Colorado ski towns from Main Street to the bowls
This is leg 2 of 2, the final leg.
Travel leg · Breckenridge, Vail & Aspen
Vail to Aspen
Vail and Aspen sit about 63 km (39 mi) apart in a straight line, with Aspen to the south-west. It is leg 2 of 2 on our Breckenridge, Vail & Aspen itinerary, a 7-day trip. Here is how long it takes by car, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 63 km · 39 mi
- Est. road distance
- 76–89 km
- Est. drive time
- 55 min – 1 h 45 min
- Direction
- Heading south-west
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 50–80 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By car
Most travelers on our Breckenridge, Vail & Aspen itinerary do this leg by car. We estimate 76–89 km (47–55 mi) of road and 55 min – 1 h 45 min behind the wheel, so check live traffic before you set off.
Fly into Denver (DEN); Breckenridge is about 2 hours west via I-70 and CO-9, Vail 45 minutes on from Breckenridge over Vail Pass, and Aspen about 2 hours from Vail via Glenwood Springs because Independence Pass is closed in winter. Eagle County (EGE) near Vail and Aspen (ASE) have direct winter flights, so you can fly out of Aspen. Colorado's traction law applies on I-70 in winter: use an all-wheel-drive car with winter tires and carry chains. Once parked, free town buses run in all three towns, and free shuttles link the four Aspen Snowmass mountains.
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Aspen
Silver-mining town with four ski mountains; 2–3 nights for Aspen Mountain, Highlands and Snowmass.
Maroon Bells
Twin 14,000-foot peaks reflected in Maroon Lake; the Scenic Loop is easy.
Crater Lake Trail
3.6-mile round trip from Maroon Lake to a quieter lake right under the Bells.
Aspen Art Museum
Free contemporary art museum with a rooftop cafe and mountain views.
Ajax Tavern
Slopeside patio at the base of the gondola, known for its truffle fries and burger.
J-Bar at Hotel Jerome
Classic 1889 hotel bar, home of the Aspen Crud bourbon milkshake.
Hotel Jerome
Downtown hotel opened in 1889, with a busy bar, the J-Bar, that has been Aspen's living room for generations.
Before you leave Vail
Alpine-style village under a huge mountain; 2 nights for the Back Bowls and Bridge Street.
Vail Ski Resort
One of North America's largest ski areas, with groomed front-side runs, the open Back Bowls and Blue Sky Basin.
Bridge Street
Vail Village's pedestrian main street, running from the covered bridge over Gore Creek up to the lifts.
Pepi's
Austrian restaurant and bar in the Gasthof Gramshammer, opened by ski racer Pepi Gramshammer in 1964.
On this curated route
Where Vail → Aspen sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Aspen to Vail is the same 63 km in a straight line, heading north-east. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
Average daytime highs at both ends stay within 1°C of each other all year, so you can pack the same way for both.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vail high | -2° | -2° | 3° | 8° | 15° | 23° | 26° | 24° | 20° | 11° | 4° | -2° |
| Aspen high | -1° | -1° | 4° | 9° | 16° | 24° | 27° | 25° | 20° | 12° | 5° | -1° |
| Vail rain | 47 | 47 | 52 | 64 | 54 | 30 | 53 | 49 | 43 | 44 | 42 | 48 |
| Aspen rain | 48 | 45 | 45 | 51 | 43 | 21 | 47 | 45 | 46 | 43 | 42 | 51 |
Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Aspen month guides.
Vail to Aspen: questions travelers ask
How far is Vail from Aspen?
Vail is about 63 km (39 mi) from Aspen in a straight line, with Aspen to the south-west. By road, we estimate 76–89 km (47–55 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Vail to Aspen?
An estimated 55 min – 1 h 45 min, assuming 76–89 km of road at average speeds of 50–80 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.
Which itineraries include the trip from Vail to Aspen?
Our Breckenridge, Vail & Aspen itinerary includes this leg. Breckenridge, Vail & Aspen runs about 7 days across 3 stops, best in Dec – Mar.
Onward from Aspen
- Rocky Mountain NP to Aspen 161 km
Getting to Vail
- Breckenridge to Vail 33 km
Guides for both ends
- Vail travel guide
- Vail weather best time to visit
- Aspen travel guide
- Aspen weather best time to visit
Aspen by month
Plan Vail → Aspen with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.