Aspen vs Vail vs Breckenridge (Which is Best in 2023?)

If you’re debating Aspen vs. Vail vs. Breckenridge, I’m a local here to help you understand each of these Colorado mountain towns’ pros and cons. All feature fun things to do, lively downtown areas, and some of the best slopes to ski in Colorado. 

In this guide, I’ll share information about each town’s accessibility, attractions, places to stay, and general costs. With these insights, you’ll be able to narrow down which of these resort towns — Aspen, Vail or Breckenridge — best fits your budget and interests.

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Which is Better: Aspen or Vail or Breckenridge? 

Comparing Aspen vs. Breckenridge vs. Vail, Aspen is the best overall destination, in my opinion. From world-class skiing to boutique shopping, spas, and luxurious lodging, this mountain town is hard to beat. However, Vail and Breckenridge win points for their affordability and family-friendly attractions.

Advantages of Aspen 

• World-class skiing at 4 resorts for every skill level 
• Award-winning restaurants
• Luxurious ski-in, ski-out lodging
• Historic buildings and interesting mining history mean there are lots of fun things to do in Aspen
• Fewer crowds
• Summer activities include whitewater rafting, biking, and hiking to Colorado hot springs
• Regional airport in town, or a 3.5-hour drive from Denver International Airport 

Advantages of Vail 

• Home to Colorado’s biggest ski resort
• More affordable than Aspen
• Excellent restaurant options
• Vail has places to stay near ski gondolas
• Less formal, more laid-back vibe than Aspen
• Summer activities in Vail include the ropes course, mountain biking, and hiking
• 35 min. drive from Eagle Regional Airport, or a 2-hour drive from DIA
• Easily accessible from I-70

Advantages of Breckenridge 

• Family-friendly ski resort 
• Cheaper options for food and hotels 
• Accommodations in Breckenridge are more spread out
• Mining history and Victorian-era architecture offer things to do in Breckenridge besides skiing
• Relaxed atmosphere 
• Near Frisco Adventure Park with tubing, biking, and more kid-friendly activities
• 1-hour 25-minute drive from Eagle Regional Airport, or a 2-hour drive from DIA 

Aspen is Best For

• Upscale travelers
• Skiers of all levels
• Serious foodies
• Longer vacations 

Vail is Best For

• Short outdoor weekend getaways
• Girls trips and group vacations
• Easy day trips from Denver

Breckenridge is Best For

• Family trips
• Outdoor adventure weekends
• Quick getaways from Denver

Vail vs Aspen vs Breckenridge – Detailed Comparison 

Vail or Aspen or Breckenridge — it’s a tough call! Each of these three towns has definite perks and drawbacks.

The following table compares how Breckenridge, Vail, and Aspen stack up against each other in a few different categories:

Feature	Aspen	Vail	Breckenridge	🏆 Winner
Ski Resorts	4 ski resorts, least expensive lift tickets, ski-in ski-out	Biggest ski resort, most expensive lift tickets, ski-in ski-out	Lots of beginner-friendly runs, ski-in ski-out	Aspen
Family Friendliness	Ski school, hiking, ropes course	Ski school, Children’s Alpine Garden, alpine coaster, hiking, ropes course, playground	Ski school, kids’ ski areas, alpine coaster and slide, downtown playground	Vail
Winter Activities (non-skiing)	Snowshoeing, alpine coaster, tubing, snowbiking, snowcat dinner rides	Snowshoeing, tubing, ice skating, fat tire biking, ice fishing	Snowshoeing, snowcat tours, dog sledding, snowmobiling, sleigh rides	Breckenridge
Summer Activities	Hiking, biking, disc golf, Maroon Bells, festivals, paddleboarding, kayaking	Hiking, biking, alpine coaster, festivals, paddleboarding, kayaking	Hiking, biking, festivals, paddleboarding, kayaking	Aspen
Getting Around Town	Free public transportation, walking, WE-cycle bikes, rental car, hotel shuttle service	Free public transportation, walking, rental car, hotel shuttle service	Free public transportation, walking, biking, rental car, hotel shuttle service	Aspen and Vail
Accessibility from Denver International Airport	Minimum 3-hour 45-min. drive; located on CO-82	Minimum 2-hour drive; located directly off I-70	Minimum 2-hour drive; located on CO-9	Vail
Cheap Things to Do	John Denver Sanctuary, Aspen Art Museum, Conundrum Hot Springs	Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, Colorado Snowsports Museum & Hall Of Fame, Gore Valley Bike Trail	Visit a troll, historic downtown, Edwin Carter Museum	Breckenridge
Indoor Activities	Aspen Art Museum, Wheeler Opera House, spas, Aspen Brewing Co.	Colorado Snowsports Museum & Hall Of Fame, spas, Vail Brewing Co.	Rec Center, Stephen C. West Ice Arena, Breckenridge Backstage Theatre	Aspen
Off the Beaten Path	Dog sledding, summer gondola, Grottos Trail, paragliding, ghost tour	Goat yoga, Jeep tour, fly fishing, whitewater rafting, hike with a llama	Visit a troll, dog sledding, fat biking and beer tour, snowmobiling, ice fishing	Vail

