The bridges on Hwy. 50 between Gunnison and Montrose are now OPEN 24/7. Learn more here.

Public Transportation in Crested Butte and Gunnison

Wondering how to make your Colorado vacation more sustainable? Your trip to Gunnison and Crested Butte can be sustainable, inexpensive and low stress thanks to the public bus system in the Gunnison Valley. Buses run year-round, making it easy to get around the valley no matter what season you visit in.

You might think public transportation in Colorado is limited to big cities like Denver and Colorado Springs. The Gunnison Valley has a robust public transportation system that is safe, convenient and free.

Sustainable Transportation in Gunnison and Crested Butte

How does taking the bus help the environment?

Public transportation has a lower impact on the environment than cars because it helps eliminate some of the carbon emissions produced by transportation. Even if you need to rent a car you could still take the bus to grab one meal a day or to visit another town in the valley. This will help cut down your carbon impact.

Why Take Public Transportation in Crested Butte and Gunnison?

The bus systems in Gunnison and Crested Butte are free and run at regular intervals. The costs and logistics of renting a car could be unnecessary depending on what you have planned. Lodging in Gunnison and Crested Butte is often in walking distance of downtown and other things to do, including hiking, biking and skiing. If you’re here to mountain bike, many trails can be ridden from town, which helps keep traffic at the trailheads down. If you’re used to using Uber and Lyft to get around, please remember that ride share services are very limited in Gunnison and Crested Butte. Buses are a much more reliable option.

The Gunnison RTA Bus

The Gunnison Rural Transit Authority (RTA) bus is free and runs between Gunnison and Mt. Crested Butte. It makes several stops in Gunnison, one in Almont, one in Crested Butte South, several in Crested Butte and the base area of Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Mt. Crested Butte. Visiting both towns is convenient and easy because the bus runs up and down the valley. Taking the bus also means you don’t need to worry about finding parking in busy downtown areas. Get real-time updates on the bus’s location with the Transit app.

RTA Schedule
Download the Transit app

Reminder for Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport

Please note that the RTA doesn’t stop at the airport and is not equipped to carry luggage. However, if you fly into Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport (GUC) there are several shuttle services that can get you to your hotel.

Crested Butte Mountain Express

The free Mountain Express town shuttle runs in Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte. Its schedule changes based on the season and can be found on Google Maps. In summer the shuttle runs every 20 minutes, in the spring and fall off-season it runs every 40 minutes and every 15 minutes in winter. There is also a route to condos and vacation rentals in the summer. 

Mountain Express Schedule

Benefits of riding the Bus to Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte

One advantage of taking the bus is not having to parallel park on Elk Avenue in downtown Crested Butte. It can also decrease the amount of time spent walking between your vehicle and your destination. This is especially notable in the winter because the bus takes you right to the base area of CBMR. That means no walking from the parking lot in ski boots! Taking the bus also saves you money on the paid parking fee at CBMR. 

Electric Charging in the Gunnison Valley

Driving your electric vehicle for your trip? There are plenty of charging stations all over the Gunnison Valley. The Gunnison County Electric Association operates charging stations in Gunnison, Crested Butte, Crested Butte South, Elk Creek, Lake Fork Campground, Pitkin, Sargents and Taylor Park. Get more information about locations, prices, kWhs and more on the Gunnison Country Electric Association website. Find other charging stations throughout the Gunnison Valley on PlugShare.

Shuttles

There are several shuttle services available in Crested Butte and Gunnison. Their services range from airport pickups, late night rides to your lodging, pickups for weddings and events, transportation to and from trailheads, and more. 

Catch the bus from Denver

The Bustang

The Bustang Outrider is a Colorado intercity shuttle service. It has routes all over Colorado, including ones from Denver to Gunnison and Crested Butte. In Denver the route begins at Union Station and stops in Gunnison, Almont and Crested Butte. You must purchase a ticket in advance to ride. Learn more and buy tickets on the Bustang website.

Bustang Schedule
Downtown Crested Butte, Colorado in summer

Planning Your Trip to Gunnison and Crested Butte

We have several resources for planning your trip to Crested Butte and Gunnison. Check out our getting here page for information on flights, driving directions and FAQs about traveling here. View our travel alerts page for updates on road construction, weather and road conditions. 

Lodging

You have so many options for places to stay during your Colorado vacation to Crested Butte and Gunnison. Many lodges are located just steps away from bus stops! 

Lodging

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