Planning a trip to Aspen in 2027? Here’s what you need to know about getting there while ASE is closed for its historic modernization project.
If you’ve been following news about the Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (ASE), you already know that big changes are coming. The airport is undergoing a long-awaited, voter-approved modernization, and that means a full runway closure. ASE will close on Sunday, April 4, 2027, at 11 p.m., and reopen on Friday, November 19, 2027, at 7 p.m., for runway safety improvements. No commercial or general aviation flights operate during that window, and nobody can enter the terminal. The official airport modernization page should remain the main source for closure updates, timeline changes, and project details.
That covers the tail end of ski season and the entire summer. For visitors planning trips to Aspen during this window, the question is simple: Which airport do I fly into instead, and how do I get to Aspen from there?
The closure is part of a larger, phased Airport Modernization Program estimated at $575 million. The project’s centerpiece is a new passenger terminal, with the runway reconstruction and shift expected to be completed by November 2027. The airport is expected to reopen with the new terminal completed by 2029. This is a significant, long-term investment in Aspen’s future as a world-class destination, but travelers need a plan in the meantime.
While ASE remains closed, these airports will serve as the closest alternatives. The table compares them side by side, with driving times to Aspen and to Snowmass Village.
| Airport | Airport type | Drive to Aspen | Drive to Snowmass Village |
| Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE) | Commercial airport with regular airline service | About 1.5 hours (70 miles) | About 1 hour 15 minutes |
| Rifle Garfield County Airport (RIL) | Private and general aviation only | About 1 hour 15 minutes (61 miles) | About 1 hour |
| Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT) | Commercial regional airport with regular airline service | About 2 hours (125 miles) | Just under 2 hours |
| Denver International Airport (DEN) | Major commercial hub with domestic and international flights | About 3.5 to 4 hours (220 miles) | About 3.5 hours |
Driving times are estimates for dry roads and normal traffic. RIL serves private and general aviation flights only, so commercial passengers book EGE, GJT, or DEN.
Here is what to know about each airport, starting with the closest commercial option.
Eagle County Regional Airport in Gypsum, CO, is widely considered the best commercial alternative to ASE. It’s the closest airport with scheduled airline service and offers a straightforward, scenic drive along I-70 and CO-82 into Aspen. Airlines, including United and American, serve EGE with connections through Denver, Chicago, Dallas, and other major hubs. Many Aspen regulars already use EGE as their preferred backup when weather affects ASE, so it’s a tried-and-true option.
The route from EGE to Aspen is well-maintained year-round, though winter travelers should always check road conditions on CO-82 before departing. From EGE, you can rent a car, join a commercial shuttle to Aspen and Snowmass, or book a private car.
Rifle Garfield County Airport is the closest airport to Aspen by distance. It will be available for general aviation flights throughout the 2027 closure, making it the natural choice for those traveling by private aircraft. The drive to Aspen follows I-70 E and CO-82 through some of Colorado’s most striking canyon scenery, and at just over an hour, it’s the shortest transfer of the four options covered here.
Rifle is a small, no-frills airport, and ground transportation options reflect that. There are no public transit connections and no meaningful on-site infrastructure for onward travel. Rifle is a smaller general aviation airport, so visitors shouldn’t assume the same ground options available at a major commercial airport. If you’re arriving by private aircraft, arrange your ground pickup before landing.
Grand Junction Regional Airport is a solid choice for travelers who find better fares or more convenient routing than EGE offers. American, United, and Delta serve it, with connections to major hubs, and as a smaller regional airport, it tends to feel less congested and more manageable than larger facilities.
The drive from Grand Junction to Aspen is one of Colorado’s more dramatic drives. It’s genuinely spectacular, but it also demands respect: the canyon is prone to rockfall closures, flash flooding, and sudden weather changes, and CO-82 into Aspen adds its own mountain-road considerations. For that reason, the two-hour journey from Grand Junction is one where a professional chauffeur familiar with the route is a practical choice.
Denver International is the major hub for travelers coming from across the U.S. and internationally. While the drive is significantly longer, DEN offers unmatched flight availability, competitive pricing, and connections from virtually every major city worldwide. Driving to Aspen from Denver is a scenic trip, about 4 hours in winter, via I-70 West to Glenwood Springs and then CO Highway 82 East to Aspen.
In summer, the drive over Independence Pass from the Twin Lakes side is one of Colorado’s great road trip experiences, though the pass is only open roughly late May through late October, weather permitting. Handing the drive to a professional local driver matters most for international visitors arriving after a long transatlantic or transcontinental flight.
Your flight home leaves from one of these four airports, so start with your ticket and work backward to your hotel departure time. Four checkpoints set that time.
Count back from your takeoff through those four checkpoints to find your departure time from the hotel. Send us your flight details and hotel name, and our team works out that departure time with you.
