Overview
Aspen is a ski resort in the state of Colorado in the Rocky Mountains region of the United States of America. Its little sister is Snowmass Village, which is about 10 miles (16 km) from downtown Aspen.
3 sights · 7 things to do · 24 places to eat
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Aspen
Maroon Bells
A short drive outside of Aspen, the Maroon Bells are one of the most photographed mountain scenes in Colorado. The lake and views of the 14,000 foot peaks are spectacular. In the summer months between 8AM and 5PM, visito…
Independence Pass
In the summer months, this pass is open to vehicular traffic. The drive takes you up to the Continental Divide, and along the way passes some of the most beautiful scenery in the area and a ghost town that is open to vis…
John Denver Park
This Aspen park is a pleasant place to take your dog or your kids for a splash in the creek in summertime. The park is named after the famous Country and Folk singer who resided in Aspen. Lyrics from his most popular son…
Belly Up
Small venue hosting some impressive artists, downtown Aspen.
June Festival
Jazz Aspen Snowmass Labor Day Festival
Snowmass Town Park, the first weekend in September
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 82°F; winter lows dip to about 13°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Sep and Mar. (climate data from nearby Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- ASE Aspen-Pitkin County Airport (Sardy Field), Aspen — 4 mi away. Directions
- EGE Eagle County Regional Airport, Eagle — 32 mi away. Directions
- COS City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport, Colorado Springs — 117 mi away (major hub). Directions
Aspen-Pitkin County Airport (also known as Sardy Field; ASE). Major carriers to Aspen include American Eagle, Delta Connection, and United Express. Private jet charters are a popular method of travel to the Rocky Mountains of Aspen.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Aspen Golf Club, John Denver Park, Independence Pass
- Lunch The Artisan Restaurant
- Afternoon June Festival, Snowmass Club
- Dinner Woody Creek Tavern
Day 2
- Morning Maroon Bells, Belly Up, Jazz Aspen Snowmass Labor Day Festival
- Lunch The Pine Creek Cookhouse
- Afternoon Maroon Creek Club, River Valley Ranch Golf Club
- Dinner The Hickory House
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By plane
Aspen-Pitkin County Airport (also known as Sardy Field; ASE). Major carriers to Aspen include American Eagle, Delta Connection, and United Express. Private jet charters are a popular method of travel to the Rocky Mountains of Aspen.
Aspen-Pitkin County Airport is a small airport for small planes only, and traffic tends to stop in any inclement weather.
Flying into Denver Airport and driving up to Aspen is sometimes cheaper, but extreme weather conditions can make it hard to drive.
By car
The drive to Aspen is about 4 hours from Denver. There are two major routes from Denver - through Glenwood Springs or through Independence Pass. Independence Pass is only open in the summer months, but provides spectacular views and can be a bit faster than the longer route through Glenwood. To take this route, travel south from Copper Mountain exit off I70 through Leadville.
Get around
There are numerous large rental car services available at the Aspen-Pitkin County Airport.
- Alamo
- Avis
- Budget
- Hertz
- National
Scheduled and chartered services are available from Denver International Airport and Eagle County Regional Airport. Free buses operate within the cities of Aspen and Snowmass Village and many hotels have free shuttle service to and from the airport.
It's all about getting around on skis in the winter and mountain bikes or your own two feet in the summer!
See
See John Denver Park
This Aspen park is a pleasant place to take your dog or your kids for a splash in the creek in summertime. The park is named after the famous Country and Folk singer who resided in Aspen. Lyrics from his most popular songs are inscribed in the creekside boulders. John Denver Park is on the creek trail on the north side of Aspen, near the Rio Grande Ball Field and park at N. Mill St. and Rio Grande Pl.
