Aspen vs. Snowmass, Colorado: Why I preferred the cheapest ski town

• I spent two nights in Snowmass, a ski town in Colorado.
• Snowmass is often mentioned in conjunction with its popular neighbor, Aspen.
• I have visited both and would book future trips to Snowmass.

It’s hard to pin down what makes the Colorado ski town of Snowmass stand out.

I could argue that it is the mountain itself. As one of the state’s largest ski mountains, people spend days on the slopes, hitting all kinds of terrain and avoiding a single crowd.

I can say it’s the community. It’s impossible to avoid a friendly conversation with the waiter or the couple sitting next to you sipping après margaritas.

Maybe it’s the casual nature of the city. Sure, Snowmass has high-end restaurants and luxury lodges, but no one bats an eye if you’re eating $88 sashimi in Crocs and sweatpants.

Sara Stookey Sanchez, Snowmass’ public relations manager, told me it comes down to a “vibe.”

“What I think makes us so special, and it’s really a terrible response, but it’s an atmosphere,” she said. “The community lives and breathes snow.”

With Snowmass sitting just 15 minutes from Aspen, the town is rarely mentioned without reference to its glitzy neighbor. But after spending three days in Snowmass, I found out what Stookey Sanchez meant.

Although both towns have their appeal, I’ll stick to Snowmass for future ski trips.

When it comes to skiing, Snowmass is a winner

Colorado is full of ski towns, and over the past four winters, I’ve checked more than a dozen off my list.

I headed to Vail, where I felt transported to Europe. As a snowboarder living in Denver, Winter Park and Breckenridge have become favorites thanks to their proximity to the city. During my first winter in Colorado, I spent three nights exploring Aspen, keeping my eyes open for celebrities.

Each destination has its highlights, but in terms of actual Mt., Snowmass stands out.

Snowmass is one of four mountains that make up the Aspen Snowmass Ski Resort. The other three include Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, and Buttermilk.

The snowpack was ideal for me, an intermediate snowshoer. There was plenty of terrain to explore and for a full day, I rarely skied a piste. Instead, I slogged through empty lift lines and carved cool trails through the mountain.

Plus, the mountain seemed suitable for all experience levels. There are terrain parks, bunny hills and lots of dirt tracks.

Meanwhile, I didn’t even get to snowboard during my trip to Aspen. While Aspen is known as a popular ski town, Aspen Mountain’s terrain is limited to intermediate and expert skiers who can hit the slopes. When I visited a few years ago, I was uncomfortable on the mountain. Even today, I’m sure I could get down the mountain, but I’m not sure I’d enjoy it.

During my three-day stay, I heard this from others. Skiers and snowboarders raved about Snowmass, and many mentioned that even though they stayed in Aspen, they came to Snowmass every day to ski.

While Aspen has the reputation, Snowmass has the scale

The town of Snowmass is divided into two areas: Snowmass Base and Snowmass Mall. Snowmass Base Village is much more modern, with great dining options, an ice rink, and luxury condos and hotels. There is also the Snowmass Mall, home to retail, dining and more lodging.

Snowmass’ main appeal – at least for me – is its ski-in and ski-out accommodations. More than 14 of the city’s hotels and apartments have direct access to elevators. For example, I spent two nights at Viceroy Snowmass, where the lift line was less than a five-minute walk from my hotel room. For me, being able to get on the mountain easily is a huge plus when it comes to a ski trip.

Aspen, on the other hand, has far fewer ski-in and ski-out options. A quick Internet search turns up just six, including The Little Nell, where a night during the winter rarely costs less than $2,500.

There are several areas where Aspen excels. Although luxurious, the city itself feels more charming. Quirky buildings fill the city center and the town’s rich mining history is hard to ignore as you walk between the Prada and Valentino stores. Art galleries are popping up in town, and a night at Aspen’s Belly Up concert venue is something you won’t find in Snowmass.

Plus, the food options in Aspen are unmatched. The town has more restaurants than Snowmass, including Michelin-starred options like Bosq.

With Aspen’s exclusive reputation comes a higher price. Aspen is considered one of the most expensive ski towns in the US. In a 2024 ranking of the nation’s most expensive vacation destinations, OptimosTravel said the average weeklong trip to Aspen was $5,330 per person. According to Kayak, the average weeknight hotel cost in the first two weeks of January in Snowmass was about $1,040 compared to Aspen’s average of $1,900.

After visiting both, finding cheaper eats was more possible in Snowmass, where you could find $15 sandwiches and $9 breakfast burritos.

Meanwhile, some costs between cities remain the same. The mountains, for example, all share the same lift tickets, so skiing – no matter where you are – will cost around $250 a day.

But if you’re staying in Snowmass, where accommodations are cheaper, your dollar stretches further and you’ll have a little more budget to spend in Aspen.

The debate between the two cities is old

With only 15 minutes between the two cities, I’m far from the first to compare the pair, and I won’t be the last.

Many people prefer Aspen – it’s a charming town to see and be seen. However, others love the wide space and laid-back atmosphere that Snowmass offers.

And even if you do end up in Snowmass, I’d argue that a trip there wouldn’t be complete without at least one night spent drinking, eating and roaming Aspen.

For me, a ski trip is all about the skiing itself. If I had to choose between hauling my snowboarding gear on a bus every morning versus finding a ski condo in Snowmass and hitting more terrain, I’d choose the latter.