Vail to Aspen road trips: Drive time, distance & best stops

The best road trip stops on the Vail to Aspen drive are Beaver Creek, Glenwood Springs and Carbondale. The distance from Vail to Aspen by car is 101 miles, with a 1h53m driving time.

Finding things to do between Vail and Aspen

The Vail to Aspen drive connects two of the most prestigious ski resorts in Colorado.

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.

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.

Vail to Aspen distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Vail to Aspen is 101 miles. That makes for a driving time of around one hour and 53 minutes. The quickest route is via the I-70 and CO-82.

The best stops to add to a Vail to Aspen road trip itinerary are Beaver Creek, Glenwood Springs and Carbondale.

Vail to Aspen drive: Beaver Creek

Beaver Creek is a sizeable Rocky Mountains ski resort, with snow sports the main lure. The runs don’t tend to be as crowded as they are at other Colorado resorts, and it caters best for expert skiers.

In the summer, you can tackle the moderate-to-difficult 6.6-mile return hike from the Beaver Creek ski area to Beaver Lake. Mountain biking and horseback riding are also options.

Beaver Creek accommodation can be horribly expensive. Search for deals in advance.

Best stops between Vail and Aspen: 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.

Vail to Aspen road trip attractions: Carbondale CO

Carbondale is often seen as a cheaper place to stay before driving into Aspen to go skiing, but it does have a few attractions of its own. Marble Distilling makes small batch spirits – you can taste them at the bar.

For outdoor activity, however, the best spot is Red Hill. Here, a 6.2 mile looping hiking trail brings you a good workout and magnificent mountain views.