Vail and Aspen Snowmass are two of the most popular ski resorts in Colorado, but which is the best for you? In this article I’ll compare these resorts directly in the following categories:
- Skiable Terrain
- Ski Level Suitability
- Snow Quality and Weather
- Villages and Bases
- On-Mountain Dining
- Accommodation
- Lift Ticket and Rental Prices
- Location and Travel Times
- Ski School
- Ski Season Dates
Vail vs Aspen Overview
Aspen Snowmass is a slightly larger resort which consists of four mountains compared to Vail which has a very large single mountain. Vail is better for beginners, whereas Aspen Snowmass is more challenging. Vail is more expensive, has a livelier village and is easier to get to from Denver.
| Consideration | Best Resort |
| Largest Resort | Aspen Snowmass |
| For Beginners | Vail |
| For Intermediates | Vail |
| For Experts | Aspen Snowmass |
| Least Crowded | Aspen Snowmass |
| Liveliest Village | Vail |
| On-Mountain Dining | Aspen Snowmass |
| Accommodation | Vail |
| Easiest to Travel To | Vail |
| Parking | Aspen Snowmass |
| Least Expensive | Aspen Snowmass |
Skiable Terrain
Vail is a huge ski resort with one mountain, and it’s actually the third largest single-mountain in the entire U.S. Aspen Snowmass on the other hand is made up of 4 mountains (Aspen, Snowmass, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk).
Snowmass is the largest mountain in the Aspen-Snowmass resort with 3332 acres of skiable terrain (60% of the total acreage), followed by Aspen Highlands with 1040 acres, Aspen with 675 acres and Buttermilk with 470 acres. Check out this article for a comparison between Aspen and Snowmass mountain.
Here is a table comparing the mountain statistics for each resort.
The Aspen Snowmass statistics are combined for all four mountains in the resort for skiable acreage, total runs, lifts and terrain parks. The highest value is given for vertical drop, base/ summit elevation which is taken from Snowmass mountain.
| Statistic | Vail | Aspen Snowmass |
| Skiable Terrain | 5,289 acres | 5,517 acres |
| Vertical Drop | 3,450 ft | 4,406 ft |
| Base Elevation | 8,120 ft | 8104 ft |
| Summit Elevation | 11,570 ft | 12,510 ft |
| Total Runs | 195 | 332 |
| Longest Run | 6.4 km | 8.5 km |
| Terrain Parks | 2 | 3 |
| Lifts | 31 | 42 |
| Lift Operating Hours | 9:00 – 3:30 | 9:00 – 3:30 |
| Snowboarding Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Night Skiing Available | No | Yes |
Ski Level Suitability
For Beginners
For beginner skiers and snowboarders, Vail is a better resort compared to Aspen Snowmass.
On Vail, 18% of the total trails are “green circle”. It’s not the most beginner-friendly mountain in the USA, but it is definitely one of the better options in Colorado for those learning to ski.
Aspen mountain does not have any green circle runs at all, and only 6% of the trails are for beginners on Snowmass, and 18% on the smaller mountain Aspen Highlands. If you are a beginner and plan to go to Aspen Resort, you’ll prefer Buttermilk mountain, which although very small, has a 25% share of green circle runs.
For Intermediates
For intermediate-level skiers and snowboarders looking for plenty of “blue square” terrain, it’s really tough to split these two resorts and there’s plenty of terrain at either.
On the one hand, Aspen Snowmass has more “blue square” runs, however the lack of “green circle” runs can make things more difficult for those who are just making the transition. If you head to Snowmass though you’ll still have plenty of options. Vail is great for intermediates, although has a smaller share of blue square trails in comparison.
For Experts
Vail has a higher percentage of black diamond and double black diamond runs compared to Aspen Snowmass, however both resorts are excellent for advanced skiers and snowboarders looking for a challenge.
I’d give the slight edge to Aspen Snowmass though, as it has a larger vertical drop and if you don’t want any beginners in your way, you’ll really like Aspen mountain as it is made up entirely of intermediate and expert trails. The ability levels are more varied on Vail as it is a single-mountain resort.
