How much does it cost to travel to Aspen?
You should plan to spend around $293 per day on your vacation in Aspen. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $85 on meals
- $56 on local transportation
- $339 on hotels
A one week trip to Aspen for two people costs, on average, $4,107. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Aspen has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Aspen expensive to visit?
Prices in Aspen are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.
Within North America, which is known to be an expensive region, Aspen is a somewhat more expensive destination compared to other places. It is in the top 25% of cities in North America for its travel costs. While some cities in the region are more expensive, Aspen is generally more expensive than most.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Aspen Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Aspen?
The average Aspen trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Aspen travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
|
Category
|
Cost
|
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
$339
|
|
Local Transportation 1
|
$56
|
|
Food 2
|
$85
|
|
Entertainment 1
|
$45
|
|
Alcohol 2
|
$10 -
30
|
Accommodation Budget in Aspen
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Aspen is $170. For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Aspen is $339. This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Aspen? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Aspen
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Aspen is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $56 per person, per day, on local transportation in Aspen.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$56
How much does it cost to go to Aspen? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Aspen will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Aspen
Calculated from travelers like you
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While meal prices in Aspen can vary, the average cost of food in Aspen is $85 per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Aspen should cost around $34 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Aspen is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$85
Entertainment Budget in Aspen
Calculated from travelers like you
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Entertainment and activities in Aspen typically cost an average of $45 per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
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Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$45
Alcohol Budget in Aspen
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $20 on alcoholic beverages in Aspen per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$20
Aspen On a Budget
Aspen, Colorado
Aspen is a famous, and notably expensive travel destination. The town is one of the country's most famous and recognizable ski destinations, and prices can climb high during the ski season. Although still expensive, you can often find better deals during the summer months or shoulder seasons. For visitors who want to enjoy the area's hiking, natural beauty, and charm, these are the times to visit.
But for many, Aspen is a ski destination. It's known for its challenging slopes and diverse terrain. There are many lessons available for beginners or intermediates, so don't be afraid of the challenging reputation that Aspen is known for. There really is something for everyone.
Sights
Aspen is all about skiing, but the town and surrounding natural beauty is a destination in and of itself. There are a number of natural protected areas in the region with great hiking and beautiful landscapes. Several places worth visiting include John Denver Sanctuary, which has a refreshing creek, Maroon Bells, which is one of the most photographed landscapes in the area, and Independence Pass, which takes you by the Continental Divide.
Neighborhoods
Most people think of Aspen as one town and destination, but there are actually four ski resorts in the area - Aspen Mountain (or Ajax), Snowmass, Aspen Highlands, and Buttermilk. Most people refer to the entire area as Aspen Snowmass.
The Town of Aspen sits at the foot of Aspen Mountain. About five kilometers away are Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk and Snowmass is about 16 kilometers to the west of the town. Snowmass is larger than the other three resorts combined and it offers a wide variety of skiing and a village at its base. Buttermilk is the only ski area that doesn't have a village at its base. Aspen Highlands is considered to be one of the more challenging ski areas.
Activities
Skiing is the obvious activity of choice for visitors to Aspen, but that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of other things to enjoy. Hiking is popular, particularly during the warmer months and there are countless trails in the area. Other popular activities include mountain biking, golf, white water rafting, festivals and concerts, and touring historic mines.
Food and Dining
As a world class ski destination, you can expect world class dining in Aspen. The area has a wide range of restaurants to choose from that serve diverse types of cuisines. Restaurants range from casual sandwich shops to fine dining at its best. There are also grocery stores in town so budget travelers enjoy picking up supplies and preparing their own meals.
Transportation
Aspen has a comprehensive free shuttle system that travels between the different ski resorts. It's a great way to get around efficiently and conveniently. The service also runs to other nearby communities.
The town of Aspen is very walkable and many visitors enjoy exploring the area on foot. There are also bike trails throughout and a great bike-sharing program with 16 stations and 200 bikes spread throughout the area.
We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.