Vail vs Beaver Creek
One clear look at snowfall, elevation, and access, so you know which to ski.
Vail
CO · 11,570 ft
Beaver Creek
CO · 11,440 ft
Side-by-Side
| Metric | Vail | Beaver Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Colorado I-70 & Aspen CO | Colorado I-70 & Aspen CO |
| Summit elevation | 11,570 ft 8,120 ft base | 11,440 ft 7,400 ft base |
| NWS forecast bias | Pending grade pending | Pending grade pending |
| Season snowfall | 3" 3 storms | 1" 3 storms |
| Avg storm-day rate | 0.9"/day | 0.4"/day |
| Best storm | 45/100 Significant | 7/100 Tracked |
| SNOTEL record | 3 storm-days measured | 3 storm-days measured |
| Community reports | 481 TGR posts | 40 TGR posts |
| Nearest airport | EGE | EGE |
| Drive time | 0.58h 35 mi · EGE | 0.42h 25 mi · EGE |
| Access difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Pass | Epic | Epic |
Snowfall totals come from each resort's tracked storms. NWS forecast grades read “pending” everywhere: six winters of checking found no per-mountain bias we can honestly correct, so we show the raw NWS number and do not grade it.
The Verdict
StormDrop shows the raw NWS forecast for both Vail and Beaver Creek and does not grade it. Six winters of NWS-against-SNOTEL checking found no per-mountain bias we can honestly correct (it turns on an unresolved snow-measurement question), so we show the number NWS publishes and tell you that is what it is.
Vail and Beaver Creek ran neck-and-neck this season, about 3" and 1" of snowfall respectively.
Both are a similar trip — roughly 0.58h from EGE.
Best for
Vail — chasing the biggest totals — it out-snowed Beaver Creek this season.
Best for
Beaver Creek — Epic pass holders weighing where to point a trip, with flight prices and drive timing side by side.
Local Knowledge
TGR Community IntelVail
Monitor competing areas - when Summit County (Breck/Keystone) closes due to weather, Vail becomes mega-crowded.
Beaver Creek
Expect official snow reports to significantly underestimate actual accumulation (8-12" actual when 1-3" reported).
FAQ
Does Vail or Beaver Creek get more snow?
Vail and Beaver Creek ran neck-and-neck this season, about 3" and 1" of snowfall respectively.
Is Vail or Beaver Creek easier to get to?
Both are a similar trip — roughly 0.58h from EGE.
Which has the more accurate snow forecast, Vail or Beaver Creek?
StormDrop shows the raw NWS forecast for both Vail and Beaver Creek and does not grade it. Six winters of NWS-against-SNOTEL checking found no per-mountain bias we can honestly correct (it turns on an unresolved snow-measurement question), so we show the number NWS publishes and tell you that is what it is.
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