Aspen, Colorado is one of the most beautiful and popular destinations for outdoor recreational activities year-round. Located in the Rocky Mountains, it is known as a ski resort town with one of the highest real estate values in the United States. It’s also known for its high-end boutiques, restaurants and the Wheeler Opera House built in 1889. The nearest large city is Denver which is about a 4-hour drive and holds the closest large international airport. While it is cheaper for vacationers to travel through Denver International, the long drive through the mountains to the best resorts and skiing communities in the world can be quite a hassle to endure. To accommodate this, there are a few other airports that serve the Aspen area that allow visitors traveling on private jets to land right next to their resort of choice.
Aspen-Pitkin County Airport (ASE), also known as Sardy Field, is a public airport located 3 miles northwest of central Aspen and only 5 minutes from the resort area. About half of its aircraft operations are commercial flights, and the other half being chartered jets and other general aviation. The facilities here are very convenient, hosting 6 rental car companies, year-round guest services, and a restaurant and gift shop. There is also easy to access to the resorts nearby via free shuttles provided by The Roaring Fork Transportation Authority. It is important to note that there is an airport operating curfew that does not allow any activity between the hours of 11pm and 7am as a courtesy to the nearby communities.
Eagle County/Vail Regional Airport (EGE) is a small but highly rated facility located next to Vail and Beaver Creek, two popular destinations. During the winter months this airport is the second busiest in Colorado after Denver. The History Channel rated EGE #8 on the list of Most Extreme Airports in 2010 due to the elevation, weather variability, an approach through mountainous terrain and challenging departure procedures. Despite this, it has become the most popular airports to fly into for skiers and private jet operators. It lies within close proximity to the major international ski resorts such as Vail, Beaver Creek, Copper Mountain, Keystone, and Breckenridge, and CNN ranked it one of the world’s top places to spot aircrafts.
Gunnison Airport (GUC) is the last option for those traveling to Aspen. Although it’s not much closer than Denver is, it’s perfect for anyone who is interested in visiting Crested Butte, one of the most challenging ski areas in Colorado. It is located about 14 miles from Aspen, but the scenic drive is well worth it. The Rocky Mountains tower over on either side as you drive along the roads that sit on the wide valley floor, offering breathtaking views as you make your way to your next destination.
