Boulder to Aspen road trip: Best stops, distance & drive time

The best road trip stops on the Boulder to Aspen drive are Idaho Springs, Vail and Glenwood Springs. The distance from Boulder to Aspen by car is 204 miles, with a 3h53m driving time.

Planning a Boulder to Aspen road trip itinerary

The Boulder to Aspen drive takes you from one of the biggest cities in Colorado to one of the world’s great ski resorts.

Boulder CO nuzzles up to the Rocky Mountains. The craggy rock formations known as the Flatirons to the west of the city are hugely popular for hiking.

Other good Boulder activities include ebike tours and guided climbing adventures.

One of the best things you can do from Boulder, however, is a wildlife-spotting day tour of the Rocky Mountain National Park.

Great Boulder accommodation options include the wood-panelled Foot of the Mountain Motel and the heritage-embracing Hotel Boulderado.

Of the Colorado ski resorts, Aspen is the one with the star power. But it also has a sense of heritage grandeur, and cultural leanings. You’ll find ballet, art museums, concerts and theatre here, alongside the snow.

For skiers, four mountains are linked together with 336 trails and 46 lifts. For non-skiers, there are ghost tours, history tours, yoga classes, fat biking, ice climbing and fly fishing.

You will almost certainly need to book your Aspen accommodation in advance. Look for the best deals here.

Boulder to Aspen distance and driving time

For most of the year, you’ll have to go the long way from Boulder to Aspen. This is via Glenwood Springs on the I-70, then CO-82. The shorter route over the Independence Pass is only open during the summer months. This guide assumes you’re going via Glenwood Springs.

By car, the distance from Boulder to Aspen is 204 miles. You can expect a driving time of around three hours and 53 minutes.

The best stops to add to a Boulder to Aspen road trip itinerary are Idaho Springs, Vail and Glenwood Springs.

Boulder to Aspen road trip attractions: Idaho Springs

Idaho Springs is a former gold mining town in the mountains. You can learn about that gold mining past on a tour to the ARGO Gold Mill and Mine.

These days, however, the town is something of an adventure sports hotspot. Whitewater rafting on Clear Creek is particularly popular, and you can try it at beginner, intermediate or advanced level.

Other Idaho Springs experience options include via ferrata climbing on Mount Evans, the cliffside zipline and Jeep tours.

Best stops between Boulder and Aspen: Vail CO

Purpose-built, European-style ski village Vail is the biggest ski resort in Colorado, and arguably gets the best of the conditions. This is particularly the case with the legendary powder in the Back Bowl.

But a major part of the appeal is that you don’t have to strap on the skis at all. Top Vail experiences include Segway tours, snow sledding and downhill mountain bike tours. You can also try fly-fishing trips and escape rooms.

Compare prices for Vail accommodation here.

Boulder to Aspen drive: Glenwood Springs CO

Glenwood Springs CO is a mountain resort town, famous for its hot springs. For a soak, try the Iron Mountain Hot Springs or Glenwood Hot Springs Resort.

Walkers can take on the hikes to Doc Holliday’s Grave or the photogenic Hanging Lake, while the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park offers cave tours and thrill rides.

It’s also a great spot for rafting on the Colorado River. Choose between a gentle half day float through the canyon or tackling the rapids on a whitewater adventure.

Due to the massive hot springs pool, the Glenwood Hot Springs Resort is the best place to stay in Glenwood Springs. But you may be able to get better deals on alternative accommodation in the town.