Most people touch down at EGE and drive straight upvalley. The smart ones know the town they landed in: a Costco run, a volcano hike, golf with the valley's longest season, and a trout river, all before check-in.
The Eagle County Regional Airport sits inside the town of Gypsum, Colorado. More than 329,000 passengers came through in 2025, a third straight record year, and on a peak winter day EGE has ranked as the second-busiest airport in Colorado. Almost everyone rolls past the best-kept secrets in the valley without slowing down.
The valley's Costco is minutes from the terminal. Groceries and gas cost real money less here than at the resorts. Load up before you head up.
Stock up smart →
Dotsero Crater is Colorado's only active volcano. A short, steep trail reaches the rim, the view runs down two river valleys, and it costs nothing.
Hike the crater →
Gypsum sits in the valley's banana belt, so Gypsum Creek Golf Course plays the longest season around. Guests welcome, mountains on every side.
Play a round →
Trout water runs right through Gypsum on its way to the Colorado. Duck Pond Open Space puts 4,000 feet of river shoreline minutes from the terminal, and the Gypsum Ponds State Wildlife Area adds 90+ acres of fishable ponds and marsh.
Fish & float →
Pool, gym, climbing, and courts in the biggest recreation center in the valley. Day passes make it an easy call on a travel day.
See the rec center →
Moto and OHV country, Deep Creek canyon, LEDE Reservoir, hunting hills, and more. Gypsum is a full outdoor town, not just a runway.
See all things to do →Rental car counters sit right at the airport, and shuttle and car services run to the resorts all season. From the terminal it is about 25 minutes to Beaver Creek and 35 to Vail, on Interstate 70 and US Highway 6 up the Eagle River Valley. In winter, treat the drive with respect: storms move fast, traction laws kick in, and a half hour of buffer beats a white-knuckle rush. Check current flight and ground transport options on the airport's own site, and road conditions before you roll.
Checking conditions before you drive up? Live temps and weather for Vail, Beaver Creek, and the airport, on one page:
See the Vail Valley Report → Airport info at flyEGE.com CDOT cams & road conditionsEarly arrival, late checkout, or a flight delay: Gypsum turns dead airport time into the best story from your trip.
Hit Costco for provisions, then stretch your legs along the Eagle River at Duck Pond Open Space or the Gypsum Ponds State Wildlife Area.
Hike to the rim of Dotsero Crater, Colorado's only active volcano, then grab lunch at a local kitchen in town.
Play the Pete Dye course at Gypsum Creek, or spend the day wading or floating the lower Eagle. Check the live flow gauge first.
Burn off the trip with a morning swim or workout at the 57,000-square-foot rec center, five minutes from the terminal.
A record 329,000+ passengers flew through EGE last year, and nearly every one of them landed in a town they never heard of. Gypsum Outside is the local guide to the town the airport lives in. We think you should meet it.
The Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE), the main air gateway to Vail and Beaver Creek, is located in Gypsum, Colorado, at the west end of the Eagle River Valley. More than 329,000 passengers flew through EGE in 2025, its third straight record year, and nearly all of them landed in Gypsum without knowing it. The airport also has a Jet Center serving private aviation.
Beaver Creek is about 25 minutes from the airport and Vail is about 35, both up the Eagle River Valley on Interstate 70. There are no mountain passes between the airport and the resorts. In winter, allow extra time for storms and traffic, and check CDOT's COtrip site for current road conditions.
More than most travelers realize. Within about 15 minutes of the terminal you can hike Dotsero Crater, Colorado's only active volcano; fish or float the lower Eagle River; walk 4,000 feet of river shoreline at Duck Pond Open Space or fish the 90-plus-acre Gypsum Ponds State Wildlife Area; play the Pete Dye-designed Gypsum Creek Golf Course; swim or work out at the 57,000-square-foot Gypsum Recreation Center; and stock up at Costco before heading upvalley.
Yes. The Costco in Gypsum is minutes from the airport, and it is the standard first stop for anyone provisioning a condo or house before heading up to Vail or Beaver Creek. Groceries and gas both cost meaningfully less here than at the resorts.
Sometimes. The crater and its lava flow sit right where the Eagle River meets the Colorado River, a few miles west of the runway, and approaches from the west can pass near it. Look for the dark lava flow at the junction of the two valleys. From the ground, the rim is a short, steep hike and the recreation site is free.