Getting around · Buses and shuttles
Aspen without a car
Most visitors don't need a car in Aspen. The valley's buses are frequent and many are free. What they cover, and where they don't.
Most visitors don't need a car in Aspen. The valley's buses are frequent and many are free. What they cover, and where they don't.
Aspen is one of the few American resorts where a car is optional. RFTA's buses between Aspen and Snowmass are free, the skier shuttles linking all four mountains are free in winter, and the in-town routes cost nothing. Parking downtown is scarce and paid. The gaps are late nights, luggage and anywhere off a bus line.
Route and fare information is from the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA), checked September 2026. Seasonal routes and frequencies change each winter; RFTA publishes the winter schedule before the season.
Paul Montiel · Aspen · Updated September 2026
Buses aren't built for four ski bags and a family. The airport run, and anything from Denver or Eagle, is a private transfer.
After dinner, and especially on New Year's Eve and X Games nights, a car held for the evening is the reliable way home.
Homes up Red Mountain, Starwood or Owl Creek, and trailheads away from the routes, need a car or driver.
RFTA takes pets only in a carrier (service animals excepted), so a larger dog means a car.
Carrying skis on the bus every morning gets old. Having rentals delivered and stored at the house removes the daily haul.
Usually not. Buses between Aspen and Snowmass and between the four ski mountains are free, and most of town is walkable. A car or driver is useful for airports, late nights and homes off the bus lines.
Yes. RFTA's Snowmass Aspen route is fare-free.
In winter, RFTA's fare-free 4 Mountain Connector and skier shuttles link Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass.
Only in a carrier. RFTA allows service animals, or pets that fit and stay in a carrier.
Most in-valley routes are free. Fared routes such as VelociRFTA to Glenwood Springs take mobile tickets, stored-value cards or cash.
We fill the gaps: the airport run with the bags, a driver for the evening, rentals delivered to the house, and groceries stocked so nobody carries them on the bus.
We watch the flight from the moment it leaves. If it's on time, a driver is waiting and the fire is lit when you walk in. If it diverts to Eagle or cancels, the car, the bags and the house all move with it, and you hear from us before you have to ask.
A car and driver on call for dinner and the night out, so nobody hunts for a taxi at midnight.
Fitted at the residence, not in a shop queue.
The kitchen stocked to your list before you land.
RFTA: routes · RFTA: fares and passes · RFTA: FAQ (pets) — checked September 28, 2026.
We'll tell you honestly whether you need a car, and arrange the transfers and evening driver where the buses stop short.
Plan getting around