Set in Colorado’s stunning Rocky Mountains, Breckenridge (or “Breck” as the locals call it!) is a quintessential mountain town with world-class skiing and epic winter activities. The town itself is very charming with its historic main street, colorful Victorian homes and river walk.
Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Breckenridge in the winter!
How to Get to Breckenridge in the Winter
Breckenridge is conveniently located 1 hour and 45 minutes drive from Denver, Colorado. Denver International Airport has nonstop service to over 200 destinations so it’ll most likely be the best airport to fly into for your trip to Breckenridge.
One you arrive in Denver, you can either rent a car or use one of the many shuttle services from Denver to the nearby mountain towns (including Breckenridge, of course!).
Some of the most popular shuttle services are Silver Mountain Express, Fresh Tracks and Epic Mountain Express.
Renting a car is a great option if you want to have a car with you in Breckenridge and explore some of the nearby mountains. Keystone, Copper, Vail and Beaver Creek are all within an hour’s drive from Breckenridge.
Just be sure to rent a car with four-wheel drive during the winter months because of the heavy snow the area receives. It’s also part of the state’s ‘traction law’ which requires vehicles to have 4-wheel drive or snow tires to drive on Interstate 70 between September and May!
The Best Time to Visit Breckenridge
Breckenridge is definitely a year round destination with all four seasons. The summers are great for hiking, biking, whitewater rafting, fishing and many other outdoor activities.
But the winter is definitely one of the best times to visit Breckenridge with November through April being the peak ski season seeing 300 inches of snowfall on average.
Holidays and weekends tend to be the busiest times to visit Breckenridge during the winter but with powder days, bluebird skies and holiday lights illuminating downtown, it’s easy to see why it’s so popular!
How to Get Around Breckenridge
If you’re staying in or around downtown, it’s pretty easy to get around without a car! The Breckenridge FreeRide offers bus transportation throughout Breckenridge and includes the Main Street Trolley which runs around downtown.
If you’re staying outside of the downtown area (in a house rental, Airbnb, etc), it is handy to have a car but there are some taxi services in town as well as ride share services like Uber and Lyft.
How Long to Visit Breckenridge
Most visitors to Breckenridge are coming from Denver and the surrounding areas for a weekend ski trip during the winter. Long holiday weekends are especially popular!
If you just want to get a few days of skiing or snowboarding in and don’t live too far, then 2 – 3 days in Breckenridge should be perfect! But if it’s your first time to Breckenridge (or the Rocky Mountains!) and you’d like to explore a little more of the area then I would recommend 4 – 8 days and combine it with another destination like Vail or Beaver Creek which are just an hour away!
Things to do in Breckenridge in the Winter
Breckenridge is a total winter wonderland with plenty of on- and off-mountain winter activities for skiers and non-skiers alike.
Ski / Snowboard: Of course, hitting the slopes is one of the best winter activities in Breckenridge! Breckenridge Ski Resort is a world-class ski destination and is home to 5 different peaks, 3,000 skiable acres and the highest chairlift in North America! The resort is on the Epic pass if you’re a pass holder, or you can buy tickets online or at the ticketing office. It’s owned by Vail Resorts so your lift ticket will likely also give you access to other Colorado ski resort owned by the company (ex. Keystone Ski Resort).
Snowshoe: There are a number of snowshoe trails in the area! For first timers, head to the Breckenridge Nordic Center at Peak 8; they offer onsite rentals and guided snowshoe adventures. And, they also have a cozy lodge where you can warm up with a glass of mulled wine!
Snowmobile: Snowmobiling is a great way to enjoy the beautiful mountain terrain if skiing isn’t your thing! There are several snowmobile tour operators in the area — just make sure to make a reservation in advance.
Sleigh Ride: What could be more magical than sipping hot cocoa while dashing through the snow in a sleigh? It’s also a great activity for families and groups!
Dog Sledding: Being led by a team of adorable pups down snowy trails in the Swan River Valley was the highlight of my trip to Breckenridge. We went with Good Times Adventures and were so impressed by our guide and, of course, the dog sledding team!
→ Read Next: Dog Sledding in Breckenridge (Everything You Need to Know!)
Ice Castles: About 25 minutes from Breckenridge, the Ice Castles are located in Dillon, Colorado. Each year, beautiful castle-like ice sculptures are hand carved by artists and so you’ll feel like you’re stepping into the movie, Frozen!
Where to Dine in Breckenridge
As a laid-back mountain town, many of the restaurants in Breckenridge match the low-key mountain vibe but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a variety of delicious food and restaurants to try!
