Winter Air Travel

Booking your flight directly to Aspen (ASE) is easiest. In addition to the Denver (DEN) international connection, there are direct flights to Aspen from Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. You can also choose to use ground transportation from Denver, as explained below. Allegiant Airlines has an inexpensive flight from Los Angeles to Grand Junction, Colorado, and then you would rent a car and drive 2.5 hours to Aspen.

From Denver to Aspen

You may rent a car, fly, or take a shuttle bus to Aspen. IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE WEATHER DELAYED IN DENVER FOR MORE THAN 4 HOURS, consider the Colorado Mountain Express Shuttle described below. Flying from Denver to Aspen takes about 30 minutes. Aspen is served by:

  • United Express (1-800-241-6522) from Chicago, Denver, Houston, and Los Angeles.
  • American Airlines (1-800-433-7300) from Dallas and Los Angeles.
    • Book as far in advance as possible, since weekend travel is popular. If all flights to Aspen are booked, you can fly to Eagle/Vail (2 hours away) or Denver (4 hours) and arrange for ground transportation with:
  • Colorado Mountain Express for door-to-door service. Call 1-800-525-6363 or use ridecme.com. Reservations are usually required. Ask for the group PHYSICS rate ($95 in 2013) to Aspen, one-way, to or from Denver. If you do not mention PHYSICS, you will not receive the group rate.
  • We have a RIDE BOARD. The password is in your arrival information email.
  • If you rent a car, the drive from Denver is over mountain passes and can be challenging if you are not used to driving in snow storms or on ice. Independence Pass (eastern half of Highway 82) is closed in the winter, so the only winter route is on a 4-lane highway (I-70) to the western half of Highway 82 which takes you to Aspen. This route takes about four hours from the airport if the roads are dry. If the roads are snow-packed, you might allow six hours for the drive.

When you get to Aspen

If you fly into Aspen and are staying at the Aspen Meadows, let them know in advance what flight you are on and they will be there to pick you up, 970-925-4240. Many other hotels also have airport pickups. Taxi rides to Aspen from the airport are about $25. You can also take a free RFTA bus from the airport stop on Highway 82 to any stop in town. Bus information is available at the RFTA website. If you are driving to the Physics Center, from Highway 82/Main Street, turn north on 6th Street. Our parking lot is at the corner of 6th and Gillespie Streets. The Aspen Meadows is located on Meadows Road, an extension north of 7th or 8th Street.