Planning your Park City ski trip should be about carving through powder, not carving through traffic. While most people default to a rental car, using Park City Transit is a pro move for a stress-free vacation. Imagine a trip where you never have to scrape ice off a windshield, navigate a slushy mountain roundabout, or pay $50 just to let your vehicle sit in a parking lot. In this town, the “mountain life” is served with a side of zero-fare convenience.
If you are asking, “do you need a car in Park City Utah?” the answer is a resounding no. Between the rising costs of parking in Park City and the sheer ease of the Park City free bus system, having a car is often more of a hassle than it’s worth.
This guide will help you plan a car-free ski trip in Park City.
The “Math” of a Better Vacation: Why Use Park City Transit?
The Park City Transit network is a premium experience that just happens to be free. The buses are ski-friendly, environmentally friendly, and connect every major lodging hub to the resort bases.
With Park City Mountain parking now requiring paid reservations on peak days and Deer Valley parking lots filling up early, the bus is your VIP pass to quick resort access. By skipping the rental car, gas, insurance, and parking, you can easily save several hundred dollars. That is “upgrade to the demo rental skis” or “fancy steak dinner on Main Street” money.
The Two Systems You Need to Know: Park City Transit & High Valley Transit
To navigate the Park City bus schedule like a local, you need to know the two systems that keep the town moving:
Park City Transit:
This is the heart of the in-town system. It connects neighborhoods, Prospector, and the resort bases to the Old Town Transit Center (the hub at the bottom of Main Street).
- Best for: Park City Mountain, Deer Valley, Main Street, Prospector neighborhoods
- How to track it: The Transit app shows live bus locations, routes, and schedules. Download it before you arrive and you’ll never be stuck wondering when the next bus is coming.
- Park City bus schedule: These buses run frequently during ski season, hitting major stops every 10-20 minutes in the mornings and afternoons. Evening service slows down a bit but still runs late enough for dinner and drinks in town. If you stay out really late, you can use Uber or Lyft to get back to your lodging.
High Valley Transit:
This is the regional powerhouse. It provides free routes and on-demand micro-transit shuttles that connect Kimball Junction, the Outlets, and the various Park and Ride lots (like Ecker Hill or Richardson Flats) to the resort areas.
- Best for: Canyons Village, Woodward, Kimball Junction shopping, getting to/from Park-n-Ride lots
- How to track it: Download the High Valley Transit app to track the arrival of your bus and to see schedules and routes.
- High Valley Bus Schedule: The buses run frequently, though vary by route. Use the app for current schedules and planning.
Pro tip: on top of the free bus system, many local hotels and lodging options offer their own free shuttles that go to the resorts, Main Street, and tie directly into the public system.
Getting to the Ski Resorts with Free Transport
All of the Park City ski resorts are easy to get to using the free bus system.
Park City Mountain (Mountain Village)
Avoid the fees and ‘The Lot’s Full’ drama for parking at Park City Mountain by taking one of the many free Park City Transit in-town routes. These buses stop right at the base area, letting you ride in, grab your ski and snowboard rentals, and walk directly to the lifts.
Canyons Village
The 105 Canyons Village Shuttle and regional High Valley Transit lines link the transit hubs and Park and Ride lots directly to the village. Even locals use the bus for avoiding the Canyons parking on powder days. Park at Richardson Flat or Ecker Hill (free, huge lots), then ride the shuttle straight to the lifts.
Deer Valley Resort
In-town routes run constantly between Old Town and Snow Park Lodge. Whether you’re staying in Prospector, on Park Avenue, or up near the golf course, you can easily reach Deer Valley without ever dealing with Deer Valley parking.
Easy Ski Rentals with Park City Sport: The Bus Stops Here
Park City Sport makes your rental gear experience as seamless as the transit system. We have three shops at the Park City Mountain Main Base and two locations on Main Street at the Town Lift. See our locations.
You can easily ride the bus to pick up your skis or snowboarding rental equipment. Once you are geared up, you don’t have to worry about lugging everything back to your hotel. We offer several convenient features:
- Free Overnight Valet: You can leave your rental skis, ski poles, and snowboards at any of our locations overnight. This makes your trip back and forth effortless.
- Storage and Lockers: We have free cubbies for your small items and paid lockers where you can stash extra gear or a change of clothes for the day.
- Shoe Storage: You are welcome to leave your street shoes in our shop. Change into your ski or snowboard boots right here and head straight to the lifts.
Using the Free Buses Around Town and Main Street
Dining by Bus: Where to Eat Without a Car
One of the best parts of a Park City ski trip is the food. While the buses can get you pretty much anywhere, including dining at the Montage or Steins, the free transit system is well known for connecting you to two major dining hubs:
Historic Main Street
Take any in-town bus to the Old Town Transit Center and hop on the Main Street Trolley. It runs a loop up and down the hill, dropping you steps away from legendary spots like Riverhorse on Main, Fletcher’s, and Yuki Yama Sushi. For a casual bite or coffee, Atticus Coffee and Tea House – right next door to Park City Sport on Main – is a local favorite.
