Colorado Springs to Aspen drive: Best stops, distance & time

The best road trip stops on the Colorado Springs to Aspen drive are Idaho Springs, Vail and Glenwood Springs. The distance from Colorado Springs to Aspen by car is 265 miles, with a 4h25m driving time.

Planning a Colorado Springs to Aspen road trip itinerary

The Colorado Springs to Aspen drive takes you through Colorado’s Rocky Mountains to one of the world’s great ski resorts.

Colorado Springs is at the foot of the Rockies – most notably the 14,114ft-high Pikes Peak. You can take a Jeep tour to the top, or go via the cog railway. The other natural highlight is the Garden of the Gods, a park with giant red sandstone formations jutting out towards the sky. Ways of exploring include Jeep tours, ebike adventures and Segway tours.

Other interesting Colorado Springs experiences include falconry classes, food tours, hot air balloon flights and ziplining.

For memorable Colorado Springs accommodation with character, go for the Great Wolf Lodge or the Mining Exchange.

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.

Colorado Springs to Aspen distance and driving time

For most of the year, you’ll have to go the long way from Colorado Springs 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 Colorado Springs to Aspen is 265 miles. You can expect a driving time of around four hours and 25 minutes.

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

Colorado Springs 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 Colorado Springs 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.

Colorado Springs 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.

More Colorado Springs road trips

Colorado Springs to Albuquerque | Amarillo to Colorado Springs | Boulder to Colorado Springs | Castle Rock to Colorado Springs | Chicago to Colorado Springs | Dallas to Colorado Springs | Denver to Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs to Estes Park | Fort Collins to Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs to Glenwood Springs | Grand Junction to Colorado Springs | Houston to Colorado Springs | Kansas City to Colorado Springs | Omaha to Colorado Springs | Phoenix to Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs to Salt Lake City | Colorado Springs to San Antonio | Colorado Springs to Santa Fe | Tucson to Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs to Vail.

More Aspen road trips

Boulder to Aspen | Breckenridge to Aspen | Chicago to Aspen | Dallas to Aspen | Denver to Aspen | Grand Junction to Aspen | Vail to Aspen.