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Aspen Airport Mini Guide
Who Visits Aspen?
Usually it’s the elite of America’s social set who go there for the skiing. You can get an idea of the clientele by walking down the main street and looking at the designer names above the shop fronts. The pattern is continued at restaurants where the menu would cost the average skier a week’s pay. In the summer, the atmosphere of Aspen changes as fair weather activities attract a different kind of tourist who goes there for the climbing, the unspoilt nature or perhaps to visit the John Denver Park where in the environment where he grew up, stones now bear the lyrics of his songs.
How do I get to Aspen?
There’s two ways to get to Aspen, one is to fly into
Denver and hire a car for the drive to Aspen. The other is dependent on a connecting flight but allows you to fly directly into Aspen Pitkin County Airport, four miles from the resort. From there a number of options are available for continuing your journey into Aspen including bus, taxi and hire car.
What’s the Airport Like?
The airport is quite stunning in its design, fitting in perfectly with the wooden structure of much of the area’s architecture. High arches like those in a huge barn hold up the roof whilst acres of glass enable the traveller to look out over the breath-taking setting of the airport.
What Can I Expect When I Land at Aspen?
You’ll have a short walk to the terminal building but that will pass very quickly with your eyes feasting on the stunning scenery around you. Once inside, there are no passport checks to worry about as all the flights are internal. Baggage reclaim is immediately to your right as you enter the building and you’ll soon be in the arrivals hall. Aspen has great facilities for a small airport and you’ll be able to take money out from the ATM then either book transport to your accommodation at one of the transport offices in the hall or collect a hire car from the airport after completing the final documentation at the rental company’s desk. If you need any help around the airport, the information desk is on hand to assist.
What About on the Day of my Departure?
Once you’ve checked in your baggage the airport is a pleasant place to spend your time waiting for your flight. The airport has a full service restaurant serving hearty meals as well as snacks for the health or weight conscious. There’s a gift shop for last minute souvenirs but the best part is being able to sit outside in winter and watch the skiers, only a matter of a hundred metres away, or in summer seeing people take the cable car up to the top of Aspen Mountain. Unfortunately there’s no duty free there as it’s a domestic airport neither is there any airport Wi-Fi.
- The presentation of the airport's masterplan for the future has recommended enlarged terminal facilities to cope with an expected rise in demand as travellers take more breaks in Aspen. It's hoped that the improvements will reduce the need for longer haul passengers to fly into Denver.