Ditch the Car: Experience Aspen's Best by Foot, Bike, and Bus
In Aspen, traveling car-free is convenient, free, and sustainable.
Avoid the unnecessary stress of parking, traffic, and hefty gas prices by walking, riding a bike, or hopping on a local shuttle. Check out our guide to alternative transportation to minimize your carbon footprint and maximize your experience.
Walking
Pedestrian-friendly streets and the beautiful backdrop of Aspen Mountain makes walking an easy and scenic way to get around town. Many of Aspen’s attractions, shops, and restaurants are within walking distance of each other. Wander between them and you may discover a place you would've otherwise missed.
For those looking for more, the Rio Grande Trail, a mostly paved riverside path, and the Hunter Creek Trail, a popular hiking and mountain biking trail, are located a short distance from downtown. Besides hiking, Aspen offers a variety of walking tours that delve into its rich history as a silver mining town.
Bike Rentals and Paths
Aspen’s compact size and scenic surroundings make it a perfect place to explore by bike. Numerous bike rental shops offer a variety of bikes ranging from mountain bikes to electric bikes to cruisers.
WE-cycle, Aspen’s bike-share program, offers a convenient way to zip around town. With numerous stations located throughout Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley, WE-cycle makes it easy to hop on a bike for short trips. Best of all, the first 30 minutes of each ride are free, encouraging quick, eco-friendly commutes.
Beyond going from place to place, biking is a great way to get outside and enjoy the beautiful scenery. The Rio Grande Trail, a bike path, and Castle Creek and Maroon Creek Road, which offer spectacular mountain views, are exceptional road and e-biking routes. As a Gold-Level Ride Center, Aspen also offers top-notch mountain biking terrain for a range of abilities.
Biking isn’t just a summertime activity. When snow covers the ground, hop on a fat bike. With thicker tires, fat bikes are more stable on packed snow, making them an enjoyable winter adventure or way to get around town.
Public Transportation
Aspen boasts an efficient and extensive public transportation system that makes getting around town and to nearby attractions simple and stress-free.
RFTA (Roaring Fork Transportation Authority) offers frequent, clean, and FREE transportation to and from the airport, downtown, Woody Creek, the Intercept Lot, and Snowmass Village. RFTA has a 70-mile service region, connecting all the way from Aspen to Rifle. RFTA also operates the shuttles that run to and from the Maroon Bells during the summer. The high-frequency routes ensure minimal wait times, and buses are equipped with bike racks for cyclists. During the winter, RFTA offers free skier shuttles to all four mountains.
Park & Ride: Park for free at the Park & Ride lots in each location listed below, and catch a RFTA bus to Aspen (fares apply for routes that are outside of the free service zone). New this summer - RFTA now offers direct transportation between Brush Creek Intercept Lot and key stops along Castle Creek and Maroon Creek Road, including Aspen Highlands, the pick up location for the shuttle to the Maroon Bells.
Brush Creek Intercept lot (Snowmass)
Basalt
El Jebel
Carbondale
Glenwood Springs
In addition to the RFTA shuttles that provide transportation within downtown Aspen, The Downtowner uses electric vehicles to offer free, on-demand rides within the Aspen service area. Download the Downtowner app to request a ride.
Discover More
Embracing a car-free lifestyle in Aspen not only contributes to preserving the area’s natural beauty but also enhances your travel experience. By choosing public transportation, biking, walking, and ride-sharing, you can enjoy a stress-free and eco-friendly visit.
Explore Our Local Transportation Guide
Plus, don't forget to sign up for our e-newsletter and follow us @AspenCo for more tips.
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