Vail vs Aspen – The Ultimate Guide

If you’re a a skier or snowboarder Colorado is likely at the top of your bucket list, and it should be. I’ve been dying to do some West Coast snowboarding for so long and finally got a chance to head out to Colorado this winter!

It was really hard to narrow down where I wanted to go while I was there. Since I had limited time and wanted to spend a few days in Denver I decided to try to hit two mountains on this trip. I figured going with the two arguably most well-known was the way to go, so I decided to head to Vail & Aspen. (Although heading back to Breck & Copper is at the top of my list for next winter)

Overall, I preferred Vail, but keep reading for my full mountain reviews + recommendations on getting to Vail and Aspen (without renting a car) as well as where to stay, and the best après options (of course)

Jump To:

• Vail
• Aspen
• Vail vs. Aspen

Disclaimer: This article contains some links where I earn commission through booking. There is no extra cost to you, and I only recommend things I’ve used and love or places I’ve stayed and enjoyed!

Vail

The Mountain

For me, Vail lived up to all the hype. The conditions were absolutely perfect the two days I was there. The mountain can get crowded, but it’s huge and I never waited too long for a lift. Although, I do recommend getting there for first lift. I got a ton of quick runs in before the crowds really set in.

The infamous Back Bowls were incredible. I spent a good two hours just doing runs on that part of the mountain (trail recommendation: Poppyseed) The lift tickets are pricy, around $200 a day for an individual pass, but Vail is also part of the Epic Pass, which covers a ton of mountains across the East and West coast, if you’re an avid skier or snowboarder a pass may be worth considering.

The Village

Vail Village is a cute, European style village filled with chalets, twinkly lights, ice skating, tons of bars & restaurants and more. The village has a more laid back vibe than Aspen that I preferred.

Getting to Vail from Denver

Since I was not ending my trip back in Denver I didn’t want to rent a car for this trip, which meant I needed to find a way to get from Denver to Vail to Aspen without a car. Luckily, there were plenty of options for getting to Vail from Denver. I decided to use Peak 1 Express.

Peak 1 Express has shuttles directly from the Denver airport to your accommodation in Vail. The drive wasn’t too bad, even though there was some snow the day I went. It takes between 3-4 hours depending on weather and traffic. The price made it an affordable option, and the vans have room for your skis or snowboard + your luggage.

Where to Stay

I wanted to stay somewhere nice-ish on this trip, but also wanted to avoid spending a ton of money since the lift tickets were already really expensive on their own. I also wanted somewhere easily accessible to the mountain and Downtown Vail that also had an outdoor pool/hot tub. I ended up staying at the Highline Vail DoubleTree.

The hotel is a little outside of Vail (less than five minute drive) and offers a complimentary shuttle to several stops in Downtown Vail. The shuttle runs all day and into the night so you can head back to downtown after a day on the slopes for dinner or drinks. The hotel also has two bars and restaurants if you don’t feel like venturing out one night. The outdoor pool and hot tub area has great mountain views and a cozy firepit. I’d absolutely recommend staying here if you’re looking for a lower to mid priced hotel in Vail.

Best Après Ski Vail

After a long day on the slopes, Après is a must and Vail has plenty to offer in that department! The Vail après ski scene is very laid back, consisting of most casual spots offering live music, drinks and food.

My top recommendation would be heading to Los Amigos for slope side views & margarita pitchers. There are a bunch of outdoor tables and barstools that offer a great viewing spot for mountain views and catching other skiers and snowboarders last runs as the day winds down.

Another great spot to check out is The Red Lion, they also offer a large, sunny patio or a large indoor bar/restaurant. It’s a great spot to catch live music at the end of the day. Also, their nachos are the perfect reward at the end of a long day on the mountain!

Aspen

The Mountain(s)

Aspen consists of four mountains (all of which are included on your Aspen lift ticket) Aspen Mountain(Ajax), Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk & Snowmass.

Ajax, is located right in downtown Aspen and is known for it’s more challenging terrain. This is definitely not mountain for beginners, and consists of a lot of moguls, so it tends to be preferred by mostly advanced skiers.

Aspen Highlands is the mountain most frequented by Aspen locals. It offers lighter crowds and stunning views. Again, this mountain consists of a lot of expert terrain.

