ASPEN MOMENTS · SHUTTLE SERVICE
Landing at Denver International with Aspen as the goal leaves three choices on the ground: a shared shuttle, a private car or the bus. All three cover the same 220 miles of I-70 and Highway 82. The difference is whose schedule you're on, how many stops you make and what happens to your skis. Here's how they compare, and what to expect on the road.
Shared shuttle vs private car vs bus
| Shared shuttle | Private car | Bustang + RFTA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who rides with you | Other travelers | Only your group | Public bus riders |
| When it leaves | On the operator's schedule; it may wait for other flights | When you land; we track your flight | On the Bustang timetable, from Denver Union Station |
| Stops | Other riders' drop-offs | Only the ones you ask for | Every scheduled stop, and a change in Glenwood Springs |
| Time to Aspen | Longer than a private car | 3h45–4h15 from DEN in good conditions | About 4 h to Glenwood and about 1 h to Aspen, plus the train from DEN |
| Door to door | Depends on the operator | Yes | No |
| Skis & luggage | Operator's limits | Room for your group's bags and skis | Luggage bays on Bustang |
| How you pay | Per seat | Per vehicle, so it shares well across a group | $28 adult on Bustang (Denver–Glenwood), plus the RFTA fare |
Shared shuttles from DEN
Several companies run shared vans from DEN into the mountains. Epic Mountain Express lists Aspen and Snowmass, with shared rides, private SUVs for up to 5 and charter vans for 10 to 12. A shared van fills with travelers bound for different lodges, so the departure can wait on other arrivals and the drop-offs add time at the end. Each operator tells you where to meet at DEN when you book; for ski-season dates, book early.
Private car from DEN
A private car is the shuttle without the sharing. Your driver tracks your flight, meets you at baggage claim with a name sign, loads bags, skis and car seats, and leaves when you're ready. Stops happen when you want them: groceries, coffee, a stretch in Glenwood Springs.
Because a private car is priced per vehicle rather than per seat, it shares well across a family or a group of friends, and you get your own schedule with it: a 5 am departure or a midnight arrival, your music, your pace.
The bus: Bustang and RFTA
CDOT's Bustang West Line leaves from Denver Union Station and reaches West Glenwood Springs in about 4 hours, $28 one way for an adult, with luggage bays under the bus. From Glenwood, RFTA's VelociRFTA bus reaches Aspen in about an hour. From the airport, take RTD's A Line train to Union Station first. It's the cheapest way, and the longest.
The Glenwood Canyon factor
Every option on this page runs through Glenwood Canyon: about 12 miles of I-70 between sheer rock walls, the Colorado River below. It's one of the most spectacular stretches of highway in the country, and a single corridor with no exit once you're in it. An accident or a rockslide ahead means you wait, sometimes 30 minutes, sometimes hours.
The answer is to know before you go in. Experienced drivers check COtrip before the canyon and, if it's closed, choose early between waiting and CDOT's long northern detour through Kremmling and Rifle. A private driver makes that call with your group; a shared van or a bus follows its own plan.
Winter and summer on the drive
In winter, travel time depends on the road: snow, traffic through the canyon, Vail Pass and the climb to the Eisenhower Tunnel. A clear winter day runs close to 4 hours; a storm can add 1 to 2 hours or more, so build that into your plans. Colorado's traction law applies on I-70 when CDOT turns it on.
In summer, when Independence Pass is open, a private car can take Highway 82 over the Continental Divide instead, past Twin Lakes and the 12,095-foot summit. Ask for it when you book. In winter, the canyon itself is the show: snow on the rock walls and the river running dark below.
Door to door, on your schedule
If you want to land, walk to baggage claim and ride straight to your door, book a private car from Denver to Aspen. Still weighing the drive, the bus or a flight? See how to get to Aspen from Denver.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a shuttle from Denver airport to Aspen?
Yes. Shared shuttle companies such as Epic Mountain Express run from DEN to Aspen and Snowmass, and private cars like ours go door to door. There's also the bus: Bustang from Denver Union Station to Glenwood Springs, then RFTA to Aspen.
How long does the shuttle from Denver airport to Aspen take?
The drive is about 3 hours 45 minutes to 4 hours 15 minutes in good conditions. A shared shuttle takes longer because it waits for other passengers and makes their drop-offs; the bus takes 5 hours or more.
Is a private car better than a shared shuttle?
It leaves when you land, stops only where you ask and drops you at your door. Because it's priced per vehicle, it shares well across a family or group.
Where do I meet my ride at DEN?
With Aspen Moments, at baggage claim: your driver waits with a name sign. Shared shuttle companies tell you their meeting point when you book.
Can I bring skis and snowboards?
Yes. In a private car your driver loads them for you; tell us your gear when you book so we match the vehicle. Shared shuttles and buses set their own luggage limits.
Is there a bus from Denver to Aspen?
Not a direct one. Take Bustang's West Line from Denver Union Station to Glenwood Springs ($28 one way for an adult, about 4 hours), then RFTA's VelociRFTA bus to Aspen, about an hour.
What if Glenwood Canyon is closed?
Every ground option uses I-70 through the canyon. Check COtrip before you go; when it's closed, you wait or take CDOT's long detour north through Kremmling and Rifle. A private driver decides that with you.