of the state use Eagle County, Aspen or Rifle.
Can you meet a private aircraft at the Leadville Air Center?
Yes. Give us the tail number and the estimated wheels-down time and we stage the vehicle at the Air Center. The FBO closes at 5 p.m. with on-call coverage after that, so late arrivals need a heads-up to both us and the airport.
Is the drive to Leadville safe in winter?
With the right vehicle and a chauffeur who drives it regularly, yes. Colorado's Traction Law requires AWD or 4WD or snow-rated tires with adequate tread; our vehicles meet or exceed it and carry chains. Dispatch watches CDOT closures and traction restrictions and reroutes or reschedules before you are stuck at the airport.
How do you drive from Leadville to Vail?
Two year-round routes, and neither one uses Independence Pass. Most trips run CO-91 north over Fremont Pass to Copper Mountain, then I-70 west over Vail Pass — about 43 miles, 50 to 60 minutes in clear conditions. The alternate is US-24 north over Tennessee Pass through Red Cliff and Minturn to Dowd Junction, about 36 miles and roughly an hour. Dispatch chooses on the morning's CDOT conditions. Independence Pass and the Glenwood Springs detour belong to the Aspen trip, never to Vail.
Can I get from Leadville to Aspen?
In summer, yes, and it is only 57 miles over Independence Pass. CO-82 over the pass closes for the winter, so from November into late spring the trip goes around through Glenwood Springs. That is a much longer drive and a different quote, so tell us the date when you ask.
Which ski areas are close to Leadville?
Ski Cooper is 14 miles north at Tennessee Pass, Copper Mountain 28 miles over Fremont Pass, Vail 41 miles and Breckenridge 43. Lake County counts eight ski areas within an hour of the airport, which is the whole reason a small field at 9,934 feet gets winter traffic.
Do you serve the Leadville Race Series and events in town?
Yes. Race weekends, the Boom Days celebration in August and group trips over the Top of the Rockies byway are all standard work for us. Groups need lead time in August, because vehicle supply in the valley is thin that month.
Booking on someone else's behalf? The Colorado FBO directory lists every operator and drive time by airport, and the flight department and scheduler page has our COI, W-9, PUC permit, account terms, and the FBO list by airport.
Sources
Airport specifications, operator names and schedules on this page come from the agencies and operators that publish them. Check them yourself:
Going up to Leadville? We drive it in February too.
Denver airport transfers, Lake County Airport meets, and ski runs to Cooper, Copper and Vail.
Last reviewed: September 13, 2026 by Arion dispatch. Airport hours, FBO operators, rates and Colorado Department of Transportation rules are subject to change; call (970) 703-4995 for current details. Downtown photo: public domain via Wikimedia Commons.