Nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Aspen transforms into a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts and becomes a great getaway for families during the summer months. From scenic hiking trails to places to eat, this guide will outline my 3-day itinerary to and from Aspen from Denver by car.
Table of Contents
- Lodging and pre-travel work
- Day 1: Denver to Aspen via Independence Pass
- Day 2: The Maroon Bells
- Day 3: Hanging Lake & return to Denver
Lodging and other pre-travel work:
Where to stay
Aspen itself is notoriously expensive to stay in. While rates are more affordable compared to the winter months, accommodations still average over $400 a night (averaging around $1000/night) for two. For a more budget-friendly option, I recommend staying in Snowmass Village, located approximately 30 minutes north from downtown Aspen, where prices are more reasonable.
I stayed at Laurelwood Condominiums. I found it to offered the best balance of price and quality for my stay. It has an Airbnb-stay feel but without the logistical hassle and checkout chaos. Additionally it is walking distance to Snowmass Village for times when you don’t want to drive out to grab a bite. Another advantage of staying in Snowmass is the availability of shuttles to Aspen, as well as connecting shuttles to the highly popular Maroon Bells hiking area. This convenient service helps guests avoid parking fees and enjoy hassle-free transportation to these scenic destinations.
Other lodging options in Snowmass Village for sub $300/night:
- Crestwood Snowmass Village (1+ Bedrooms)
- Capitol Peak Lodge (2+ Bedrooms)
- Top of the Village (2+ Bedrooms)
Maroon Bells Reservation
To visit Maroon Bells, it’s important to plan ahead as entry requires a reservation at all times. Visit the Aspen Chamber website to explore reservation options for accessing the Maroon Bells Scenic Area.
For most folks visiting and doing a day hike, the best option to park at Aspen Highlands and reserve a shuttle ride in advance from there. See below for more details:
Visiting the Maroon Bells by Shuttle:
- Reserve a shuttle reservation from Aspen Highlands on the Aspen Chamber website. As of Summer 2024, shuttle reservations cost $16 per person round trip. Shuttle starts running at 7am and comes every 15 minutes before 1pm. After 1pm it comes every 20 minutes. The last shuttle back from the Maroon Bells is at 5pm.
- Drive to and park at Aspen Highlands. As of Summer 2024, the hourly parking rate is $8 with a $42 daily maximum on weekdays, and $48 maximum on weekends.
- The bus stop is a short walk from the parking lot. Redeem your online reservation for a paper pass at the ticketing office by the bus stop.
Day 1: Denver to Aspen via Independence Pass
Driving route: via I-70 W and CO-82 W
Morning:
- Aspen is about a 3.5hr drive from Denver without traffic. I-70 during the summer months can still get quite busy since locals head to the mountains to escape the heat. Start heading out before 10am to beat the heavier traffic.
- Breakfast food options: Food options in the mountain unfortunately, is pretty limited and the available options are not amazing. For me, McDonalds in Idaho Springs(about 40 minutes from Denver) is usually the best option to grab a coffee and a small bite for the road without losing momentum. If fast food is not you thing, and you are willing to drive just a bit further, Sunshine Cafe in Silverthrone is a good sit-down option.
- Break in Leadville: On your way to Aspen, just under 2 hours from Denver, you’ll come across the charming small town of Leadville. It’s a perfect spot to stretch your legs and grab a bite if you haven’t already. Leadville is also home to the highly sought-after Melanzana clothing brand, renowned for its warm, lightweight, quick-drying cotton pullovers that are exclusively sold at their store here. Appointments are required to shop the full collection in-store, but walk-ins can still find some clearance items available for purchase.
Afternoon:
From Leadville to Aspen, you will be taking the scenic Independence Pass road. Driving Independence Pass in Colorado is a breathtaking experience that takes you through some of the most stunning landscapes in the Rocky Mountains. Here are there areas I stopped at along the way that I highly recommend checking out:
- Independence Pass – Continental Divide: At the pass summit, you’ll cross the Continental Divide, where water flows to either the Pacific Ocean or the Atlantic Ocean, depending on the drainage basin. There is a large parking spot there where you can pull over and walk a very short trail and enjoy the amazing mountain views and enjoy the beautiful wild flowers.
- Grottos Trail: Grottos Trail is situated along Independence Pass Road approximately 9 miles east of Aspen. It is a popular and picturesque hiking trail known for its unique geological formations. The trail itself is relatively short, approximately 0.5 miles one-way, making it suitable for hikers of all skill levels and families with children. It’s an out-and-back trail, so you can hike at your own pace and return whenever you’re ready. On the hike you will find beautiful caves and waterfalls.
Evening:
- Settle into your accommodation. After a day of travel and exploring nature, freshen up before heading downtown Aspen for dinner.
- Food in downtown Aspen: there are a lot of food options in downtown Aspen to choose from and they are significantly better than other mountain towns. However, please note that Aspen is a very premium location so you will be encountering very premium prices.
Here are a list of a couple food spots I recommend for dinner: Prices mentioned are based on Summer 2024- Clark’s Oyster Bar, $$: Casual high end. Good for groups & family. Main dishes are seafood based and cost around $25-$50.
