Winter Park Express ski train is back — and tickets start at $34 one-way
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
With ski season in full swing, Amtrak‘s Winter Express train is back, taking travelers 64 miles from Denver to the Winter Park Resort each weekend. Prices start at just $34 one-way.
The Winter Express train will operate every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from Jan. 13 through March 26. It'll depart Denver Union Station at 7 a.m. and arrive at Winter Park at 9 a.m. The train back to Denver leaves Winter Park Resort at 4:30 p.m. and arrives in Denver at 6:40 p.m.
Deal basics
Carrier: Amtrak.
Routes: From Denver to Winter Park Resort.
How to book: Directly with Amtrak.
Travel dates: Jan. 13-March 26 for travel on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, for a total of 33 round trips.
Note that the train ride takes approximately two hours in total. Passengers can bring their skis and snowboards as carry-on items and stow them in dedicated baggage storage on board for no additional charge.
How to book
Book your Winter Express ride online with Amtrak or via the Amtrak app. For group reservations, parties of nine to 14 people can book via phone by calling 800-872-7245. Groups of 15 or more should complete a form online to book.
One-way fares start at $34 for adults. Purchase one-way fares for younger travelers (between 2 and 12) for $17. Fares are based on availability. For example, the only fares available for the weekend of Jan. 20 are $54 each way or $108 total.
Only coach or Saver fares are available to book on this train. However, you can choose between an upper- and lower-level seat, as shown below. These fares are nonrefundable.
This route is not bookable with Amtrak Guest Rewards points.
In addition to any ski or snowboard gear, each traveler may bring two personal items (weighing less than 25 pounds and measuring no more than 14 inches by 11 inches by 7 inches each), two carry-on items (weighing less than 50 pounds and measuring no more than 28 inches by 22 inches by 14 inches each) and two checked bags (weighing less than 50 pounds and measuring up to 75 inches in total).
Related: I had a free day in Denver and decided to take the ski train
Other things to know
On board, expect wide, reclining coach seats with extra legroom, no middle seat, power chargers and big windows, so you can enjoy panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains along the way. For the best view, head upstairs to the bi-level Sightseer Lounge, which features floor-to-ceiling windows and seating. Regular Amtrak cafe service with snacks and drinks is available downstairs.
If you want to travel to Winter Park Resort on a weekday, you can ride the Amtrak California Zephyr. This route operates daily between Chicago and the San Francisco Bay Area, and it passes through Denver and Fraser, Colorado. Once in Colorado, you’ll connect to a shuttle to take you the remaining 8 miles to the resort. In this case, be sure to search for station code WPS to book the shuttle.
For the 2022-23 season, Winter Park Resort lift hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. Taking the train ensures a full day on the slopes.
Maximize your purchase
To purchase this deal, consider using a credit card that rewards you for Amtrak purchases, such as the Amtrak Guest Rewards® Preferred Mastercard® for 3 points per dollar on Amtrak travel, including onboard purchases. Or, pay with the Amtrak Guest Rewards® Mastercard® for 2 points per dollar on Amtrak travel, including onboard purchases. Otherwise, try the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card for 2 points per dollar on travel, the American Express® Green Card for 3 points per dollar on travel and dining at restaurants or the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card for 2 miles per dollar on everyday spending.
The information for the Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred card, Amtrak Guest Rewards card and Amex Green card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Bottom line
You can purchase tickets now for Amtrak’s Winter Park Express train from Denver to Winter Park Resort each weekend starting in mid-January through March. Though round-trip tickets start at $34, fares for some of the dates will be more expensive.
Reservations for this train are already filling up, so be sure to book your ticket soon.
Additional reporting by Benji Stawski.
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- Earn 10x points on eligible hotels and car rentals booked through the Credit One Bank travel site
- Earn 5x points on eligible travel, dining, and gas
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