Vail vs Breckenridge vs Aspen: Ski Resorts

Breckenridge or Vail or Aspen — when it comes to skiing, it can be tough to choose. All three are home to some of the top ski resorts in Colorado, so all choices are valid! 

However, each one has its advantages. Breckenridge is small and easy to navigate with the entire family. Similarly, the town of Vail was designed to be a great ski town, so everything was built with winter sports in mind. 

When it comes to variety, though, Aspen takes the cake. It’s home to four ski resorts: Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Aspen Snowmass, and Buttermilk. This allows tourists to spread out, meaning shorter lift lines and trails to yourself. 

Aspen:

• 4 ski resorts cater to a variety of abilities
• Least expensive lift tickets
• Lots of ski-in, ski-out lodgings to get you on the slopes fast (also, great for kids!)

Vail:

• Biggest ski resort
• Most acres of skiable terrain
• Most expensive lift tickets
• Lots of lodging near gondolas

Breckenridge:

• Lots of ski areas designed for kids
• Lots of ski-in, ski-out lodging
• Great classes & private lessons

🏆 Winner: Aspen

Aspen or Breckenridge or Vail: Family Friendliness

Traveling with kids can be a challenge. With ski schools and children’s play areas, all of these mountain towns accommodate families wrangling kids. But Vail stands out for its variety of family-focused activities. 

Aspen:

• Ski school for kids
• Hiking for every ability
• Summer ropes course

Vail:

• Ski school for kids
• Hikes for all abilities
• Summer ropes course, nature center, alpine coaster
• Grassy park with playground, Betty Ford Alpine Garden, and Children’s Garden

Breckenridge:

• Ski school for kids
• Ski areas designed for kids with tunnels and areas to explore
• Summer alpine coaster and slide
• Downtown playground

🏆 Winner: Vail

Breckenridge vs Vail vs Aspen: Winter Activities (Non-Skiing)

If you love a beautiful winter wonderland but don’t ski or snowboard, take heart! Each of these cities offers seasonal activities, though you’ll find the most unique things to do in Breckenridge. 

Aspen:

• Snow tubing
• Snow biking
• Snowshoeing 
• Snowcat dinner rides
• Alpine coaster

Vail:

• Snow tubing
• Fat tire biking
• Snowshoeing 
• Ice skating rink in Lionshead Village
• Ice fishing

Breckenridge:

• Snowshoeing
• Snowcat tours
• Dog sledding
• Snowmobiling
• Sleigh rides

🏆 Winner: Breckenridge

Breckenridge or Aspen or Vail: Summer Activities

Although these are all awesome ski towns, the fun doesn’t stop in summer. Each one has activities at the top of their respective mountains, plus fun festivals and more in town. In terms of variety though, you’ll find the most things to do in Aspen. 

Aspen:

• Hiking for every ability, including Maroon Bells and some of the best trails in Colorado
• Biking around town or on the mountain
• Disc golf on the mountain
• Festivals in town
• Paddleboarding and kayaking 

Vail:

• Hiking in the Rocky Mountains for all levels
• Biking — take the gondola up and bike down the mountain!
• Alpine coaster
• Festivals in Vail and Lionshead Villages
• Paddleboarding and kayaking

Breckenridge:

• Hiking in the Rocky Mountains for all levels
• Biking at lots of nearby sites
• Festivals in town
• Paddleboarding & Kayaking
• Mountaintop yoga

🏆 Winner: Aspen

Vail or Breckenridge or Aspen: Getting Around Town

It’s possible to navigate all three of these towns without a vehicle. However, you may want to book a rental car to explore farther from the downtown center. Also, if staying in Breckenridge, a vehicle is especially ideal. Lodging there tends to be more spread out and harder to access via public transportation.