Snow Quality and Weather
The snow quality is great at both Vail and Aspen, and they are both reliable. Both resorts get over 300″ of snowfall annually, and they have a lot of north-facing slopes and a high elevation which keeps the quality of the snow high throughout the season.
Here is a table showing the average snow depth (combined for base and summit) and snowfall per month for both locations.
| Month | Snow Depth Vail | Snow Depth Aspen | Snowfall Vail | Snowfall Aspen |
| November | 19″ | 35″ | 24″ | 22″ |
| December | 30″ | 30″ | 56″ | 65″ |
| January | 44″ | 43″ | 50″ | 53″ |
| February | 56″ | 54″ | 49″ | 60″ |
| March | 62″ | 80″ | 45″ | 66″ |
| April | 51″ | 58″ | 24″ | 32″ |
The climate is pretty similar in Vail and Aspen and you can expect similar temperatures in both resorts as the elevations are almost the same at the base. Here is a table showing the average temperature by month.
| Month | Temperature Vail | Temperature Aspen |
| November | -7.2°C (19°F) | -6.0°C (21.2°F) |
| December | -11.9°C (10.5°F) | -10.4°C (13.4°F) |
| January | -11.1°C (12°F) | -9.6°C (14.7°F) |
| February | -9.8°C (14.4°F) | -8.4°C (16.8°F) |
| March | -5.7°C (21.8°F) | -4.3°C (24.3°F) |
| April | -1.9°C (28.5°F) | -0.6°C (31°F) |
Villages and Bases
Vail is a huge resort which has a European vibe and two main villages: Vail Village and Lionshead Village. It has a bustling atmosphere with over 80 dining locations, 3 spas and plenty of shops. You are also only around 20 minutes away from Beaver Creek resort if you’re looking for even more to do.
If you go to Aspen Snowmass, you have the choice of basing yourself at either Aspen or Snowmass. Aspen is a lively town with great nightlife, more shops, activities restaurants so it is usually the best choice for those looking for plenty to do. Snowmass on the other hand is much quieter and more charismatic.
Aspen Snowmass tends to be less crowded compared to Vail, with it being farther from Denver, so if you prefer a quieter atmosphere, head to Aspen. With that said, both resorts are very popular so don’t expect either of them to be empty!
Aspen is a bit more upmarket and you’ll probably feel the need to get a bit more dressed up for an evening in the village compared to Vail which has a little bit more a casual feel.
Here are some YouTube video tours of each resort so you can get a feel for them.
Vail Village
Aspen Snowmass Village
On-Mountain Dining
When it comes to on-mountain dining, Aspen Snowmass offers a better experience. The main Snowmass mountain has 5 dining locations which vary from casual grab-and-go salads and pizzas, you table service restaurants. Aspen also has 3 on-mountain dining locations. Vail does have some on-mountain dining, but it’s limited to two self-service casual American-style dining locations.
Vail On-Mountain Dining
| Location | Type | Price | Cuisine |
| The Coop | Self Service | $-$$ | Casual American |
| Talon’s Deck Outdoor Grill | Self Service | $ | Classic American |
Aspen Snowmass On-Mountain Dining
| Location | Type | Price | Cuisine |
| High Alpine | Self Service | $-$$ | Grab-and-Go |
| Elk Camp | Self Service | $-$$$ | Grab-and-Go |
| Up 4 Pizza | Self Service | $-$$ | Pizza |
| Sam’s | Table Service | $$-$$$ | Italian |
| Lynn Britt Cabin | Table Service | $$$ | Modern American |
| Bonnie’s | Self/ Table Service | $-$$ | American |
| Sundeck | Self/ Table Service | $-$$ | American, Mediterranean, Asian |
| Ajax Tavern | Table Service | $$-$$$ | French, American |
Accommodation
In Vail you can stay in either of the two villages or in the ski-in-ski-out accommodation. There’s plenty of choice but it is all fairly expensive (similarly to Aspen Snowmass).
