# What to wear and pack for Aspen

> What to pack for Aspen in winter and summer: layers for 10°F mornings and 48°F July nights, town boots, sun protection at 7,908 feet, and what to leave home.

Canonical page: https://aspenprive.com/what-to-pack-for-aspen/  
Updated: 2026-09-30 · Publisher: Aspen Privé (local Aspen stay planning and concierge)

Aspen sits at **7,908 feet**. In **January, highs are about 32°F and lows near 10°F**; in **July, about 76°F by day and 48°F at night**. Pack in **layers**, bring **boots with grip for icy streets**, and take **sunscreen and sunglasses in every season**. Skis and boots are easier to have fitted at the house than to fly with.

Temperatures are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals for Aspen; altitude guidance from the CDC and Aspen Valley Health. Checked September 2026.

## December to March

- **The weather**: Highs 32–43°F, lows 10–20°F; over 26 inches of snow a month.
- **Layers**: A thermal base layer, a fleece or light down mid-layer, and a waterproof shell. Wool or synthetic, not cotton.
- **For town**: A warm coat, insulated waterproof boots with real grip, a hat and gloves. Sidewalks ice over in the evening.
- **On the mountain**: Ski jacket and pants, goggles, helmet, neck gaiter, ski socks and warm gloves or mittens. Hand warmers for single-digit mornings.
- **Evenings**: Dinner is smart-casual: good knitwear, dark jeans or trousers, clean boots. Very few places expect a jacket.
- **The house**: Swimsuit for the hot tub, slippers, and something comfortable for a night in.

## Leave the skis at home (what Aspen Privé arranges)

Rental skis and boots fitted at the house the evening you arrive, and taken away when you leave. [Ski rental delivery](https://aspenprive.com/ski-rental-delivery-aspen/).

## June to September

- **The weather**: Highs 67–76°F, lows 40–48°F; afternoon storms are common in July and August.
- **Days**: Light layers, a sun hat, hiking shoes with grip, and a light rain jacket for afternoon storms.
- **Evenings**: A jacket or sweater: a July night drops into the 40s, and the Music Festival tent and patios are outdoors.
- **September**: Fall colors, highs near 67°F and frosty mornings; bring a warmer layer.

## April, May, October and November

Anything can happen: April still brings about 21 inches of snow, and October about 10, with highs of 50–60°F on good days. Pack for both winter and spring, and waterproof shoes for melting snow.


## What people forget

- **Sun protection**: At nearly 8,000 feet the sun is strong all year, and snow reflects it. Sunscreen, lip balm with SPF and good sunglasses.
- **Moisturizer and water**: The air is very dry. A refillable bottle, lotion and saline spray help, especially the first two nights. [The first 48 hours](https://aspenprive.com/aspen-altitude-first-48-hours/).
- **Medications**: Bring prescriptions with you. If anyone has had altitude trouble before, speak to a doctor before the trip.
- **Grip**: Slip-on traction cleats for town boots on icy evenings, especially for older guests.

## What not to pack

- **Your own skis, unless you love them**: Rental delivery means nothing to carry through airports or into a car.
- **Formal wear**: Aspen dresses well but casually. Unless there's a gala or a wedding, smart-casual covers every dinner.
- **Food and basics**: Have the house stocked before you arrive instead. [Grocery stocking](https://aspenprive.com/grocery-stocking-aspen/).

## Questions

**What should I wear in Aspen in winter?**  
Layers: a thermal base layer, a fleece or light down mid-layer and a waterproof shell, plus insulated boots with grip, a hat and gloves. January lows are around 10°F.

**Is there a dress code in Aspen?**  
Aspen dresses well but casually. Smart-casual (good knitwear, dark jeans or trousers, clean boots) works for almost every dinner.

**What should I pack for Aspen in summer?**  
Light layers, a sun hat, hiking shoes, a light rain jacket for afternoon storms and a warm layer for evenings, which fall into the 40s even in July.

**Should I bring my own skis to Aspen?**  
Only if you're attached to them. Rental skis and boots can be fitted at the house the evening you arrive and collected when you leave.

**Do I need sunscreen in Aspen in winter?**  
Yes. At nearly 8,000 feet the sun is strong year-round and the snow reflects it. Sunscreen, SPF lip balm and sunglasses in every season.

## What Aspen Privé can arrange for this

Rentals fitted at the house, the kitchen stocked, the car at the airport. So there's less to carry.

- [Ski rental delivered](https://aspenprive.com/ski-rental-delivery-aspen/): Fitted at the residence, not in a shop queue.
- [Private airport transfer](https://aspenprive.com/aspen-airport-transportation/) (From $195 per vehicle): From Aspen's airport to the door in a private SUV, timed to your actual landing.
- [A driver for the evening](https://aspenprive.com/contact.html?service=evening-driver) (From $210 per hour): A car and driver on call for dinner and the night out, so nobody hunts for a taxi at midnight.
- [Denver to Aspen by private car](https://aspenprive.com/denver-to-aspen-private-car/) (From $1,650 per vehicle): Winter-equipped vehicle and driver for the four-hour drive, re-timed as roads change.

## Sources (checked September 30, 2026)

- [NOAA NCEI: 1991–2020 monthly normals, Aspen](https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00050372&format=json&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL)
- [CDC: high-altitude travel](https://www.cdc.gov/yellow-book/hcp/environmental-hazards-risks/high-altitude-travel-and-altitude-illness.html)
- [Aspen Valley Health: acclimatization guide](https://aspenvalleyhealth.org/healthy-journey/acclimatization-guide-to-high-altitude/)

## Related

- [Aspen weather by month](https://aspenprive.com/aspen-weather-by-month/): Temperatures and snow, month by month.
- [Altitude: the first 48 hours](https://aspenprive.com/aspen-altitude-first-48-hours/): How to feel well from day one.
- [What an Aspen trip costs](https://aspenprive.com/aspen-trip-cost/): Prices, line by line.

To plan or request any of this: https://aspenprive.com/plan-your-trip/ · https://aspenprive.com/contact.html