See Maroon Bells
A short drive outside of Aspen, the Maroon Bells are one of the most photographed mountain scenes in Colorado. The lake and views of the 14,000 foot peaks are spectacular. In the summer months between 8AM and 5PM, visitors must take a shuttle bus to the Maroon Bells to control traffic. Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for children. There are some short, non-strenuous hikes around the Maroon Bells that vary from 1 mile to 10. People also like to climb the Maroon Bells; however, it is very dangerous and a guide is highly recommended.
See Independence Pass
In the summer months, this pass is open to vehicular traffic. The drive takes you up to the Continental Divide, and along the way passes some of the most beautiful scenery in the area and a ghost town that is open to visitors.
Do
Winter
- Ski - There are four downhill ski mountains in the area: Aspen Mountain, which has the best location, Snowmass, which is the largest, Aspen Highlands, famed for its epic Highlands bowl, and Buttermilk, which provides the best experience for beginners and freestyle. They are all quite large and sprawling, and will give you one of the best skiing experiences in the country.
- Sleigh rides
- Sledding
- Snowshoeing
- Snowmobiling
Summer
- Mountain bike
- Hike
- Golf
- Gondola rides to the top of Aspen Mountain
- White water rafting
- Fly fishing
- Mine exploration
- Hot air ballooning
- Rodeos
- Paint ball
- Paragliding
- Outdoor concerts
Music
Do June Festival
Golf
Do Aspen Golf Club
It opened with 9 holes in the early 1960s and expanded to 18 holes in the 1980s. The Aspen Golf Club facility features 7,114 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 71. The course has a rating of 73.8 and it has a slope rating of 139 from the tips. The course is primarily Blue grass and Poana.
Do Snowmass Club
Ten minutes downvalley in Snowmass Village. The Snowmass Club's new 18-hole, par-72 Snowmass Club Golf Course. The 6,986-yard semi-private course designed by award-winning golf course architect Jim Engh includes a learning center, practice area and new golf clubhouse with Black Saddle Bar & Grille, a full-service restaurant and bar. With five sets of tee boxes at each hole and a truly unique design, golfers of all abilities will enjoy play that is as fun as it is challenging
Buy
Downtown Aspen has a plethora of shops for every budget. The downtown area also has two pedestrian-only streets lined with T-shirt and souvenir shops. Of course, Aspen is a great place to buy ski equipment and clothing with an abundance of ski shops and stores. The city also has an open air market in the summer months.
Snowmass Village also has its own shopping precinct, fitted with numerous candy shops, souvenir shops and ski shops.
Shop Carl's Pharmacy
Sells typical drugstore goods, and their second floor has souvenirs and toys.
Equipment rental
There are many places in Aspen Snowmass where you can rent all types of equipment including skis and snowboards in the winter and bikes in the summer.
Some of the stores that specialize in equipment rentals:
Eat
Budget
Eat The Artisan Restaurant
In Snowmass in the Stone Bridge Inn has a fresh menu and many off-menu options.
Eat Woody Creek Tavern
In "downtown" Woody Creek. Good for lunch, this is the former haunt of the late Hunter S. Thompson. It's about 15 miles from Aspen.
Eat The Pine Creek Cookhouse
It is worth the trip down a beautiful valley to the elegant log cabinesque building. Their food is very fresh, on the gourmet side, and not overly expensive. Reservations recommended. Highly recommended to stop in for lunch after a morning hike to one of the many great trails in the area such as Cathedral Lake.
Eat The Hickory House
Located on the bend towards the entrance to Aspen on Main Street. Tourists are often crowded out by the locals, drawn by fabulous barbecue and huge, hearty breakfasts. If you're lucky enough to be in Aspen for Thanksgiving (late November), turn out for annual Hickory House freebie: turkey, with all the trimmings, and all gratis.
Eat Ajax Tavern
Great apres-ski complete with the who's who of Aspen. Fantastic deck perfect for watching skiers come down the mountain while you enjoy people watching of the rich and famous. Order the Ajax Double Double, the best burger in town.
