Vail Golf Trip Planning Guide
Vail is the gold standard of Colorado mountain resort towns — world-class everything from dining to nightlife to golf. The courses in the Eagle Valley are immaculate, the Bavarian-village pedestrian core is walkable and packed with bars, and the lodging options for groups are elite. Not cheap, but worth every penny.
Quick Facts
Summer, Fall
EGE (35 min drive)
$55–$275
$800/night
2 of 5
~$530/person
Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Here's a realistic 3-day itinerary for a group golf trip to Vail. Every venue below is real and pulled from our curated database — no filler.
Day 1
Beaver Creek Golf Club — mountain, $175–$275 · 4.6★
Robert Trent Jones Jr. design at 8,400 feet; Tom Kite called it 'Augusta at altitude'
Mountain Standard — farm to-table, $$
Lively Vail Village spot with craft cocktails, creative small plates, and a buzzy patio scene
The George — patio
Massive outdoor patio in Lionshead with fire pits, cocktails, and a see-and-be-seen crowd
Day 2
Vail Golf Club — mountain, $100–$185 · 4.5★
Municipal course that plays like a resort; tight fairways along Gore Creek with spectacular mountain walls
Zip Line Adventure Tour — 2-3 hours, $75–$130/pp
Soar over the Eagle River Valley with views of the Gore Range; multiple lines and a suspension bridge
Sweet Basil — upscale, $$$$
Vail's most acclaimed restaurant since 1977; inventive American cuisine with a legendary wine list
Shakedown Bar — dive · Open late
The late-night move in Vail Village; cheap-ish drinks by Vail standards and packed until 2am
Day 3
Sonnenalp Golf Club — mountain, $90–$165 · 4.5★
Bob Cupp design with stunning Gore Range views; long and demanding with immaculate conditioning
Vail Mountain Bike Park — half day, $40–$80/pp
Lift-served mountain biking at Vail Resort; trails for all levels and bike rentals at the base
Elway's Vail — steakhouse, $$$$
John Elway's steakhouse in Vail Village; prime aged beef, big group energy, and Colorado legend status
Garfinkel's — sports bar · Open late
Classic Vail sports bar with big screens, pub food, and a raucous atmosphere on event nights
Course-by-Course Guide
Vail has 5 courses worth playing, including 1 bucket-list tier layout. 2 are walkable if you want to save on cart fees.
Where to Stay
Vail has 2 group-friendly lodging options in our database, starting at $800/night for the whole house. Several options include hot tubs — a non-negotiable for most groups.
$1000–$3500 /night
West Vail / Intermountain area
$800–$2800 /night
Vail Village / Lionshead
Group Dining Guide
4 restaurants vetted for group golf trips. Several can handle large parties without a reservation headache.
Mountain Standard
$$Lively Vail Village spot with craft cocktails, creative small plates, and a buzzy patio scene
Sweet Basil
$$$$Vail's most acclaimed restaurant since 1977; inventive American cuisine with a legendary wine list
Elway's Vail
$$$$John Elway's steakhouse in Vail Village; prime aged beef, big group energy, and Colorado legend status
Vendetta's Italian Restaurant
$$Old-school Italian in Bridge Street; big portions, reasonable prices by Vail standards, and great for groups
Nightlife
4 bars curated for groups. 3 stay open past midnight.
The George
Massive outdoor patio in Lionshead with fire pits, cocktails, and a see-and-be-seen crowd
Shakedown Bar
Late nightThe late-night move in Vail Village; cheap-ish drinks by Vail standards and packed until 2am
Garfinkel's
Late nightClassic Vail sports bar with big screens, pub food, and a raucous atmosphere on event nights
The Red Lion
Late nightIconic Vail après spot since the 1960s; live music on the outdoor stage and legendary energy
Activities Beyond Golf
4 off-course activities for rest days or afternoons.
Zip Line Adventure Tour
Soar over the Eagle River Valley with views of the Gore Range; multiple lines and a suspension bridge
Vail Mountain Bike Park
Lift-served mountain biking at Vail Resort; trails for all levels and bike rentals at the base
Eagle River Fly Fishing
Gold Medal water with excellent trout fishing; guided wade and float trips available
Vail Brewery Tour
Hit Vail Brewing Co., The Vail Ale House, and more; all walkable in the village
Getting There
Fly into Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE) — it's a 35-minute drive to Vail. For groups of 8+, consider booking a shuttle or party bus from the airport (local providers include Epic Mountain Express and Vail Valley Shuttle). Renting two SUVs usually works for groups of 4-8.