The Maroon Bells reflected in the lake at sunrise, near Aspen

United States · Aspen Mountain · Snowmass · Aspen Highlands

Where to stay in Aspen and Snowmass without luxury prices

Where to stay to ski Aspen: downtown, Snowmass Village, or Basalt and Glenwood Springs to save, plus how to get there, when to go and how to spend less.

See options for my budget

Photo: Lorie Shaull · CC BY-SA 2.0

In short: where to stay in Aspen & Snowmass

By Martín Bastias· Reviewed: November 2026

Tight budget: Glenwood Springs or Carbondale — hotel or house
Mid-range: Snowmass Village — condo with a kitchen
Treat yourself: Downtown Aspen — hotel or home by Aspen Mountain
Best time: Winter (December to April): Four mountains on one lift ticket: Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass.
Getting there: Aspen airport is 10 minutes from downtown, but flights are expensive.

Key facts

Mountains on one pass: 4: Aspen Mountain, Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmasssource
Total ski terrain: Over 5,500 acressource
By car from Denver: ≈ 4 h 5 min

Drive times calculated with real OpenStreetMap routes, without traffic or stops.

Worth it

Why go to Aspen & Snowmass

Four different mountains

Buttermilk for learning, Snowmass for families, Highlands and Aspen Mountain for experts: something for everyone in the group.

A town with history

The 19th-century mining town has a life of its own: restaurants, galleries and atmosphere all year.

A spectacular summer

The Maroon Bells, lakes and trails make Aspen a great destination without snow too, and for less.

Got dates? See what is available:

Decide in 30 seconds

Where to stay in Aspen & Snowmass by budget

The scores you will see come from guests who booked and stayed there. We take you to the search for each area; once there, sort by "Price (lowest first)" or "Guest review score" to compare with real data.

Glenwood Springs or Carbondale

Tight budget

Glenwood Springs or Carbondale

hotel or house

Much lower prices and buses to the slopes.

See places to stay in Glenwood Springs

Snowmass Village

Best balance

Mid-range

Snowmass Village

condo with a kitchen

Ski from the door on the biggest mountain, for less than downtown Aspen.

See places to stay in Snowmass Village

Downtown Aspen

Treat yourself

Downtown Aspen

hotel or home by Aspen Mountain

Restaurants, atmosphere and the gondola steps away.

See places to stay in Aspen

Reviews from guests who actually stayed
No extra cost for booking through us
Book and pay on the official platform

Live prices

Map of places to stay in Aspen & Snowmass

Tap a price to see photos and reviews. Pick your dates in the map calendar to see the exact price.

Live price per night
Real photos and reviews
Only rated 7/10 or higher

Prices in USD (you can change currency in the map). Real-time prices and availability from each platform via Stay22: affiliate link, no extra cost to you.

See the full list

Why Aspen

Aspen is the most famous name in US skiing: four mountains on one lift ticket (Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass), a historic mining town and, in summer, the iconic Maroon Bells.

How to choose for your trip

Atmosphere: downtown Aspen.
Family skiing: condo in Snowmass Village.
Tight budget: Basalt, Carbondale or Glenwood Springs.

When to go

JanSave❄

FebPeak❄

Mar❄

AprSave

May

JunSave

JulPeak

AugPeak

SepSave

Oct

NovNow

DecPeak❄

Good time to save
Peak season: pricier and busier
❄ Usual snow season
A guide only: varies each year.

Best months to save: Jan, Apr, Jun, Sep

Check availability for those dates →

Winter (December to April)

Four mountains on one lift ticket: Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass. Christmas, New Year and March are the priciest; early December, January and April are better value.

Summer (June to September)

High-alpine trails, the Maroon Bells, festivals and biking, at far lower prices than winter.

Getting there

Aspen airport is 10 minutes from downtown, but flights are expensive. Denver is about 3 hr 30 min to 4 hours by car.
In winter Independence Pass is closed: from Denver, drive via I-70 and Glenwood Springs.
Public buses link Aspen, Snowmass and the valley towns; routes within Aspen are free.

Which area to choose

Downtown Aspen

Best for: atmosphere, restaurants and skiing Aspen Mountain

The historic mining town at the foot of Aspen Mountain. The most convenient and the most expensive.

Snowmass Village

Best for: families and ski-in/ski-out

The base of the biggest mountain, with ski-in/ski-out condos, about 20 minutes from Aspen.

Basalt, Carbondale and Glenwood Springs

Best for: tight budgets

Valley towns 30 to 60 minutes away, with much lower prices and buses to the slopes. Glenwood has hot springs.

Where to stay

Mountain homes and cabins

Wooden homes and cabins for groups, from the valley to luxury chalets in Aspen.

Cabins near Aspen

Condos

Condos with a kitchen, the most practical way to ski Snowmass or Aspen.

Condos in Snowmass See places to stay in Basalt

Valley houses

Houses in Carbondale and Glenwood Springs, with space and better prices.

Houses in Glenwood Springs

Tip: in the search, use the "Property type" filter to see only cabins, chalets or apartments, and sort by price if you want the cheapest options.

On a budget

Aspen without luxury prices

Aspen is one of the most expensive places in the US, but the valley makes the difference.

1Stay in Basalt, Carbondale or Glenwood Springs and use the valley buses.
2Fly into Denver and drive: flights to Aspen usually cost much more.
3Avoid Christmas, New Year and March; January and April are better value.
4Buy lift tickets or a season pass well in advance.
5In summer Aspen costs a fraction of winter and the Maroon Bells are at their best.

See places to stay in Glenwood Springs See places to stay in Snowmass Village

Sources and how we made this guide

A researched guide, not visited in person: we use official sources (parks, ski areas, local tourism), maps and real routes. We do not publish our own prices or reviews: prices and reviews come live from the booking platforms. Who writes

FAQ

Where to stay in Aspen & Snowmass on a tight budget?

In Glenwood Springs or Carbondale: hotel or house. Much lower prices and buses to the slopes.

Where to stay in Aspen & Snowmass on a mid-range budget?

In Snowmass Village: condo with a kitchen. Ski from the door on the biggest mountain, for less than downtown Aspen.

Where to stay in Aspen & Snowmass for a treat?

In Downtown Aspen: hotel or home by Aspen Mountain. Restaurants, atmosphere and the gondola steps away.

Is it better to stay in Aspen or Snowmass?

Aspen for atmosphere and restaurants; Snowmass for ski-in/ski-out and families, at somewhat lower prices.

Where to stay cheaply near Aspen?

In Basalt, Carbondale or Glenwood Springs, with valley buses to the slopes.

How do you get to Aspen?

Fly into Aspen airport, or fly into Denver and drive about 3 hr 30 min to 4 hours.

When is it cheapest?

In January and April for skiing, and in summer.

Aspen & Snowmass

See by budget

See prices