Aspen:

• Free public transportation to major points downtown
• Walking — most of the town is easy to reach on-foot
• WE-cycle bikes
• Rental car
• Hotel shuttle service

Vail:

• Free public transportation throughout Lionshead and Vail Village
• Walking — both villages are walkable and easy to reach from each other
• Rental car
• Hotel shuttle service

Breckenridge:

• Free public transportation to popular spots
• Walking
• Biking
• Rental car
• Hotel shuttle service

🏆 Winner: Aspen and Vail 

Breckenridge vs Aspen vs Vail: Cheap Things to Do

All of these destinations are known for being more expensive towns in Colorado. However, it is possible to enjoy yourself on a budget in each one of them — Breckenridge, especially. Along with the inexpensive activities here, you can save money on food, lodging, and skiing by visiting during shoulder seasons. 

Aspen:

• Picnic at the John Denver Sanctuary and walk through the gardens
• Hiking — check out Discovery Trail, Grizzly Lake, and Conundrum Hot Springs
• Visit the Aspen Art Museum
• Bike the Rio Grande Trail in town
• Drive Independence Pass, one of the best road trips in Colorado
• People-watch in downtown Aspen

Vail:

• Stroll the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens & Children’s Garden
• Wander through Vail & Lionshead Villages
• Learn about winter sports at the Snowsports Museum & Hall Of Fame
• Toss back a cold one at Vail Brewing Co.
• Bike the Gore Valley Bike Trail

Breckenridge:

• Visit Isaak Heartstone, a forest troll at the end of a short trail
• Browse historic downtown
• Learn about CO civil rights at the Barney Ford Victorian House
• Browse the local artists’ creations in the Arts District 
• Bike the Blue River Rec Path
• Wander the Valley Brook Cemetery for a creepy history lesson
• Sample a local spirit at Breckenridge Distillery
• See trains at High Line Railroad Park
• Ride the Breckenridge Gondola
• Drive Boreas Pass Road for amazing views

🏆 Winner: Breckenridge

Aspen vs Breckenridge vs Vail: Indoor Activities

When on your trip, there may be winter days when it’s too cold; and in the summer, plan for afternoon showers. Fortunately, when you want to hang out inside for a while, all of these towns have great indoor activities as well! Aspen especially accommodates every type of interest. 

Aspen:

• Admire contemporary art at the Aspen Art Museum
• Take a historic tour at the Wheeler Opera House
• Relax and enjoy an afternoon at Aspen Brewing Co.
• Unwind with a treatment at an Aspen spa

Vail:

• Learn at the Colorado Snowsports Museum & Hall Of Fame
• Enjoy a craft beer at Vail Brewing Co. 
• Relax with a treatment at a Vail spa

Breckenridge:

• Use the climbing wall and play in the pools at the Breckenridge Rec Center
• Ice skate at the Stephen C. West Ice Arena
• Take in a show at the Breckenridge Backstage Theatre

🏆 Winner: Aspen

Vail vs Breckenridge vs Aspen: Off the Beaten Path

There are lots of activities people expect to do in the mountains — skiing, hiking, and biking, to name a few. But how about some of the more unusual activities? Try one of these fun ideas that’s a little out of the mainstream.

Aspen:

• Go dog sledding
• Ride the summer gondola to fun activities at the top 
• See ice caves along the Grottos Trail
• Go paragliding 
• Try your luck at fly fishing 
• Take an Aspen ghost tour

Vail:

• Relax (maybe?) with some goat yoga
• Take a Jeep tour
• Try fly fishing
• Spend a day whitewater rafting
• Hike and lunch with a llama 

Breckenridge:

• Hike to Isak Heartstone to visit a troll
• Go dog sledding
• Try fat biking in the snow
• Spend a day of adventure snowmobiling
• See if you catch anything while ice fishing

🏆 Winner: Vail (because who can compete with llamas?)

Final Verdict – Breckenridge vs Vail vs Aspen

Aspen is the big winner when it comes to a luxury ski vacation. You’ll find every amenity imaginable, from spas to fine dining and boutique shopping. In winter, discover amazing skiing at four resorts, plus fun activities for the family in summer. Depending on your home city, Aspen’s airport may also make this the easiest town to get to. You may find yourself sharing a runway with celebrities and other jet-setters! 

Vail wins big for family-friendly activities. Ski-in, ski-out lodging means families won’t have to cart kids and gear very far. Several playgrounds show that not only are kids tolerated in town, they’re welcomed. Gardens and wide grassy areas are great for running off steam, and the creek path is an easy-going stroll. You’ll also find plenty of places to eat for the whole family. 

FAQs About Aspen vs Vail vs Breckenridge

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Aspen vs. Vail vs. Breckenridge — hopefully, this post has helped you decide which town is right for your visit! Each destination has amazing attributes and you really can’t go wrong with any of them. Be sure to check out our Ultimate Guide to Colorado to help you plan your trip!