Buttermilk is located just outside of Aspen and is known for hosting the x-games! You’ll see a large half pipe dominating the face of the mountain. Buttermilk is a bit smaller and offers more beginner terrain, making it a better spot for families and beginners.

Snowmass is about 20 minutes from downtown Aspen, but the city offers free shuttles that run all day. Snowmass is the largest of the four mountains and is surrounded by an entire village of shops, restaurants, hotels, bars, etc.

Snowmass was my personal favorite of all the mountains. It’s so large & has something to offer for anyone.

Getting to Aspen from Vail (without renting a car)

I spent a ton of time trying to figure out how to get to Aspen from Vail. Renting a car wasn’t really an option since I couldn’t find an option to pick up in Vail and return the car in Aspen. I also was a little worried about driving in Colorado in the winter based on what I had read in case there ended up being a lot of snow. Peak 1 Express did not offer any transportation to Aspen, so I wasn’t able to use the same service I used to get to Vail. There were a lot of options for hiring a car or private driver, but these options were close to a $1000 for less than a two hour ride! I definitely was not trying to spend that much.

Eventually, after a lot of googling I found public transportation options that ended up being fairly convenient. This involved taking 3 busses (which sounds worse than it really was) From the Vail Transportation Center (right in downtown Vail) you can catch the Bustang West from Vail to Glenwood Springs. The bus generally leaves 3 times a day and costs about $5. If you can, take it to Glenwood Springs South Station.

If it doesn’t stop there you’ll need to get off at the general Glenwood Springs stop and just grab the free local bus to Glenwood Springs South Station (also called 27th Street Station) This is where you’ll catch the final bus to Aspen. From 27th street buy a ticket to your stop in Aspen from the kiosks available. The busses cost about $3 and run every 20 minutes or so. The views are stunning heading towards Athens.

Where to Stay

Aspen is an expensive area and even the less-nice 3 star hotels have a high price point. I opted to stay near Buttermilk (one of the four Aspen mountains – see section below) I stayed at The Inn as Aspen, a hotel right at the base of Buttermilk mountain that touted an outdoor pool and hot tub area with perfect slope side views.

Unfortunately, the pool and hot tub were closed throughout the duration of my stay. For the price the rooms were fairly run down and in need of an update. They did offer a complimentary shuttle to downtown Aspen and ran all day and into the night, which was convenient for getting around without a car. If I were planning this trip again I’d probably choose to stay in Snowmass or downtown Aspen vs. at Buttermilk.

Best Après Ski Aspen

I’ve decided to break down the Apres spots between Aspen & Snowmass, because Snowmass is a bit of a drive from Aspen and offers it’s own after ski scene.

Aspen

Downtown Aspen après is almost akin to being at a Miami beach club, it’s hard to describe but there are similar upscale vibes and more of a club atmosphere than the laid back après of Vail. It is not uncommon to see people super dressed up, or wearing snowsuits that looks like the cost more than a months rent.

Right at the base of Ajax you’ll find Ajax Tavern and Chica, both offering similar large outdoor patios with slope side views. These are both great afternoon spots, with lively vibes and drinks & food that range on the pricier side. If you’re looking for an upscale après, these are definitely your best bets.

My personal favorite was the Wet Deck at the W in Aspen. The rooftop pool bar offers amazing slope side views, affordable drinks, fire pits & DJs.

Snowmass

Snowmass has its own Après ski scene. The vibes were much more laid back than downtown Aspen, and I found myself more drawn to the Snowmass crowd and vibe. Venga Venga offers a large outdoor patio with fire pits, margaritas and baskets of salsa & chips. I found myself coming back here most often during my trip.

Across from Venga Venga is New Belgium Ranger Station with similar views. It’s a great place to grab a few beers and hear some live music after a day of snowboarding.

Vail vs. Aspen

Should you go to Vail or Aspen?

I’m glad I got the chance to go to both Vail and Aspen, but overall I preferred Vail. A few reasons I preferred Vail:

• The days I was there the snowboarding conditions overall were better at Vail
• I also preferred the more laid-back vibes of Vail to the fancier feel of Aspen bars, restaurant and the crowd in general.
• There were more high quality affordable accommodation options in Vail
• Vail is easier to get to from Denver

Let me know in the comments if you check out any of the places mentioned on this itinerary. Or if I’m missing one of the best apres spots for Vail or Aspen. Also, check out my full Colorado travel guide here