Sixty-eight miles up the valley from EGE. The shortest drive into Aspen from any airport you can reliably fly into.
Distance
68 miles, I-70 west then CO-82 up the valley
Drive time
About an hour and a half, longer in snow
Rate
$600 door to door, plus the 20% driver gratuity
The car
Seats six, with a roof basket for ski bags
Why Eagle is the shorter way in
Aspen has its own airport, and when the weather cooperates nothing beats it. Eagle is the one most people never think to check.
It sits 68 miles up the valley, about an hour and a half of driving. Denver sits 200 miles out, about four hours. Same skis, same car, two and a half hours of difference.
Eagle carries 16 non-stop destinations through the winter and runs year-round service to Denver, so for a lot of itineraries the connection is already there. Worth a look before you default to DEN.
Schematic, not to scale. Glenwood Canyon is the one stretch that can close the route. When it does, the way around goes north through Rifle, Craig and Steamboat and adds at least three hours. Independence Pass and Cottonwood Pass are gated in winter and never serve as the detour.
The one thing that closes it
Most of this drive is quiet. The exception is Glenwood Canyon.
I-70 threads the canyon between Dotsero and Glenwood Springs, and it is rockslide country. Closures come without much warning, sometimes for hours and occasionally for far longer. In 2021 mudslides took the canyon out for weeks.
There is no short way around. The detour climbs north through Rifle, Craig and Steamboat and adds three hours at minimum. Independence Pass is gated from late October until the Thursday before Memorial Day, and Cottonwood Pass is the same story, so neither one helps.
CDOT posts live canyon status at cotrip.org. On a bad day it is the first thing to check.
What it costs
$600 door to door, with a 20% driver gratuity added, agreed before you ride.
Winter storm conditions can affect that rate. When they do, dispatch re-quotes it before you book, not on the day.
Payment is by credit or debit card, Apple Pay, Venmo, Zelle, or cash.
Cancellation is free up to 48 hours before pickup, minus processing fees. Inside 48 hours it is not refundable. Wait time runs at $30 per 15 minutes after a 15-minute grace period.
Six seats, ski bags on the roof, one price. See inside the car, or read the Denver run if that is the flight you ended up with.
Questions
Common questions
How long is the drive from Eagle airport to Aspen?
About an hour and a half for the 68 miles. The route runs west on I-70 through Glenwood Canyon to Glenwood Springs, then south-east on CO-82 through Carbondale and Basalt into Aspen. Snow and canyon traffic add to it.
How much is a car from Eagle airport to Aspen?
The base rate is $600 door to door, with a 20% driver gratuity added. Winter storm conditions can affect that rate, and dispatch quotes it before you book rather than after you ride.
How do we pay for the ride?
Credit or debit card, Apple Pay, Venmo, Zelle, or cash. Most guests use a card. The rate is agreed before pickup with the gratuity included, so nothing is added on arrival.
Should I fly into Eagle or Denver for Aspen?
Eagle is 68 miles from Aspen and Denver is about 200. That is roughly an hour and a half of driving against four, and $600 against $1,250. Eagle carries 16 non-stop destinations in winter plus year-round Denver service, so the connection often exists. Denver has far more flights, which is what makes it the fallback when Eagle has nothing that day.
What happens if Glenwood Canyon closes?
The canyon is the one stretch of this route that can shut. Rockslides and mudslides close I-70 between Dotsero and Glenwood Springs, sometimes for hours and occasionally for far longer. The way around runs north through Rifle, Craig and Steamboat and adds at least three hours. Independence Pass and Cottonwood Pass are gated through the winter and never serve as the detour. CDOT posts live status at cotrip.org.
Will our skis and luggage fit?
The car seats six and takes three to four checked bags and three to four carry-ons inside. Ski bags go in the roof basket, so a full car does not mean gear on laps.
Get a Quote
Book the Eagle run.
Send your flight number and the date. Dispatch tracks the arrival and confirms by email. Add your group size and gear so the car leaves already set up for it.