Eat J-Bar
The J-Bar is one of Aspen's favorite watering holes. Located at the luxurious Hotel Jerome
Eat Prospect
Prospect serves diverse Colorado cuisine with alpine influence prepared from wholesome natural ingredients. Breakfast, lunch and Sunday brunch.
Eat Syzygy
A trendy, favorite for many visitors.
Mid-range
Eat Pinions
Expensive, exquisite cuisine popular with celebrities and socialites.
Eat Campo De Fiori
Great Italian food that makes you feel like you're in Italy. Also has a great bar scene.
Eat Mezzaluna
Great Italian-American style food in a trendy establishment. Best place for lunch and late at night.
Eat Boogies Diner
Centrally located diner located in a jeans store.
Eat Paradise Bakery
Best ice cream in town, along with amazing baked goods and coffees. Located in central Aspen.
Eat Cloud-9 Bistro
Excellent European food on Aspen Highlands. Very well priced. Perfect for a ski day lunch break. Frequently visited by celebrities.
Eat Caribou Club
Insanely expensive and fancy private dining club for snobby locals.
Eat bb's kitchen
Classy but casual restaurant known for brunch, but also serves excellent dinner. Also has balcony seating.
Eat L'Hostaria
Well known Italian restaurant serving handmade pasta. Their bar features a bar menu with less expensive alternatives to the restaurant menu (in the bar menu, pasta entrees start around $12, and meat entrees start around $15).
Eat Grateful Deli
Good sandwiches, good-size portions for about $8 per sandwich
Eat Annette's Mountain Bake Shop
Baked goods and good sandwiches
Eat Peach's Corner Cafe
A busy place for breakfast, brunch, and lunch, featuring fresh and local food.
Eat Butcher's Block Deli
Good deli also known for its soup.
Splurge
Eat Cache Cache
Excellent French restaurant is the trendy place to see and be seen. Their bar menu is excellent and offers a less expensive alternative (~$20 per entree) than the restaurant section. The bar starts to fill up around 6PM.
Eat Matsuhisia
Amazing and award-winning Japanese food along with some of the best sushi in the country.
Go next
Colorado is home to over 70 wineries and its own vineyards. Wine lovers can enjoy several scenic day trips from Aspen to many of the small towns that are a part of Colorado's Wine Country. These lovely little communities include Montrose, Palisade, Paonia and Hotchkiss, as well as the city of Grand Junction.
- Glenwood Springs - Home to a quaint, historic downtown and the largest hot spring pool in the USA.
- Carbondale - About 40 minutes down the valley from Aspen, Carbondale is a nice, eclectic mix of artsy, outdoorsy and earthy/hippie. It has art galleries with offerings much more affordable than you will find in Aspen, plus an astonishing range of restaurants from Chinese, Salvadoran, Mexican, Italian, Thai and Asian/Fusion. Restaurant 689, located at 689 Main Street, rivals Aspen's best offerings. During mid-summer, Carbondale's Mountain Fair is a 3-day (free!) music extravaganza and art fair. Artisans come from all over the US to exhibit and sell hand-made clothing, jewelry, toys, paintings, sculpture and home decor. The home town police - who are very low-key and friendly - wear tie-dye for this event.
- Denver - A 4-hour drive away, Denver is Colorado's capital and largest city. Denver boasts historic buildings and modernistic skyscrapers, abundant shopping and incredible dining. Located where the Great Plains meet the Rocky Mountains, Denver has some of the best views a city can have. It is also home to one of the last downtown amusement parks, Elitch Gardens.
Nearby
Redstone
City / town · 15 listings · 23 mi away
Crested Butte
City / town · 7 listings · 24 mi away
Leadville
City / town · 9 listings · 28 mi away
Sunlight Mountain
City / town · 1 listings · 31 mi away
Eagle
City / town · 2 listings · 32 mi away
Beaver Creek
City / town · 14 listings · 34 mi away
Glenwood Springs
City / town · 26 listings · 37 mi away
Vail
City / town · 93 listings · 39 mi away
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