Best Places to Stop When Traveling to Aspen from Grand Junction
Going on a road trip through Colorado can be quite an amazing experience. In fact, sometimes the trip itself is more notable than ending up at your final destination. Plus, it also helps if the area you're driving through is nice to look at and the drive from Grand Junction to Aspen, Colorado fits that criteria.
Take a look at the best places to stop while driving from Grand Junction to Aspen:
Trip from Grand Junction to Aspen Colorado - Palisade
The first town you'll want to stop at on your trip is Palisade where you can enjoy wine tasting at places like Maison la Belle Vie Winery located at 3575 G Road and Carlson Vineyards Winery and Tasting Room at 461 35 Road.
In addition, another very popular place to stop in Palisade is Peach Street Distillers which is located at 144 Kluge Avenue.
Trip from Grand Junction to Aspen Colorado - De Beque
The next town you'll pass through on your trip is De Beque which is home to the very popular Elk Mountain Trading Post located at 170 E. 3rd Street.
Trip from Grand Junction to Aspen Colorado - Parachute
A little further east on I-70 is the town of Parachute with popular dining options such as El Tapatio located at 393 E. 2nd Street and The Little Coffee Shack at 222 1st Street.
In addition, the Parachute Branch Library is also a very popular and highly rated place in Parachute and is located at 244 Grand Valley Way.
Trip from Grand Junction to Aspen Colorado - Rulison
The next town you'll pass through is Rulison which is little more than a wide spot on the road but is a perfect place to enjoy some nature including the Colorado River.
Trip from Grand Junction to Aspen Colorado - Rifle
After Rulison, you'll find yourself passing through Rifle, Colorado which is home to popular spots such as the Midland Arts Company at 101 E. 3rd Street and Centennial park which takes you on a trail along Rifle Creek.
Trip from Grand Junction to Aspen Colorado - Silt
Just east of Rifle is the small town of Silt, Colorado. Silt has a very unique place known as the Sopris Alpaca Farm and Boutique which is located at 35795 Highway 6 & 24 as well as a highly-rated restaurant known as Miner's Claim Restaurant located at 740 Main Street.
Trip from Grand Junction to Aspen Colorado - New Castle
The next town you'll see on your trip is New Castle which is home to the Colorow Trail, a highly-rated and popular walking trail perfect for taking in some views and fresh air on your journey.
Trip from Grand Junction to Aspen Colorado - Glenwood Springs
Just after New Castle is the town of Glenwood Springs, Colorado which is home to the famous Glenwood Hot Springs Pool, Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, and Doc Holliday's grave.
Glenwood Springs is the point on your trip where you'll begin heading south to Aspen and just south of the town is the affordable and highly-rated Sunlight Mountain Resort.
Trip from Grand Junction to Aspen Colorado - Carbondale
Just south of Glenwood Springs is the mountain town of Carbondale. Some of the highest-rated places in Carbondale that you'll want to consider checking out on your trip are Marble Distilling Co. at 150 Main Street, Powers Art Center at 13110 Highway 82, and Penny Hot Springs.
Trip from Grand Junction to Aspen Colorado - Basalt
Between Carbondale and Aspen in the town of Basalt with attractions such as Reudi Reservoir up Frying Pan Road as well as Fahrenheit Body Spas at 241 Robinson Street.
If you consider yourself to be a sportsman and love shooting guns, The Basalt Public Shooting Range is also highly-rated and you can find it at the Lake Christine State Wildlife Area in Basalt.
Trip from Grand Junction to Aspen Colorado - Woody Creek
Finally, the little town just north of Aspen is Woody Creek whose claim to fame is that it is the place that legendary Gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson once called home.
You can check out Thompson's old watering hole Woody Creek Tavern at 2858 Upper River Road as well as drive past the late author's home Owl Farm just up the road at 190-990 Woody Creek Road.
Now that you know many of the best places to stop on your way from Grand Junction to Aspen, take a look at all of these attractions so you know what you're looking for: