Crested Butte Airport: Does It Exist?

There is no airport in Crested Butte, Colorado. The closest airport to the town is the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport, which is located in Gunnison, 30 minutes to an hour away from Crested Butte by road. The airport offers flights to and from some of the largest airline hubs in the country, including Denver, Houston, Chicago, and Dallas.

Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport

The Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport is a county-owned, public airport located one mile southwest of Gunnison, in Gunnison County, Colorado, United States. The airport serves the valley and nearby Crested Butte, Colorado, with airline and general aviation flights. The town of Mt. Crested Butte is just a 30-minute drive away from the airport. The airport is located at 711 Rio Grande Avenue, Gunnison, CO 81230, and can be contacted at (970) 641-2304.

The airport offers flights to some of the largest airline hubs in the country, connecting passengers to almost every airport in the United States. United Airlines provides year-round service to Denver (DEN) and seasonal service to Houston, TX (IAH) during the summer and winter. American Airlines offers non-stop service to Dallas, TX (DFW) during the winter months, while JSX Airlines provides seasonal service to Dallas-Love Field, TX (DAL) five times a week.

The Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport has a mission to provide safe, secure, and efficient aviation services to residents and visitors of the Gunnison/Crested Butte community. The airport has a single large terminal building with two jet bridge gates and two ground-level gates. The baggage claim area is located in the lower lobby level and features a single carousel and a dedicated ski/oversize baggage slide. The airport covers 1,600 acres and has two runways. The main runway is asphalt-paved and lighted during operational hours, while the second runway is unpaved and available for small aircraft during the summer daylight hours.

The airport offers various parking options, including short-term, long-term, and annual parking permits. It also provides shuttle services, rental car options, and public transportation information for passengers travelling to Crested Butte and Gunnison.

Transport options from the airport

The closest airport to Crested Butte is Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport, which is located in Gunnison. The town of Mt. Crested Butte is just a 30-minute drive away from the airport. Montrose Regional Airport is the second-closest airport to Crested Butte.

Shuttle Services

If you don’t have a car, you can book a shuttle from the Gunnison-Crested Butte Airport to your hotel. Dolly’s Mountain Shuttle, Rocky Rides, and Alpine Express offer shuttle services to and from the airport. Dolly’s Mountain Shuttle provides experienced local professional drivers, years of mountain driving expertise, and competitive rates. Rocky Rides is a full-service transportation company that specializes in travel to the most beautiful places in Colorado. Alpine Express, the premiere and longest-running transportation service in the area, offers shared and private rides to and from the airport.

Rental Cars

The Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport is serviced by Hertz, Avis, and Budget car rentals. Several other companies specifically rent 4x4s and Jeeps for adventures that require a high-clearance vehicle. It is recommended to make advance arrangements to rent a car prior to arrival.

Public Transportation

Public transportation in the Gunnison Valley is reliable and always free. The Gunnison Valley RTA and the Mountain Express are free bus services that can help you get around the valley once you’ve settled into your hotel or vacation rental.

Other airports nearby

There are three airports within a reasonable driving distance from Crested Butte, Colorado. These are the Montrose Regional Airport, the Grand Junction Regional Airport, and the Denver International Airport.

The Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ) is located 90 miles southwest of Crested Butte and offers slightly more expanded service compared to the Gunnison-Crested Butte airport. It is serviced by Allegiant, American, United, and Delta Airlines, with flights from both coasts. The drive from Montrose to Crested Butte takes about two hours under normal road conditions.

The Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT) is 154 miles northwest of Crested Butte and offers different flight options compared to the other airports. It is serviced by Allegiant, American, Delta, United, US Airways, and Continental Airlines. The drive from Grand Junction to Crested Butte usually takes around three hours but can take much longer under poor road conditions.

The Denver International Airport is the largest airport in Colorado and is located 228 miles northeast of Crested Butte. It offers a full range of services, including restaurants, lounges, bars, shops, WiFi, ATMs, and more. The drive from Denver to Crested Butte is approximately four and a half hours, but this can increase significantly during the winter months.

Flight schedules

Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport (GUC)

The closest airport to Crested Butte is Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport, located in Gunnison, Colorado. The airport is serviced by United Airlines, American Airlines, and Delta Airlines. The town of Mt. Crested Butte is just a 30-minute drive away from the airport.

United Airlines

United offers nonstop flights to Gunnison-Crested Butte from Denver, Houston, Chicago, and Los Angeles.

• Denver (DEN) to Gunnison-Crested Butte (GUC):
• May 23 – Dec. 18, 2024: Two times daily.
• Dec. 19, 2024 – Feb. 12, 2025: Three times daily.
• Feb. 15 – March 29, 2025: Four flights on Saturday.
• Houston (IAH) to Gunnison-Crested Butte (GUC):
• June 27 – Aug. 18, 2024: Twice a week, arriving Friday-Saturday and departing Saturday-Sunday.
• Dec. 19, 2024 – March 30, 2025: Once daily. No flights on Tuesdays from Jan. 28 – March 25, 2025.
• Chicago (ORD) to Gunnison-Crested Butte (GUC):
• New for winter 2025:
• Feb. 15 – March 31, 2025: Arrives on Saturday, departs on Sunday.

American Airlines

• Dallas (DFW) to Gunnison-Crested Butte (GUC):
• Dec. 19, 2024 – Jan. 6, 2025: Twice daily (once daily on Dec. 24, 25 and 31).
• Jan. 7 – April 3, 2025: Once daily, with twice daily flights on Saturdays starting Feb. 15.

JSX

• Dallas (DAL) to Gunnison-Crested Butte (GUC):
• June 27 – Aug. 19, 2024: Nine times weekly. Two flights a day on Thursday, Friday, Sunday, and Monday. One flight on Saturdays.
• Aug. 20 – Sept. 30, 2024: Five times weekly. One flight a day on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

Montrose Regional Airport (MJT)

Montrose Regional Airport is located 90 miles southwest of Crested Butte. The airport offers slightly expanded service compared to the Gunnison-Crested Butte airport.

United Express (Skywest)

• Year-Round Service: Service to Denver.
• Summer Service: Service to Houston.

American Airlines

• Year-Round Service: Service to Dallas/Ft. Worth.
• Winter Service: Expanded service to Newark and Houston.

Delta Airlines

Year-Round Service: The only direct flight is from Atlanta to Montrose.

Continental Airlines

• Summer Service: Service to Houston.
• Winter Service: Expanded service to Houston and Newark.

Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT)

Grand Junction Regional Airport is located 154 miles northwest of Crested Butte.

Allegiant Airlines

Service: Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

American Airlines

Service: Dallas/Ft. Worth.

Delta Airlines

Service: Salt Lake City.

United Airlines

Service: Denver.

US Airways

Service: Phoenix.

Continental Airlines

Service: Houston.

Denver International Airport (DEN)

Denver International Airport is located 228 miles northeast of Crested Butte. It is the largest airport in Colorado and offers a full range of services.

Airlines

All major airlines fly into Denver.

Transport options to Crested Butte

Yes, Crested Butte does have an airport. The Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport (GUC) is located in Gunnison, 30-40 minutes away from Crested Butte. The airport is serviced by American Airlines and United Airlines, with flights available from Denver, Texas, Chicago, Houston, and Dallas.

If you are flying into the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport, you can take advantage of the airport shuttle services offered in the valley, including Alpine Express, Dolly's Mountain Shuttle, Rocky Rides, and Black Canyon Limo. Alternatively, you can rent a car from companies like Hertz, Avis, and Budget, which service the airport.

In addition to flying, you can also drive or take a bus to Crested Butte. If you are driving, you can follow these directions from the nearby airports:

• Denver International Airport (DEN): Take Pena Boulevard towards 1-70, merge onto 1-70 West, take Exit 260 onto CO-470 East, take the exit for US 285 South towards Fairplay, stay on US 285 South until you reach the outskirts of Buena Vista, turn left to stay on US 285 South for another 21 miles, turn right onto US 50 West, and arrive in Gunnison. To reach Crested Butte, turn right at CO-135 North and continue for 28 miles.
• Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ): Turn left out of the airport onto US 50 East and follow US 50E for 60 miles to reach Gunnison. Turn left on CO-135 North and continue for 28 miles to reach Crested Butte.
• Colorado Springs Airport (COS): Take the Milton E. Proby Parkway to S. Academy Boulevard, take the exit for CO-115 South, take the exit for US 50 West in the town of Penrose, and stay on US 50 West for 130 miles to reach Gunnison. Turn right on CO-135 North and continue for 28 miles to reach Crested Butte.
• Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT): Follow signs on Horizon Dr. to I-70 East, take Exit 37 for I-70 Business West towards Clifton/Delta, turn left onto CO-141 South/32 Rd., turn left onto US 50 East, reach the town of Delta and turn left onto CO-92 East, stay straight to get onto CO-133 North, and turn left onto County Rd. 12/Kebler Pass Rd. Stay on Kebler Pass Rd. for 31 miles to reach Crested Butte.

There are also public bus options available, such as the Bustang Outrider service, which provides bus service between Denver, Gunnison, Almont, and Crested Butte. The route begins at Union Station in Denver and connects to the Denver International Airport (DEN) via the light rail system. Additionally, public transportation within the Gunnison Valley is reliable and free, with RTA buses running between Gunnison and Crested Butte, and the Mountain Express serving Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte.

Frequently asked questions