12 days in Aspen & Telluride Itinerary

Known as a ski resort town, Aspen's history goes back to its roots as a silver-mining village tucked away in an isolated valley of the Rocky Mountains.

You've now added Aspen Paragliding to your itinerary. Venture out of the city with trips to Glenwood Springs (Thermal Spas, Hanging Lake Trail, &more), Buena Vista (Buena Vista River Park & Zipline) and Carbondale Public Art (in Carbondale). And it doesn't end there: take in the awesome beauty at Maroon Bells, take a memorable drive along Independence Pass, get outside with Devil's Punchbowl, and tour the pleasant surroundings at The John Denver Sanctuary.

To see maps, reviews, other places to visit, and tourist information, go to the Aspen driving holiday planner.

Durham to Aspen is an approximately 8.5-hour flight. You can also drive; or take a bus. The time zone changes from Eastern Standard Time to Mountain Standard Time, which is usually a -2 hour difference. While traveling from Durham, expect a bit cooler days and cooler nights in Aspen, ranging from highs of 81°F to lows of 49°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 7th (Wed) to allow time to drive to Telluride.

The town of Telluride is the county seat and most populous town of San Miguel County in the southwestern portion of the U.S. Change things up with these side-trips from Telluride: Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (in Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park) and Ouray (Box Canyon Waterfall & Park, Off-Road Tours, &more). The adventure continues: get outside with Telluride Outside, stroll through Jud Wiebe Trail, contemplate the waterfront views at San Miguel River, and take in the dramatic scenery at Bear Creek Falls.

To find ratings, more things to do, where to stay, and more tourist information, you can read our Telluride road trip tool.

You can drive from Aspen to Telluride in 5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of car and shuttle; or take a bus. Traveling from Aspen in July, you will find days in Telluride are a bit cooler (74°F), and nights are about the same (52°F). You'll have a few hours on the 12th (Mon) to wrap things up before traveling home.