Vail to Aspen.Done by people who know Highway 82.
We run it both directions: Vail to Aspen Colorado over Independence Pass in summer, and Aspen Colorado to Vail Colorado year-round via I-70 and Highway 82 when the pass is closed.
About 102 miles via Glenwood Canyon, roughly 2 hours when the road is clear. Direct, flat-rate, all-in. More than 30 years on this road.
Flat Rate. All In.
Every rate includes driver gratuity, fuel, taxes, and applicable airport fees. No surge pricing, ever.
| Route | Distance | SUV up to 6 |
Sprinter up to 14 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vail → Aspen | ~102 mi, ~2 hrs | $695 | $995 |
| Eagle (EGE) → Aspen | 70 mi, ~1h 15m | $550 | $795 |
| Eagle (EGE) → Aspen Highlands | 70 mi, ~1h 15m | $550 | $795 |
| Denver (DEN) → Aspen | 217 mi, 4 hours best case | $1,200 | $1,800 |
| ASE (Aspen/Pitkin) → Anywhere in Aspen | ~10 min | Call for rate | |
Rates include driver gratuity, fuel, taxes, and applicable airport fees. Call (970) 471-9792 for hourly charters or custom routing.
Vail to Aspen. The Way We Drive It.
From Vail, we head west on Interstate 70 through Eagle County and into Glenwood Canyon, one of the most engineered stretches of highway in America, threaded between vertical walls of red sandstone with the Colorado River running below. At Glenwood Springs we exit south onto Highway 82, which follows the Roaring Fork River through Carbondale and Basalt all the way to Aspen.
Total distance is roughly 102 miles. In clear conditions the drive takes about two hours. With weather on I-70 or 82 it can stretch closer to three. Either way it is mostly highway: predictable, well-maintained, and the route we take in any season.
We do not run Independence Pass. Independence is closed November through May, and even when it is open it is a slow two-lane mountain road over a 12,000-foot pass. People drive it for the views. We drive Glenwood because it gets you to Aspen sooner and gets you there in any weather.
Glenwood Canyon
The canyon stretches about 12 miles between Dotsero and Glenwood Springs. It can close for rockslides, mudslides, or wildfires. We track CDOT alerts in real time and reroute when needed. There is no good detour around the canyon, so if it closes hard, we know exactly which restaurants in Eagle to wait it out at.
Highway 82
From Glenwood Springs to Aspen is 42 miles along the Roaring Fork River. Two lanes in each direction most of the way, with a divided section through Basalt. Speed traps in Carbondale. We know where.
Winter Driving
Our Suburbans and Sprinters run dedicated snow tires in winter and all-season mountain tires in summer. No chains carried, since snow tires satisfy Colorado's traction law. We drive this road in any condition the season throws at it.
All of Aspen. And Snowmass.
Downtown Aspen
Door-to-door to The Little Nell, Hotel Jerome, the St. Regis Aspen Resort, the Limelight, the Gant, and every condo block off Mill, Galena, and Hyman. We know which lobbies have a loading zone and which ones you have to roll the bags to.
Snowmass Village
Snowmass is its own village 9 miles up the road from downtown Aspen. We drop at Viceroy Snowmass, Limelight Snowmass, Westin Snowmass, and the Snowmass Mall. Door-to-door, same flat rate.
The Four Ski Mountains
Aspen Mountain (Ajax), Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk, and Snowmass. Drop you at the base of any of them, pick you up at the end of the day with your gear loaded for the ride home.
Maroon Bells & Beyond
Summer day trips to Maroon Bells (when the road is open to private vehicles), the Conundrum Hot Springs trailhead, the Ashcroft ghost town, and Independence ghost town when the Pass opens. Hourly charter rates apply for sightseeing.
A Vail Family That Knows the Aspen Run.
30+ Years on Highway 82
George and Kyla have lived in the Vail Valley for over 30 years. Highway 82, Glenwood Canyon, the Roaring Fork: we know which curves ice first, which rest stops are open in winter, and which exits to skip in summer construction.
Direct. No Shared Shuttle.
Shared shuttles to Aspen stop at every valley hotel and add 45 to 90 minutes to your trip. With us you go direct. Vail to Aspen, EGE to Aspen, DEN to Aspen, one vehicle, your group, your schedule.
Flat Rate, No Surge
The quote is the price. Snow on I-70? Same price. Ski week, holiday weekend, X Games? Same price. We do not surge and we do not add fees at the end.
Real Family Operation
Call (970) 471-9792 and George or Kyla picks up. Our son Enzo drives too. No call center, no dispatcher in another state. When you call, you get one of us, and when you ride, you ride with people who grew up on this mountain.
Ten Minutes from the Tarmac to Downtown.
Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (ASE) is the closest airport to downtown Aspen, just ten minutes from the terminal to Hotel Jerome. We meet commercial flights at the terminal and private flights at the FBOs (Atlantic Aviation and Aspen Base Operations). For private jet arrivals, we coordinate with your flight team on tail number and parking location and meet you on the ramp.
For commercial arrivals, Kyla monitors your flight from departure. The moment you land, your driver texts you with the exact pickup spot at ASE. Walk out, load up, go.
ASE sits at 7,820 feet in a tight valley, and weather diverts flights regularly. We track every flight from departure.
When ASE diverts. Sometimes flights redirect to Eagle County (EGE), sometimes to Grand Junction (GJT), sometimes to Denver. If yours redirects, we have vehicles ready at the destination it actually lands. Call us the moment you know your diversion and we will meet you there.
Departure day. Same workflow in reverse. We track your outbound flight, build buffer for Highway 82 traffic, and time the pickup so you are at ASE security with time to spare. Mountain airports change boarding times last-minute, and we plan for it.
Vail to Aspen FAQ
How much is car service from Vail to Aspen?
How long does it take to drive from Vail to Aspen?
Do you drive over Independence Pass?
Do you handle Aspen Airport (ASE) pickups?
What if my Aspen flight gets diverted?
Do you serve Snowmass Village?
Are your Aspen rates all-in or do you add fees?
Can you do day trips from Vail to Aspen?
More Colorado Drives Worth Taking.
If you like a good mountain road, here are a few more we know well.
Quick Quote for Aspen.
Pick your route and vehicle, or send a note and Kyla will get back to you personally. Or call (970) 471-9792.
Other Routes We Run