The towns of Carbondale and Basalt, CO are located in the Roaring Fork Valley, more famously known for a little place called Aspen and the Maroon Bells. The entire valley is a destination and many of the reasons that make it appealing to visit also make it somewhat complicated to get here. Our little town of Carbondale is in-between Aspen and Vail – in the heart of the Rocky Mountains – and in the middle of the White River National Forest.
The wedding weekend festivities will be occurring in two adjacent towns – Carbondale and Basalt. It takes about 15-20 minutes to get between the two, depending on the time of day and traffic (Kristin does this commute for work). The wedding ceremony and reception will be taking place in Basalt, in a neighborhood named Willits.
Guests may want to consider traveling here at day or two early as it can be common for some hiccup to happen (a flight delay or cancellation, I-70 closure, a need to take a long detour…etc.) that could cause a delay in your arrival to the Roaring Fork Valley.
Flying
There are a few airports to consider when planning your trip out to Colorado, since prices can vary widely. We suggest using Google Flights to find the best options. We are happy to provide any advice and insights into your trip planning. Typically the farther the airport, the less expensive the tickets. However be sure to factor in the drive time and car rental costs – sometimes this can dramatically level out different travel options.
DEN – Denver International Airport (aka DIA) | 3.75+ hours from Basalt | Least expensive ticket
Typically this is the least expensive airport to fly into, with non-stop options from many places, including as BDL, BOS, DET, and ORD. Denver is also one of the Top 5 busiest airports in the United States. It is 3.5+ hours away, in what we like to call “civilization.” The drive from DIA will take you through the Rocky Mountains, which is incredibly scenic, however there is a chance of delays due to traffic, weather or accidents. There are several car rental options available. A light rail connects the airport to downtown Denver at Union Station, where public transit options are available. Carriers: Most airlines fly here, and DEN is a hub for both United and Southwest.
ASE – Aspen/Pitkin County Airport | 23 minutes from Basalt | Most expensive ticket
This is the closest and likely the most expensive option. It is 23 minutes by car, and 36 minutes on public transit to Basalt. Most flights are via Denver (DEN) or Chicago (ORD). Rental cars are available, with limited options. This is a small airport with six gates. Due to its location in the mountains, if there is inclement weather (snow, winds above 20 mph, low visibility), the airport will close and flights will be redirected or canceled. Carriers: United, American and Delta fly here.
EGE – Eagle Vail (Eagle County Regional Airport) | 1 hour from Basalt
This is another close, but pricier option. It is just under an hour by car, and will require a drive on I-70 through the scenic Glenwood Canyon, which sometimes experiences road closures. Rental cars are available, with limited options. Most flights are via DEN, but a few direct flights exist from major hubs. Similar to ASE, it is a small airport with eight gates. When compared to Aspen, Eagle Vail is far less likely to have weather-related flight issues and cancellations, and is a great alternative if an Aspen flight is canceled. Carriers: United, American and Delta fly here.
GJT – Grand Junction Regional Airport | 1 hour, 50 minutes from Basalt
This can sometimes be an affordable alternative, sometimes not; however it is always worth checking (e.g. For our 2023 trip to Puerto Rico, it was less expensive to fly out of Grand Junction than Denver). It is just under 2 hours by car to Basalt. Rental cars are available. This is a small regional airport with six gates. Grand Junction and the Western Slope area are more desert-like, meaning that the drive is straightforward with no mountain passes involved, and less of a chance of weather-related issues. Carriers: United, American, Allegiant and Breeze fly here.
Getting around – Transportation options after flying in
By car
The easiest way to get to here and around town is by car. That said, we are fortunate to have a good public transit system – more below.
By public/mass transit
From DIA to Denver: A light rail connects the airport to downtown Denver (Union Station), taking about 40 minutes.
From Denver to the Roaring Fork Valley: It is possible to take the state-run bus service Bustang from Denver Union Station to the Glenwood Springs stop (West Line, headed Westbound towards Grand Junction). This is similar to Greyhound or Peter Pan, but much, much nicer. It is not the fastest option, but it will get you here for $28/one way. There is also Amtrack’s California Zephyr train which takes a scenic trip through the mountains. It’s timetable is woefully inaccurate, so do not be under a time crunch to take it, because it may be extremely late. This is a better option for those who want to stay a few extra days and make this a bigger trip.
Getting around the valley: The Roaring Fork Valley is home to an amazing public transit system named RFTA – Roaring Fork Transit Association (“raft-ah”). It is the largest rural transit system in the U.S., with free service within the Aspen and Snowmass area. You easily hop a bus to get to each of the towns in the area, including Aspen and Snowmass. It is inexpensive, provides frequent service and is a great reliable option to get around the valley without worrying about parking or if you want to have an adult beverage or two. If you land at ASE, it is possible to go by bus to Basalt and Carbondale for a few dollars. If you take the Bustang to Glenwood Springs, you can easily transfer to a different bus that will take you to Basalt and Carbondale. Many of the buses are the nicer over-the-road coaches (As a former transit planner, Jared can tell you all about each bus type). Download the app Transit to find routes and bus times. The RFTA app can be used to purchase mobile fares.
Rideshare
There is incredibly limited availability of UBER and LYFT (honestly there are probably just a few people in the valley that do it regularly). Do not rely on this as a main transportation option.
Taxis
Few taxi services exist in the valley. Similar to ride shares, taxis are limited and can be very expensive. This is not a recommended transportation option. Since we are near Aspen, there are many more black car options.