Is avis on site at the denver airport
So your flyin into Denver International Airport, probably for a awesome ski trip to Winter Park or Breckenridge, and you figured youd just rent a car. You booked with Avis, seems easy enough right. You get off the plane, grab your bags from baggage claim, and start lookin for the Avis counter so you can get your keys and get on the road.
But you look around. And you look some more. And… wheres Avis?
This is where a lot of peoples trips get their first little bit of stress. You’re probably askin yourself, is Avis even on site at the Denver airport?
Well, the short answer is kinda no.
It’s not “on-site” in the way you’re probably thinking. You cant just walk from baggage claim to a counter, get your keys, and walk to your car in the airport garage. It just dont work that way at DIA.
This is super confusing for a lot of travelers because the airport is so huge you just assume everything is right there. But all the rental car companies, including Avis, are actully in a totally separate area of the airport property.
You have to take another bus to even get to them.
Ok, So Where is the Avis Rental Counter at DIA?
This is the part that gets frustrating, especially if your travelin with your family, a bunch of kids, or a ton of ski bags and luggage.
To get to the Avis rental desk, you first need to get all your stuff from baggage claim on Level 5. Then, you have to haul all that gear outside the main Jeppesen Terminal.
You need to head to Island 4, which is on the same level (Level 5) but you gotta go outside to the shuttle pickup areas.
- If you’re on the West side of the terminal, you’ll go out doors 504-512.
- If you’re on the East side of the terminal, you’ll go out doors 505-513.
There, you have to stand (probly in the cold if its winter) and wait for the “Avis Courtesy Bus”. This is a big shuttle bus that just runs back and forth between the terminal and the rental car lots.
The ride itself is about 5 to 10 minutes long, and then it drops you off at the big rental car center where the Avis counter is actully located. Their address is way out on 25500 East 78th Avenue, which is not walkable at all.
So lets just recap that. After your flight, you have to
- Get your bags.
- Lug all your bags (skis, suitcases, kids) outside.
- Find the right “island” for the shuttle.
- Wait for the Avis bus.
- Load all your bags onto the bus.
- Ride for 10 minutes.
- Unload all your bags off the bus.
- Go inside the Avis building and wait in another line to do your paperwork.
- Then, finally, you go get your car.
That… is a lot of work. It can easy add an hour or more to your travel day, and its a huge, huge pain when all you want to do is get to the mountains.
Is it Just Avis? Or Are Other Rental Companies in the Terminal?
This is the next question most people ask. “Ok, fine, Avis is a pain. I’ll just rent from Hertz or Budget next time.”
I got some bad news for you. They are all off-site.
Yep. Hertz, Alamo, Enterprise, Budget, National… pritty much every major rental car company at Denver International Airport is in that same, far-away rental car center. They all require you to take their own special shuttle bus from Island 4 just to get to their counters.
So the problem isnt really Avis. The problem is just the whole idea of renting a car at DIA. It’s not convenient at all.
Why Renting a Car for Your Ski Trip Might Be a Bad Idea Anyway
We see this all the time. People think they need a car for “freedom.” But they dont really think about the downsides, especially for a ski trip.
That Drive is No Joke
If your heading to Winter Park, Vail, Breckenridge, or any of the big resorts, your gonna be driving on I-70.
This is not a normal highway.
In the winter, I-70 through the mountains is one of the most trecherous roads in the entire country. You get sudden snow squalls, whiteout conditions, and insane traffic. We’re talking hours and hours of gridlock traffic on a Saturday morning.
And if it’s snowing, Colorado has something called the Traction Law. This means your vehicle must have snow tires, mud/snow (M+S) tires, or all-wheel drive. Guess what? Most rental cars from Avis are just regular sedans with “all-season” tires. They dont meet the requirements, and they are super unsafe in the snow. You could get stuck, get in a wreck, or get a huge ticket.
You Pay a Ton… To Not Even Use It
Lets say you get the car and you make it to the mountains. Now what?
Your gonna park it at your condo or hotel, and its gonna sit there. For the entire week.
All the ski resort towns (Breckenridge, Winter Park, Vail, etc.) have amazing free in-town shuttle systems. These buses run all day, every day, and take you from your condo right to the ski lifts, to the restaurants, to the grocery store, anywhere you need to go.
You literally do not need a car once your there.
So you just paid all that money for a rental car, plus gas, just for it to sit in a parking lot. And oh yeah, a lot of the hotels and condos charge you a nightly fee just to park it there. It’s crazy expensive for no reason.
The Cost Adds Up Quick
You might think the rental car rate is all you pay. Not even close.
- The daily rental fee
- All the taxes and airport fees (these are huge at DIA)
- The cost of gas (which is more expensive in the mountains)
- The nightly parking fees at your resort (sometimes $30-50 per night)
- The stress of driving in a blizzard
When you add all that up, its almost never worth it.
The Way More Easier Option: Just Take a Shuttle
This is why shuttle services are so popular for ski trips. It just makes more sense.
Think about it. Instead of that whole 9-step hassle with the Avis bus, you do this:
- Get your bags.
- Meet your shuttle driver (who is waiting for you right in the terminal).
- They help you with your bags and you walk to a comfortable, warm van or private SUV.
- You sit back, relax, watch a movie, or look at the mountains while a professional driver handles the crazy I-70 traffic.
A company like Winter Wagon (thats us!) specializes in this. Our drivers are pros. They do this drive every single day. They have vehicles with the right tires and all-wheel drive to be safe in the snow.
We pick you up right from the airport and drop you off right at the door of your condo or hotel. No extra buses, no waitin in the cold, no stress.
Lets Just Compare This
Heres a pritty simple breakdown of the two experiences.
| The Process | Renting from Avis | Taking a Winter Wagon Shuttle |
|---|---|---|
| Getting to your vehicle | Land -> Get bags -> Haul bags outside -> Wait for Avis bus -> Load bus -> 10-min ride -> Unload bus -> Wait in line | Land -> Get bags -> Meet your driver in the terminal -> Walk to the van |
| The Drive | You have to drive yourself on I-70. Stressful, dangerous in snow, bad traffic. | A professional driver handles it. You relax, nap, or enjoy the view. |
| Vehicle Safety | Probly a standard car with all-season tires. Not great for the Traction Law. | Professional fleet, (like Sprinter vans), with snow tires. Super safe. |
| Arriving at Your Condo | You have to find your condo, find parking, then haul your bags from the car. | You get dropped off right at your front door. Driver helps with bags. |
| Cost | Daily rate + fees + gas + nightly parking at the resort. Very expensive. | One flat fee. Often cheaper than renting when you add it all up. |
| Using it at the Resort | Your car just sits in a parking lot all week, costing you money. | You dont need one. You just use the free town shuttle to get around. |
So, Should You Rent From Avis at the Airport?
To answer the first question: No, Avis is not right in the Denver airport terminal. You have to take a 5-10 minute shuttle bus just to get to their counter.
And to answer the bigger question: You probably shouldnt even be renting a car at all for your ski trip.
It’s way more hassle, way more expensive, and way more stressful than it needs to be. Your vacation should be relaxing from the second you land.
Just save yourself the headache. Book an airport shuttle. You just show up and we handle the rest. You’ll be at your resort, ready to ski, with zero stress.
And did you know that Winter Wagon may soon offer even more services like house cleaning and grocery delivery for your rental? We want to make your entire trip easy, not just the drive.