Many visitors prefer to stay in Aspen rather than Snowmass because it has more dining, shopping and nightlife in comparison to Snowmass. It’s typical to ski at either mountain during the day and then spend the evening in Aspen as there is more going on.
Average cost of accommodation for 2 adults in January per night:
- Vail: $275-$1000
- Snowmass: $275-$1000
- Aspen: $250-$1800 per night
Lift Ticket and Rental Prices
Lift tickets are cheaper at Aspen compared to Vail. Please see the table below for info.
Note: the lift ticket prices vary throughout the season. I’ve picked the same dates for a comparison (Jan-Feb) but make sure you check the resort website for exact prices for your stay. The Aspen tickets include access to all four mountains.
| Ticket Price Day Lift | Vail | Aspen |
| Adult (Weekday) | $229 | $219 |
| Child (Weekday) | $158 | $154 |
| Senior (Weekday) | $219 | $154 |
| Adult (Weekend) | $260 | $234 |
| Child (Weekend) | $179 | $169 |
| Senior (Weekend) | $250 | $169 |
| Equipment Rental (Daily) | Vail | Aspen |
| Demo Ski Package | $87 | $79 |
| Sport Ski Package | $67 | $63 |
| Helmet | $13 | $13 |
Costs are based on the most recent ski season at the time of writing and are subject to change. Based on daily rates when buying in-advance online (better value for money offers are available when booking for multiple days). Please check the resort websites for up to date prices. Prices are in US dollars.
Location and Travel Times
Aspen and Vail are both located in Colorado, with the closest major city being Denver. The resorts are roughly 1 hour and 45 minutes away from each other (drive time), with Aspen being the farthest from Denver.
If you’re travelling internationally, Vail is much easier to get to than Aspen, as it is a lot closer to Denver International Airport. If you’re taking a local flight, both are very convenient and have transfer times of less than one hour.
There is free all-day parking available in Aspen Snowmass and overnight parking costs $30/ night. Vail charges $30/ day for parking and overnight parking costs $25-$50 (depending on how close you need to be to the village).
| Airport | Drive Time to Vail | Drive Time to Aspen |
| Denver | 2 hours | 3 hours 45 mins |
| Colorado Springs | 2 hours 50 mins | 3 hours 40 mins |
| Eagle County | 40 mins | 1 hours 15 mins |
| Aspen-Piktin | 1 hour 45 mins | 10 mins |
Ski School
Ski school lessons are cheaper at Aspen Snowmass ski resort compared to Vail. Here is a table comparing the prices for the latest ski season (23/24) during mid-season.
| Lesson Type | Vail | Aspen |
| Child Group (Half Day) | $223 | N/A |
| Child Group (Full Day) | $334 | $284 |
| Adult Group (Half Day) | $207 | N/A |
| Adult Group (Full Day) | $278 | $284 |
| Private All Ages (Half Day) | $906 | $806 |
| Private All Ages (Full Day) | $1251 | $1041 |
Please check the resort websites for up to date prices. Prices are in US dollars.
Ski Season Dates
Vail typically has a longer ski season compared to Aspen, as it opens 1-2 weeks earlier and usually closes a week later. Here are the ski season dates for the last 5 years.
| Season | Vail Open | Aspen Open | Vail Close | Aspen Close |
| 22/23 | 11th Nov | 19th Nov | 23rd Apr | 23rd Apr |
| 21/22 | 12th Nov | 25th Nov | 1st May | 17th Apr |
| 20/21 | 20th Nov | 25th Nov | 18th Apr | 25th Apr |
| 19/20 | 15th Nov | 23rd Nov | 14th Mar* | 14th Mar* |
| 18/19 | 14th Nov | 22nd Nov | 21st Apr | 21st Apr |
Which Resort is Best for You?
You can’t really go wrong with either option here, unless you’re a total beginner in which case Vail is your best bet.
Vail is good if you are looking for:
- More beginner terrain
- A more bustling village atmosphere
- Short travel time from Denver
Aspen Snowmass is best if you want:
- Less crowded slopes
- More challenging terrain
- Cheaper lift, rental and lesson prices
Make sure you check out my other Colorado ski resort comparisons:
