Illustrative image: a snowy mountain road through aspen and spruce in the Colorado Rockies in winter.
A lot of families arrive in Snowmass Village expecting to need a car and then barely touch it. The village is compact, the lifts come down to the edge of it, and two separate bus systems cover the rest: the Town of Snowmass Village's own Village Shuttle inside the village, and the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) for trips to Aspen and the other mountains. This guide explains how they fit together, using what the Town and RFTA publish today.
If you are still working out how to get here in the first place, start with our guide to getting to Snowmass Village, and for winter road conditions see driving to Snowmass in winter.
The Village Shuttle: the Town's own buses
The Town of Snowmass Village runs the Village Shuttle, and its rider guide describes it as your "free ride to everything our community has to offer." The buses link the Village Mall, Base Village, the Snowmass Center and the neighborhoods spread across the hillsides.
Routes
The Town's routes and schedules page lists numbered Routes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8, plus Route 22, its on-demand service. Rather than printing timetables, the Town points riders to its trip planner on Google Maps, where the routes and schedules are available year-round.
Winter schedules: check the app, not an old printout
The Town's winter season page says "Winter Schedules begin Thanksgiving Day!" It also says plainly that the schedules on that page "are intended to be previews only, and they are not current." So treat any times you see there as a rough idea, and use the trip planner or the app for the real departures during your stay. The same page describes on-demand service through the app after the scheduled routes finish for the evening.
The Village Shuttle app
The Town asks riders to "Download the Village Shuttle App!" It is the tool that ties everything together: it shows where buses are, and it is how you request a pickup at stops that are served only by request. The rider guide says some stops on Wood Road, Faraway Road and Meadow Road are by request only, and you use the app to ask for a ride there.
Route 22: rides on request
The Town's Route 22 page says the service "operates by request service during the fall, spring, and summer seasons," with hours of 6:45 a.m. to midnight. You request a pickup from the Village Mall or from one of the listed locations, which include Base Village, Snowmass Mountain, Timberline and Woodrun Place. Look for Route 22 in the app.
How to ride, the local way
The rider guide has a few habits worth knowing before your first ride:
- Flag it down. At a roadside stop, flag down the bus you want. If several buses are coming, hold up your route number with your fingers.
- Be visible at night. After dark, wave a lighted or reflective item, such as your phone, so the driver sees you.
- Say where you are going. Tell the driver your destination when you board, and say "next stop" (or pull the cord, if there is one) to get off.
- Pets are welcome. The Town says it welcomes your pet whether or not it is a service animal, as long as it is leashed and under control.
- Be courteous. Yield seats to seniors and passengers with disabilities, and stand behind the yellow line.
RFTA: Aspen, the other mountains and downvalley
For trips beyond the village, RFTA runs the regional buses.
Snowmass to Aspen
RFTA's Snowmass Village routes page says: "Snowmass Aspen (SM) is a FREE service between Snowmass Village and Aspen." Its buses carry "SM" plus the destination on the sign. Some trips involve a transfer at the Brush Creek Park & Ride, so check the schedule on RFTA's page for the trip you want. If you are deciding how much time to spend in each town, our Snowmass vs. Aspen guide compares them.
Downvalley
RFTA's Snowmass Valley (SMV) route runs between Snowmass Village and West Glenwood. Unlike the SM route, RFTA notes that "Service to downvalley requires a fare," so check RFTA's site before you ride.
The Four Mountain Connector
In winter, the Four Mountain Connector is RFTA's "Winter Season only service that connects you to the four Aspen Snowmass mountains": Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass. RFTA says these routes "are ALWAYS FREE." It is the easy way to ski a different mountain for a day without driving and parking. RFTA posts the winter schedule as a PDF on that page.
If you do drive: the free park and rides
Some guests drive in for the day or keep a car for a trip elsewhere. The Town's park and ride page lists two free lots:
- Town Park Station (the "Rodeo Lot"), on the right side of Brush Creek Road about five miles up Brush Creek after the roundabout. The Town says it has "ample free public parking" and that free bus service into and around the village runs from the transit center year-round. A staffed guest services desk is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in winter and summer.
- Brush Creek Intercept Lot, at Brush Creek Road and Highway 82, with "ample free parking year-round" and frequent buses to Snowmass Village, Aspen or the slopes. Schedules for this lot are on RFTA's site.
Parking in the village itself is managed by the Town, which publishes its permit rules on its parking page; check there before you count on a spot.
A sample car-free day
Here is how a winter day can work with no car at all. Ski in the morning, ski back down to the village, and walk to lunch or the shops. In the afternoon, take the free SM bus into Aspen for a look around, then ride back for dinner. On another day, hop on the Four Mountain Connector to try Buttermilk or Aspen Highlands. Within the village, use the app to see when the next Village Shuttle is due. For what is at Base Village once you are there, see our Base Village guide.
Car-free at Stonebridge
Stonebridge Condominiums makes a car-free trip easier. The property is ski-in/ski-out next to the Village Express lift at Fanny Hill. Base Village and the Tree House kids ski school are "just a quick 3-5 minute walk away," and "The original Snowmass Village is a 5- 8 minute walk." Stonebridge also offers a complimentary shuttle during office hours, which serves Snowmass Village, including the local market; for airport departures, reserve the day before, since shuttles can fill up. If you do bring a car, each condo is allotted one complimentary parking space.
Ready to leave the keys at home? Check availability or call 1-800-323-2577.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Snowmass Village Shuttle free?
The Town of Snowmass Village's rider guide describes the Village Shuttle as your free ride to everything the community has to offer. Check the Town's transportation pages for any change.
Is there a free bus from Snowmass to Aspen?
RFTA says its Snowmass Aspen (SM) route is a free service between Snowmass Village and Aspen. RFTA's Snowmass Valley route to downvalley destinations requires a fare.
What is the Four Mountain Connector?
RFTA describes the Four Mountain Connector as a winter-season-only service that connects the four Aspen Snowmass mountains: Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass. RFTA says those routes are always free.
How do I request an on-demand ride in Snowmass Village?
Download the Snowmass Village Shuttle app. The Town says Route 22 runs by request in the fall, spring and summer, and some stops are by request only through the app.
Where can day visitors park for free?
The Town lists free public parking at Town Park Station (the Rodeo Lot) on Brush Creek Road and at the Brush Creek Intercept Lot at Brush Creek Road and Highway 82, both with bus service.
Sources
- Snowmass Village Shuttle — Town of Snowmass Village Transportation
- Routes & Schedules — Town of Snowmass Village Transportation
- Winter Season Schedules — Town of Snowmass Village Transportation
- On Request / Route #22 — Town of Snowmass Village Transportation
- Rider Guide — Town of Snowmass Village Transportation
- Park and Ride — Town of Snowmass Village Transportation
- Snowmass Village Routes — Roaring Fork Transportation Authority
- 4 Mountain Connector — Roaring Fork Transportation Authority
