Breckenridge to Aspen drive: Distance, time & best stops

The best road trip stops on the Breckenridge to Aspen drive are Frisco, Vail and Glenwood Springs. By car, the distance from Breckenridge to Aspen is 137 miles, with a 2h33m driving time.

Planning a Breckenridge to Aspen road trip itinerary

The Breckenridge to Aspen drive connects two of Colorado’s top ski resorts.

Breckenridge is famed for its family-friendly skiing, but there’s plenty more to do. Options include taking an underground tour at the Country Boy gold mine, fat bike tours between breweries and distilleries, guided ghost walks and an outdoor, mining-themed escape room.

For other Breckenridge experiences, try e-bike rentals, strange but true walking tours and a tour of the Continental Divide.

It is highly advisable to book Breckenridge accommodation in advance.

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.

Breckenridge to Aspen distance and driving time

For most of the year, you’ll have to go the long way from Breckenridge 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 Breckenridge to Aspen is 137 miles. You can expect a driving time of around two hours and 33 minutes.

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

For more suggestions, read the guides to the Breckenridge to Vail drive and Vail to Aspen drive.

Breckenridge to Aspen road trip attractions: Frisco CO

Frisco CO is a mountain town surrounded by some of the world’s best ski resorts. It does, however, have a few attractions in its own right. The Dillon Reservoir is a good spot for kayaking tours, fishing and boating, while the Frisco Historic Park and Museum collects together several handsome old buildings. There’s a museum about local history inside the old schoolhouse.

The Frisco Adventure Park offers tubing, Nordic skiing, hiking and biking.

Best stops between Breckenridge 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.

Breckenridge 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.