We plan on renting a car (or taking the shuttle) and driving to Aspen for a couple of days. Many of these activities only add 4 hours to your itinerary. . In fact, it's fair to say it is one of the most overrated places I have ever visited. The drive is gorgeous and, although you reach some very high elevations, it is not scary if you stick to the main route: I-70 west to Glenwood Springs and then highway 82 south to Aspen. Aspen, city, seat (1881) of Pitkin county, west-central Colorado, U.S., on the Roaring Fork River at the eastern edge of the White River National Forest (elevation 7,907 feet [2,410 metres]).Dec 26, 2021. Were passionate about getting off the beaten path, promoting responsible tourism, supporting local economies and sharing our knowledge with other travellers! They have a range of clean and comfortable rooms available, a pool and hot tub on site, and numerous other amenities to ensure your stay is a great one! 1 Is the drive from Denver to Aspen hard? Stroll through downtown Leadville and take in the beautiful old Victorian homes and buildings, local shops and quaint cafes and imagine what life must have been like here back in the late 1800s before getting back on the road. Either way we should no longer have to deal with "the Vail 100"! Georgetown . After youve gotten a taste of Denver, make sure to get a good night of sleep so that youre ready to hit the road and head to the mountains early the next day! Private Vacation Rental There are a number of options to suit different levels of budget in Vail such as this stunning chalet if youre looking for a bit of luxury. 1 hour duration; you can catch the bus on 8th street). If you are able to take this route, I would strongly recommend it. Aspen is a mountain town in Colorado, and it is known for its beautiful scenery and the fact that it has a population of only a few hundred people. 1 Is the drive from Denver to Aspen scary? I'd stay at a hotel on the west side of Denver - maybe Golden area - and get a very early start on Saturday morning. It is about an hours drive south of the I-70 and only open in warmer months, but if you do decide to check it out, it will definitely be worth your while! You will pay many times more to ski the same slopes that you can get to from other mountain areas.Nov 20, 2014, In summer, there are two different ways to get between Denver and Aspen: The most scenic route is via Highway 82 over Independence Pass, which is the highest paved state highway over the Continental Divide in Colorado. If you're into stunning mountain pass views, head south at Copper Mountain through Leadville, then west over Independence Pass. Finally, as Denver and Aspen are high elevation cities, some people may suffer altitude sickness. So, a trip to Aspen for two people costs around $3,285 for one week. Ella is a writer for The World Was Here First. Steamboat is a real joy in the summer. If making the trip between September/October and May, note that all vehicles travelling on this stretch of I-70 must adhere to traction requirements, by law, which means using snow chains, winter tires or four-wheel drive. In summer, there are two different ways to get between Denver and Aspen: The most scenic route is via Highway 82 over Independence Pass, which is the highest paved state highway over the Continental Divide in Colorado. This scenic byway is all about the drive and less about the detours. Copyrights 2023 All Rights Reserved by Free world travel Inc. Aspen, Colorado is nestled high in the Rocky Mountains at around 8,000 feet, so youll find snow in Aspen nearly half the year. From Union Station in downtown Denver, you will take the CDOT West Line bus (runs twice daily) west to the West Glenwood Park and Ride in Glenwood Springs. That said, it is known to be stunningly scenic no matter which route you take. Agree. Greyhound is a leading bus company based in Dallas, Texas, serving over 3800 destinations across North America, Mexico and Canada. In the last 72 hours, the cheapest one-way ticket from Denver to Aspen found on KAYAK was with United Airlines for $199. This portion of the trip takes about one hour. Montaneros in Vail, A Destination Residence These great self-catering apartments are a fantastic choice for your stay in Vail. Its western half provides the principal transportation . The safest option is The Glenwood Springs Route, while the alternative Independence Pass Route closes in October or early November and doesn't reopen until the Thursday before Memorial Day each May. To help you plan a safe and enjoyable trip, we've put together some advice on driving this scenic, high-altitude route . Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. If you're hiring a car, make sure you request a vehicle with tire chains. Some restaurants may be closed but Aspen will still provide great dining options. Bustang has a mobile app users can download. Annabelle Inn This European-style ski lodge is a wonderful place to base yourself in Aspen. It was packed with great tips and interesting info. Obviously, if you can find a flight that fits your budget, and your final destination is just Aspen or nearby resorts like Snowmass then flying to ASE, even with a connection flight, will still be the most convenient way of getting here. The distance from Denver to Aspen is around 200 miles, which means that this is a relatively easy and short road trip. Idaho Springs. There are shared shuttles normally from other companies as well, but some have still suspended their service due to covid, not sure how that will change moving forward for this winter. Alternatively, you can take the bus. That would put you in Aspen ideally by 9am, assuming clear roads and no accidents. Follow the signs; the turns through town are well-marked. Red Rocks. Everything in Aspen is expensive, from hotels to restaurants to Tchotchkes.Jul 21, 2014. The Yampah Spa is next to the Glenwood Hot Springs Resort and offers the opportunity to take a steam bath in a natural vapor cave. I wouldnt recommend trying to get to Silverthorne to avoid traffic. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-111852146', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Denver for many years and it is very convenient most of the time :-). We stayed at a very reasonable hotel, the Mountain Chalet, which was in a great location, good price and nice facilities. From here, it is at least another hour over Independence Pass down into Aspen. . You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The buses are also family friendly. Denver is the capital city of Colorado, and the perfect starting point for this trip, not only because it is likely where youll be flying into and renting a car, but also because it is an extremely vibrant, beautiful, and interesting city. Exit off the I-70 West onto CO-91 South for about fifty minutes before reaching Leadville, the highest incorporated city in the United States at 10,430 feet elevation. Duration: 1-2 hours. Keep in mind that this is the most popular time to visit, so prices will likely be elevated, but you can find some deals if you plan a few months in advance. Glenwood Springs or Twin Lakes/ Mount Elbert. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The quickest way to travel from Denver to Aspen is of course via a private plane. If you opt to go the I-70 route to Aspen, the next best stop after Vail is Glenwood Springs, just about an hour west of Vail. Consequently we are going to either fly or drive to Aspen early on the Friday morning; or alternatively fly to Grand Junction on Friday morning, as car rental is so much cheaper there. This portion of the trip takes just under four hours. The Grand Junction thing, does have its merits, but still coming in from London and jumping back on a (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Day 1 10:00 am start in Aspen drive for about 57 minutes 10:57 am Glenwood Springs stay for about 1 hour and leave at 11:57 am drive for about 49 minutes 12:46 pm Edwards eat at Beano's Cabin stay for about 1 hour and leave at 1:46 pm drive for about 1 hour 2:47 pm Breckenridge stay for about 1 hour and leave at 3:47 pm drive for about 1.5 hours 3:44 pm arrive in Denver. Denver doesnt have a direct train route to Aspen, but you can combine rail transportation with the aforementioned options to incorporate a train ride for the journey to Aspen. The 200-mile route from Denver to Aspen via Glenwood Springs is the easiest and safest option, including a long stretch of interstate driving through the Rockies. As you say, traffic is unpredictable, though always heavy at these times. Theres so much to see on the drive from Denver to Aspen. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The sprawling natural hot springs consist of one large outdoor pool, and a series of smaller, hotter therapy pools that offer many health benefits. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-111479169', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Denver. Our flight gets in at 7:00 AM. You can get off at the popular stop at Main St. + Galena St., or you can get off at a stop that is closer to your accommodation. There is also a lesser risk of rocks falling from the mountains and of mudslides in the Glenwood Canyon area. Breckenridge also has five peaks, while Aspen has four. At this point in What are the three main reasons that marine ecosystems so important? However, this won't alert you to current conditions, so we recommend checking with the Colorado Department of Transport for up-to-date travel advice. **If you dont have it bookmarked already use my Aspen top activities guide and pre-made Aspen itinerary to help you plan your trip. Whether admired via hike, scenic drive, or gondola ride, Flagstaff's San Francisco Peaks are an incredible sight to behold.The mountain range, which is actually a group of ancient volcanoes that last erupted around 400,000 years ago, is home to Humphreys Peak, Arizona's tallest mountain, which rises to a height of more than 12,000 feet. When the weekends arrive, there is a mass exodus from Denver as skiers and snowboarders head west toward the many ski areas off Interstate 70. 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