Destinations / Colorado / Aspen
Aspen Travel Guide
Aspen is where I send people when the après, the shopping and the dinners matter as much as the skiing. Stay downtown near the Silver Queen Gondola, use the free skier shuttles to reach Snowmass, Highlands and Buttermilk, and book your big dinners early for holiday weeks.
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Where I'm sending people now
Downtown within about a 5 minute walk of the Silver Queen Gondola, so you can walk to the lift, to dinner and to the shuttles for the other three mountains.
January to March for skiing, with Aspen Mountain and Snowmass opening Nov 26, 2026 and Highlands and Buttermilk Dec 12. Late June to September for the Maroon Bells, hiking and the summer festivals.
Downtown luxury hotels run about $1,000 to $3,000+ a night in ski season and more over the holidays. Window lift tickets can top $300 a day, and sales plus lodging tax add about 12.35% to your room.
Lift 1A has been removed and the Lift One side of Aspen Mountain is a construction zone for about three winters, so you reach those runs from the gondola and the new Nell Bell chair. Independence Pass is closed for winter, and ASE closes April 4 to Nov 19, 2027.
Where I'm sending people now
Hawaii
Maui, Kauai, Oahu and the Big Island, and how to pick between them.
Italy
Rome and the Amalfi Coast, with the hotels and tours worth booking ahead.
Caribbean
Punta Cana, Turks and Caicos and Puerto Rico, all-inclusive and not.
Where I'm sending people now
Hawaii
Maui, Kauai, Oahu and the Big Island, and how to pick between them.
Italy
Rome and the Amalfi Coast, with the hotels and tours worth booking ahead.
Caribbean
Punta Cana, Turks and Caicos and Puerto Rico, all-inclusive and not.
Know before you go
Getting there
Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (ASE) is about 10 minutes from town with connections through Denver and other hubs, but small planes and mountain weather mean cancellations happen. Eagle (EGE) is about 1.5 hours away, and international visitors usually come through Denver, a 3.5 to 4 hour winter drive via Glenwood Springs.
Getting around
Downtown is walkable and free skier shuttles run between the four mountains, so I tell most clients to skip the rental car. If you land in Eagle or Denver, book a private transfer rather than driving winter roads yourself.
Money and tipping
Aspen Snowmass lift tickets are up to 25% cheaper when you buy 30 days ahead online, and the full Ikon Pass includes 7 days here. Downtown parking is paid and scarce, so going car-free saves both money and hassle.
How I'd spend 4 days
Day 1 Arrive, check in downtown and ride the Silver Queen Gondola up for the view.
Day 2 Ski Aspen Mountain, then après at Ajax Tavern at the base.
Day 3 Ski Snowmass for long cruisers, or take a snowmobile tour to the Maroon Bells.
Day 4 Morning at Highlands or Buttermilk, then fly out.
Tip For Christmas, New Year's and Presidents' Day weeks, book your top dinners 30 days out.
Hotels I'd book in Aspen
Things to do in Aspen
Where to eat in Aspen
Bosq
White House Tavern
Cache Cache
Where I'm sending people now
Hawaii
Maui, Kauai, Oahu and the Big Island, and how to pick between them.
Italy
Rome and the Amalfi Coast, with the hotels and tours worth booking ahead.
Caribbean
Punta Cana, Turks and Caicos and Puerto Rico, all-inclusive and not.
Aspen FAQ
Is Aspen Mountain good for beginners?
Not really; Aspen Mountain is mostly intermediate and advanced terrain. Beginners do better at Buttermilk or Snowmass, both reached on the free skier shuttles, and you can still stay downtown.
Is the Aspen airport closing in 2027?
Yes. Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (ASE) closes from April 4, 2027 to Nov 19, 2027 for runway redevelopment and plans to reopen for the 2027/28 ski season. During the closure, fly into Eagle (EGE), about 1.5 hours away, or Denver.
Can you visit the Maroon Bells in winter?
Yes, but Maroon Creek Road closes to cars in winter, so you get there by snowmobile tour, snowshoe or cross-country ski. In summer the road and shuttle need reservations; in 2026 the shuttle ran May 22 to Oct 18 at $16 per adult.