Getting Around Aspen & Snowmass for Free: RFTA Buses, WE-cycle Bikes & Free Downtowner Rides

Leave your rental car behind. Aspen and Pitkin County operate the largest 100% free rural public transit network in the United States. While downtown street parking carries hourly and daily charges, getting around by bus, on-demand electric micro-shuttle and bikeshare is completely free.

1. All RFTA Local & Four-Mountain Buses (Rubey Park Transit Center)

Every bus operating within the Aspen, Aspen Airport, Buttermilk, Aspen Highlands and Snowmass Village triangle is 100% free year-round with no ticket required:

• In Winter (Four-Mountain Connector Ski Buses): walk to Rubey Park in your ski boots and slide your skis into the exterior racks; free buses depart every 10 to 15 minutes to Aspen Highlands (8 mins), Buttermilk (6 mins) and Snowmass Base Village (20 mins).
• In Summer & Autumn: the free Castle/Maroon Bus links Rubey Park with Aspen Highlands (where you board the paid Maroon Bells Shuttle), while 8 free neighbourhood routes loop through town until late night.
• Inside Snowmass Village: 10 colour-coded free village routes connect every condo complex to the Base Village lifts.

2. Free Downtowner App (Door-to-Door Electric Rides)

Download the free Downtowner smartphone app, enter your pickup and drop-off points anywhere inside Aspen city limits (daily from morning until late night), and within minutes a quiet electric vehicle picks you up and drops you at the door for free.

3. Free WE-cycle Bikeshare (May to November)

Tap a payment card for verification at any of the 70+ solar-powered WE-cycle docking stations across Aspen, Snowmass and Basalt: every ride of 30 minutes or less on classic or pedal-assist bikes is 100% free.

4. Free Brush Creek Park & Ride Lot

Driving in for the day? Pull into the 350-space Brush Creek Park & Ride Lot (at Highway 82 and Brush Creek Road, 6 miles west of Aspen) for free daytime parking and free RFTA buses every 10 to 15 minutes into Aspen and Snowmass.