Breckenridge Distillery: While this distillery is know as “the world’s highest distillery” is famous for its blended bourbon whiskey, Breckenridge Distillery also has one of the best restaurants in town! With craft cocktails and innovative shareable plates like crispy pork rinds and harissa fried chicken, it’s a great group dinner spot.
Blue River Bistro: This lively, eclectic-American restaurant is perfect for an elevated dinner night out. Think delicious entrées, martinis and live jazz and blues music!
Ollie’s Pub & Grub: This casual sports bar serves pub fare and a variety of craft beers, plus its located right in downtown on the river.
Rootstalk: This was definitely some of the best food we ate in Breck! Rootstalk serves seasonal specialities in an upscale, lively atmosphere — don’t sleep on the French Onion Soup!
Cabin Juice: Located at the base of Peak 9, Cabin Juice is easily walkable from downtown and is a great place for après ski. The interior feels like an elevated, rustic ski house and the menu includes hearty local dishes such as a rack of elk, curried salmon, grass-fed cheeseburger and more.
Aurum: Known as one of the best restaurants in Breckenridge, Aurum has a beautiful dining room, elevated dishes and a wonderful daily Happy Hour from 4 – 6pm.
Crepes A La Carte: Who doesn’t love a good crepe? Sweet or savory, Crepes A La Cart has made to order crepes… just be prepared to wait in line because this spot is popular!
Carboy Winery Breckenridge: This tasting room is located right on Main Street and not only serves flights of Carboy wine (Colorado’s fastest growing winery) but also delicious food to match.
Where to Stay in Breckenridge
Breckenridge has a number of lodging options that are great for couples, groups, families or solo travel!
Luxury
- One Ski Hill: As one of the top hotels in Breckenridge, you can expect true luxury accommodations at One Ski Hill. Plus, it’s ski-in, ski-out access which is amazing if you plan to spend most of your trip on the slopes!
- The Ranahan by Welk Resorts: This property is known for its rustic charm, luxury amenities and stunning mountain views. It’s a short drive outside of town but they offer free shuttles to all the main ski lifts. They also offer apartment style lodging so it’s a great option for groups and families!
Mid-Range
- Gravity Haus: Part social club, part co-working space and part hotel, Gravity Haus is an incredible hub for adventurous outdoor lovers. Their rooms are modern with elevated designs and they are located just a 2 minute walk from the ski lifts and downtown Breckenridge. Plus, they are dog friendly so you can bring your pup with you!
- The Lodge at Breckenridge: With sweeping mountain views, the Lodge at Breckenridge is a great option for nature lovers. They also have a shuttle service to the ski lift and downtown areas!
Budget
- LOGE: Just 5 minutes from downtown, this updated hotel is perfect for adventure lovers. The rooms are equipped with hammocks, YETI coolers, and other amenities that encourage enjoying the outdoors.
- The Bivvi Hostel: About a 15 minute walk from downtown, this modern hostel has a fun, young vibe and is the perfect base for exploring Breckenridge!
Hey there ! I hope to be planning a trip in March – I’m worried about the drive tho ! Are you sure we’ll be okay with 4×4 rental ?! I’ve never been and concerned about snowfall. Which month did you go ?
Thanks
Hi Ann Marie!
Where are you driving from? Denver?
I’ve done the drive from Denver to Breckenridge (as well as Vail and Beaver Creek) in the winter a hand full of times so I’ve had different experiences — sometimes the weather is perfect and the drive is easy and other times there have been snow storms. Along with having an AWD vehicle, you’ll want to ensure the tread depth on all tires is at least 3/16″ regardless of vehicle type per Colorado’s Passenger Vehicle Traction Law (all the vehicles we’ve rented in the area have come equipped with all weather tires but it’s doesn’t hurt to double check!).
And, you’ll want to stay informed of the current conditions on I-70 (or wherever your route takes you) via the Colorado Department of Transportation (www.codot.gov) as this is where you’ll find out about road conditions, potential pass closures, severe weather alerts, and important information about vehicle chain restrictions, etc.
I hope this helps and that you have wonderful weather for your trip in March!
– Laura
Is there a restaurant on top of one of the mountains? I was looking to create a special occassion.
There are lots of on mountain dining options to grab lunch during a day on the slopes… However, I would say they are more casual vs. special occasion.
Beano’s Cabin in Beaver Creek is nice for a special occasion — it’s a fine-dining restaurant in a lodge tucked into an on-mountain meadow. Guests take a sleigh ride or snow cat to get there so it’s a fun experience as well!
Who would you recommend for a private driver for Breckenridge? Matias Luxury Rides came up but I wasn’t sure what your thoughts are.
Thank you.
I’ve heard good things about Mr Chauffeur and Blue Sky Limo!