Aspen Ski Resort Guide
Aspen Travel
Aspen Travel Advice
Flying into Aspen
Aspen has a small airport but there are a limited number of flights that can be expensive and flights are often affected by snowy weather. If a flight is changed due to weather it might be rerouted to Denver or Grand Junction from where the airlines may decide to bus the passengers to Aspen. The Aspen Airport is only about 10 minutes from town making it the most convenient way to travel to Aspen. From the airport you can take the local free bus, RAFTA, into town, take a cab, or many hotels offer shuttle service. There is also rental car service from the airport, although; if you're staying in town you won't likely need a car unless its summertime and you plan on doing a lot of exploring/hiking in the surrounding areas.
Driving to Aspen
Driving to Aspen can be time consuming; however, it is well worth the effort. Flying into Denver is a reasonable choice since there are many flights and the drive from Denver to Aspen is about 4 hours of primarily interstate. From the Denver International Airport take I-70 West for 168 miles and exit I-70 at #116 for CO-82 East towards Glenwood Springs/Aspen continuing approximately 30 miles until you arrive in Aspen. The drive is fairly scenic as you pass various ski resorts along I-70 including Loveland, Copper, Vail, Beaver Creek, etc and finally enter the uniquely beautiful Glenwood Canyon. The part of the drive along CO-82 travels through the Roaring Fork Valley passing towns such as Glenwood Springs, Carbondale and Basalt. Make sure to check the weather as winter conditions often affect the roads in Colorado and watch out for wildlife as elk and deer are abundant.
Another option is to fly into the Grand Junction Airport which is approximately a 2 and a half hour drive from Aspen. From the Airport take I-70 East for about 85 miles and exit I-70 at #116 for CO-82 East towards Glenwood Springs/Aspen continuing approximately 30 miles until you arrive in Aspen.
In the summer, Independence Pass is open which makes traveling between Aspen and Denver easier. From Denver, take I-70 West for about 88 miles and exit at #195 onto CO-91 South towards Copper Mountain/Leadville for about 23 miles. Then take US-24 East for approximately 15 miles then take a right on CO-82 West for about 42 miles. Use extreme caution on the CO-82 West portion of the drive as there are dangerous switchbacks and narrow roads. This is one of the most scenic drives in the US as you cross the Continental Divide at 12,095 feet in elevation at the summit of Independence Pass. There is a nice visitors area at the top where you can park, walk around, take pictures or even have a picnic.