Kimball Junction
Use the High Valley Transit routes to reach Kimball Junction. This area has exploded with amazing dining options like fast and affordable Vessel Kitchen for fresh, seasonal meals, and Bartolo’s for authentic Italian. It is also the perfect place for grocery shopping or hitting the outlets.
Kimball Junction & Tanger Outlets Shopping
The 10X High Line and other High Valley Transit routes make it easy to get groceries (Whole Foods, Smiths, and Walmart) or to go shopping at the outlets or Kimball area boutiques.
Off-Mountain Fun: Woodward, Olympic Park & More
The free buses are also great for Park City’s other winter attractions, so you can build full non-ski days without needing a car.
Woodward Park City (Snow Tubing & Terrain Parks)
Combine an in-town bus with a High Valley route serving the Ecker Hill area. It is a quick connection to the Woodward entrance for a day of world-class snow tubing, foam pits, and indoor action sports. Great option for a rest day or if you’ve got non-skiers in your group.
Utah Olympic Park
Take the bus to the Kimball Junction Transit Center and transfer to the local route serving the Olympic Park grounds. You can tour the museum, watch athletes train, or even book a bobsled ride.
Nordic Skiing & Trailheads
Many trailheads and the Nordic Center at the Park City Golf Course are directly on bus lines, making cross-country ski days, snowshoeing, or winter hiking a breeze.
Spa Days
The buses connect to all major hotels so while you’re de-stressing with a massage, you can also de-stress from parking concerns.
Getting from the Salt Lake City Airport (SLC)
While the in-town buses are free, you will need a plan to get up the canyon from the airport:
- Shared or Private Shuttles: Dedicated ski shuttles run door-to-door from SLC Airport to Park City hotels.
- Ride-Share (Uber/Lyft): Regular service is quick and easy. Order on arrival and meet at the designated zone.
- The Budget Option (Bus and Rail): You can take the TRAX light rail from the airport to downtown SLC, then catch the High Valley Transit 107 PC-SLC Connect. It drops you at Kimball Junction where you can transfer to the free local buses. Check the High Valley bus schedule first, as this route has limited daily departures.
Ski-Trip Planning Resources
Here are some resources for trip planning:
- Park City Transit – Overview & Free Bus System: https://www.visitparkcity.com/plan/free-bus-system/
- Park City Transit – Official Routes & Schedules: https://parkcity.gov/departments/transit-bus/routes-schedules
- Park City Transit – System Info/About: https://parkcity.gov/departments/transit-bus/about-park-city-transit
- High Valley Transit – Home: https://www.hvtutah.gov
- High Valley Transit – Bus Routes: https://www.hvtutah.gov/bus-routes
- High Valley Transit – Service Maps: https://www.hvtutah.gov/service-maps
- Main Street Trolley information (Park City): example PDF/map resources: https://parkcity.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/77072/638890489502270000
Final Thoughts on a Car-Free Ski Vacation in Park City
The free Park City Transit system is reliable, ski-friendly, and can be easier than driving once you figure out the basics. You’ll save money, avoid parking stress, and spend your time actually enjoying Park City instead of circling lots or scraping snow off your windshield at 8 AM.
Reserve Your Park City Ski Rentals Today
Park City Sport is a trusted ski and snowboard rental company with 5 convenient locations. Family owned and operated they have served the Park City community and visitors for over 40 years. Renting with us gives you reliable, high-quality equipment, fair pricing, more boot options, and free overnight storage for a hassle-free ski day. Learn more about Park City Sport.
Frequently Asked Questions About Transport in Park City
You can access the Park City bus schedule and live tracking by downloading the Transit app (for in-town routes) or the High Valley Transit app (for regional and Canyons Village routes). These apps show you exactly where your bus is on the map and provide estimated arrival times, which is essential for timed ski school starts or dinner reservations.
No, most visitors find that they do not need a car. Between the free Park City transit system and the regional High Valley Transit routes, you can access Park City Mountain, Deer Valley, and Main Street without the stress of driving in snow or the high cost of rental cars. For airport arrivals, shared shuttles or ride-shares are the most popular way to reach town before switching to the free bus system for the duration of the stay.
Yes! The Park City free bus system is zero-fare year-round. This applies to all Park City Transit routes, High Valley Transit buses, and the Historic Main Street Trolley. You can hop on and off any bus with your ski or snowboard gear at no cost, making it the most budget-friendly way to navigate the town.
During ski season, most free Park City Transit routes run roughly 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., with core lines every about 15–20 minutes at peak and 20–30 minutes otherwise. High Valley Transit typically runs early morning into late evening on a 20–30 minute pattern on main routes like the 10X, with less frequent late‑night service.
You can get from SLC to Park City without a car by using a shared or private ski shuttle, Uber or Lyft, or public transit. The most affordable option is taking TRAX light rail from the airport to Salt Lake City, then the High Valley Transit 107 PC-SLC Connect to Kimball Junction, where you can transfer to free Park City Transit buses to reach your hotel or the resorts.
