Hire Car

Exploring Aspen by Hire Car

Aspen is a tranquil small town with 6400 inhabitants in the US state of Colorado. The former mining town is one of the most popular winter sports resorts in the USA.

Here, in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, you can meet the rich and famous of Hollywood between powder snow and apres ski.

What St. Moritz is to the European, Aspen is to the American.

Skiers will be happy in the famous winter sports resort in the middle of the Rocky Mountains. But in summer, too, the sophisticated little town is a great place to relax and take long hikes through the pristine mountains.

Many charming places in the surrounding area can be easily reached by hire car. For rental and travel we have compiled a few tips.

Taking over the hire car

Many hire car customers reach Aspen via the Denver airport. There you will find numerous hire car agencies near the terminal. A regular shuttle to rental agencies runs from Jeppesen Terminal Level 5, Island 4, outside doors 505-513 (east) and 504-512 (west).

Before you decide to hire car, just make sure that your rental company is also located at the airport. If it operates its station only near the airport, it can sometimes take a long time until a shuttle takes you there. In the worst case, you may even have to take a taxi.

Booking the right car

Do as the locals do and book as large a car as possible, which will allow you to travel long distances in a relaxed manner. If you’re travelling in the mountains in winter, a four-wheel drive vehicle can serve you well.

Hire car prices

You’ll have to dig a little deeper into your pocket to hire car in Aspen or Denver. You can often get the best deals by booking well in advance of your trip and using our convenient price comparison tool.

hire car price comparison Aspen

Insuring the car properly

Even in winter, it’s easy to get into an accident on the snowy roads around Aspen with an unfamiliar hire car. Make sure you’re covered and book a car with fully comprehensive coverage with no deductible.

With liability, it is important to pay attention to the amount of coverage. It should be at least one million euros. Because if people are injured in an accident or several vehicles are involved, it quickly becomes very expensive.

age limit

At virtually all rental agencies in Aspen and Denver, you must be at least 21 years old to hire car. Drivers younger than 25 often pay an additional fee. And cars in some categories are generally only rented to drivers who are at least 25 years old.

Accessories

When you’re out and about in wintry Aspen, snow chains can serve you well. And a navigation device will make finding your hotel a lot easier.

You always have to order your accessories separately from your rental company. Make your reservation in good time so that the equipment you want is available on the day of your rental.

Free kilometers

The distances you will travel by hire car in the land of opportunity are often huge. So always book a car with all the kilometres free. This way, you can enjoy your excursions without any worries.

Bail

If your rental company, actually charges the deposit for the hire car to your card, it can sometimes take a long time for the money to be returned to your account after the car is returned.

Better book with a hire car company that just blocks the amount on your credit card. And before you travel, make sure your card’s credit line is sufficient to pay the deposit.

Sights in Aspen

Aspen Art Museum: Modern Art
A city tour could begin at the Aspen Art Museum. Changing exhibitions of modern artists delight visitors here.

Wheeler-Stallard Museum: journey into history
The Wheeler-Stallard Museum, housed in a 19th-century building, offers an exciting display on the native people of this region. Selected historic photographs, everyday objects and newspapers dating back to 1881 are available for viewing upon request. The museum itself is open Tuesday through Saturday from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

Aspen Community Theater: Perfect Entertainment
In the evening, a visit to the Aspen Community Theater is worthwhile. The lively dance performances in the musicals set the mood for the night. Check with the theater box office for the current schedule. Another fine theater in town is the Aspen 30 Theater, which also primarily performs musicals.

Aspen Mountain: Enjoy the white splendor
The real highlight of the town in winter are of course the ski slopes around. Right on the outskirts of town, lifts await skiers. The town’s local mountain alone, Aspen Mountain, has eight lifts and 76 runs that total 50 kilometres in length.

After a day of sports, you’ll then have the opportunity to stroll the pretty streets of the town, lined with red brick Victorian houses, and fill your shopping bags in fine boutiques. There’s a good chance you’ll bump into an American movie star while strolling. Aspen is the “hottest” winter sports resort in the United States.

Find a good restaurant

Lovers of perfect steaks should visit Jimmy’s American Bar & Restaurant. Every day from 5:30 p.m., they dine here in a casual setting. The bar opens as early as 4:30pm.

Find a good hotel

As a destination for the jet set, Aspen has excellent hotels. Reserve your room at The Innsbruck. The name says it all. An Alpine-style home awaits you. The cozy rooms offer plenty of comfort, and you can end your vacation day in the hot outdoor whirlpool or by the crackling fireplace.

A worthwhile destination in the area

Denver: Vibrant Metropolis

Direct the hire car down to the prairie and visit Denver. The 319 kilometres will take you just under four hours. The capital of Colorado is a vibrant metropolis with a population of around 600,000. In Denver you can learn a lot about the history of this state at the History Colorado Center. Or visit the Denver Art Museum, where works of art from North American Indian tribes are on display.

Did you know that one-third of the cowboys who conquered the Wild West were black? You can learn more about it at the Black American West Museum. Then, to finish your visit, head to Larimer Square, lined with historic homes, and shop to your heart’s content in the small boutiques.

On the drive back to Aspen, you can already plan which destination you would like to visit next with the hire car.

Suggestion for a trip by hire car

Pikes Peak: Breathtaking mountain scenery

A trip by hire car could start at Pikes Peak. It will take you about four and a half hours to get there. At 4,301 meters high, Pikes Peak offers you the opportunity to drive your hire car all the way to the top and enjoy the spectacular views of the surrounding area. If you want to save yourself the strenuous drive, you can also take the cog railway.

Colorado Springs: Discovering Latin American Art

The next destination on the trip is Colorado Springs, which you can reach in just over half an hour. Overlooking the breathtaking Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs offers a diverse city life with numerous museums in an enchanting natural setting. The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center in particular captivates visitors with a wide variety of art exhibitions.

Cripple Creek: metropolis of fortune seekers

Before you travel back to Aspen in your hire car, you can stop off in Cripple Creek. You’ll be there in about an hour. Cripple Creek became famous at the time of the gold rush at the end of the 19th century, and even today, guests can feel like they’re in the Wild West in the downtown area with its historic buildings. Although the gold veins have now dried up, numerous soldiers of fortune are still drawn to the town.

Because since gambling was legalized in the year in 1991, visitors to the city have been able to hunt for a quick buck in the casinos to their heart’s content. A drive of about four and a half hours now separates you from Aspen, where you can plan your next excursions by hire car.

Conclusion

It’s not just skiing fans who will be happy in Aspen. Around the town there are numerous charming destinations, all of which can be easily reached by car. Our practical price comparison helps to find a suitable car at favourable conditions.

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