- Parc Aspen, $$$: Upscale dinning. Good for dates. Appetizer cost around $20-30 and main dishes cost around $40-$80. Parc has a small menu and focuses on local flavors and quality ingredients.
- The Wild Fig, $$$: Upscale dinning. Good for dates. Appetizer cost around $20-30 and main dishes cost around $40-$80. The Wild Fig focuses on European style cuisine (mostly Italian, French, Spanish).
- Walk of dinner by exploring Aspen’s boutique shops and art galleries.
- Alternatively, instead of heading to downtown Aspen for dinner, you can walk to Snowmass Village and enjoy a meal there as well as the light shopping.
- Prepare for an early start the next day to hike the Maroon Bells
Day 2: The Maroon Bells
An Aspen adventure would be incomplete without a visit to the iconic Maroon Bells, just a short drive from the town! These twin peaks reflect majestically in the crystalline waters of Maroon Lake, offering some of the most photographed scenes in Colorado. Take a leisurely hike around the lake or venture further into the surrounding trails for breathtaking views of the Elk Mountains.
Note: Entry to the Maroon Bells requires a reservation at all times. See the Maroon Bells Reservation section above for more information
Morning
- For most folks, taking the shuttle from Aspen Highlands to the Maroon Bells is the preferred method to visit. You will need to make a shuttle reservation. See the Maroon Bells Reservation section above for more information
Start early to hike the Maroon Bells. Shuttles start running at 7am from Aspen Highlands and the last shuttle back is at 5pm. The best time to visit is in the morning before 10am. Aim to be at the trailhead by 9am the latest. - There are many hikes in the Maroon Bells area. They range from 2 milers to 26 milers. You can see all available trails on AllTrails. I recommend the Crater Lake Trail for most folks since it is a pretty easy scenic 3.5mi out-and-back trail. The hike to Crater lake is uphill and can get rocky. For most folks, it will take about 2 hours. If you start at 9, as recommended, you will be back at Aspen Highlands before noon, perfect timing for lunch!
Afternoon
- Lunch in Aspen: After the hike, you are bound to be hungry! I recommend Meat & Cheese Restaurant and Farm Shop, which specialized in charcuterie boards/sharable meat boards and sandwiches. Dishes range from $20-$40.
- I don’t know about you, but after a hike I would prefer to freshen up before continuing with activities. After lunch is a perfect time to head back to the hotel, kick off those hiking shoes, take a refreshing shower, and change into something nice (but casual).
- Work up the appetite by exploring more of downtown Aspen. There is an Art Museum you can visit or Aspen Historical Society to learn more about Aspen’s mining history.
Evening
- Cocktails: Hooch Craft Cocktail Bar gets pretty creative with their cocktail menu. Cocktails cost $20+ and are unique and tasty. Its a nice cozy spot to wind down before dinner
- Dinner: Aspen draws a very premium crowd. As a result, fine dinning is very big. Here are some restaurant recs. Prices mentioned are based on Summer 2024.
- BOSQ, $$$$: 1 Michelin Star Restaurant. You will be spend $200+ here. The optional Chef Tasting Menu is $255 and this does not include gratuity, 3% kitchen surcharge, tax or tip. Check out my instagram post where I shared my thoughts on the Summer 2024 tasting menu.
- Parc Aspen, $$$: Upscale dinning. Good for dates. Appetizer cost around $20-30 and main dishes cost around $40-$80. Parc has a small menu and focuses on local flavors and quality ingredients.
- The Wild Fig, $$$: Upscale dinning. Good for dates. Appetizer cost around $20-30 and main dishes cost around $40-$80. The Wild Fig focuses on European style cuisine (mostly Italian, French, Spanish).
- If you are looking for more activities to do after dinner, stargazing at Aspen Mountain is uniquely to Aspen experience. Ride the gondola up Aspen Mountain and view the starry skies above. Bring a blanket since it does get cold at night and relax and enjoy your last night in Aspen.
Day 3: Hanging Lake & return to Denver
Driving route: via I-70 East
This doesn’t exactly count as a day in Aspen since we are heading back to Denver. Instead, this is more an opportunity to explore more of Colorado along the way, like we did with Leadville and Independence Pass on the way here.
Morning:
- If you are staying near Aspen, you can experience the quiet mornings and pick up some pastries from Paradise Bakery, which is very popular, or pick up some coffee from Unravel. If you are staying in Snowmass, it is not worth going back since it will be in the opposite direction of the route we are taking back to Denver.
- On the route back to Denver via I-70 East, we will be driving through Glenwood Springs. Stop here and experience Sweet Coloradough, a hugely popular donut spot in Glenwood Springs. Their donuts are massive and delicious and more reasonably priced than anything you had in Aspen. Pick up a donut or two and enjoy it with a cup of coffee and enjoy the vibes.
- Just 20 minutes from Sweet Coloradough is the beautiful Hanging Lake Trail. It is a 3.1mi out and back trail and it is moderate to hard since it is pretty steep. The views a worth it when you get to the top and see the lake! Here is the trail maps on AllTrails.
Afternoon
- Grab lunch and an ice-cold glass of beer from Westbound & Down Brewing Company in Idaho Springs. Their beers are award winning and their food is excellent.
- From there, Denver is just 40 minutes away.
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