Last verified: November 8, 2026. We read the airport's parking page, its August 26, 2026 rate notice, its 2027 closure notice and its transportation page, all linked under Sources. Rates and the Metropolis payment system can change, so check the airport's page the week you fly.
Short answer: Since October 1, 2026, the Bear Lot (closest to the terminal) tops out at $28 per day and the Elk Lot (economy) at $15 per day. The first 30 minutes are free in both. Hourly is $6 in Bear and $3 in Elk. You cannot reserve a space, and there is no shuttle because both lots are walkable.
Source: Aspen/Pitkin County Airport's parking page, read November 8, 2026.
The airport's August 26, 2026 rate notice says Pitkin County's Board of County Commissioners approved new rates at a second reading that day, effective October 1, 2026. The airport's parking page now lists these:
| Lot | Where it is | First 30 min | After 30 min | Daily maximum | Was (to Sept 30) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear Lot (short-term) | Steps from the terminal entrance | Free | $6 per hour | $28 | $12 daily max, $2 per hour |
| Elk Lot (economy, long-term) | Short walk from Baggage Claim | Free | $3 per hour | $15 | $6 daily max, $1 per hour |
Worked numbers, using the airport's daily maximums only: a 5-day trip is 5 x $28 = $140 in the Bear Lot or 5 x $15 = $75 in the Elk Lot. The airport caps any single parking session at 30 days, so the most one session can reach at the daily maximums is 30 x $15 = $450 in the Elk Lot.
Two unknowns the airport does not spell out. First, its page prints the daily maximum as "$28 (12 hours)" and "After 12 hours", so we cannot tell you whether a second day starts at hour 12 or hour 24. Second, the page does not say whether taxes or the payment processor's fees are added on top. The Aspen Times reported in June 2025 that the new Metropolis system added $0.99 to stays under two hours and $2.99 to longer stays, per its coverage of the system launch; the airport's current page does not repeat that, so confirm before you budget to the dollar. For rate questions, the airport lists SP Plus (the on-site operator) at [email protected].
Yes. The airport's rate notice says: "A surge-pricing structure was introduced in 2019, applying higher rates to certain parking durations to help manage limited parking availability. With the new hourly and daily rates taking effect October 1, the surge-pricing structure will be eliminated, simplifying parking to standard hourly and daily rates."
Under the new schedule the hourly rate and the daily maximum are the only two numbers to track.
You cannot reserve. The airport says "We do not offer parking reservations at this time," and its FAQ says prepayment is not available yet because the parking system is being upgraded, with new options "available soon". Lots can also fill: the airport warns that "parking lots fill up quickly" and recommends other ways to get to the terminal when you can.
Payment is ticketless. Cameras read your license plate at entry and exit through a system from Metropolis. The airport says to register your plate and payment method in the Metropolis app, or scan a QR code in the parking area to sign up on the spot, and then payment is automatic. If a bike or ski rack blocks your rear plate, lower it, and clear snow off the plate so the camera can read it. For help, press the HELP button at an exit gate or terminal pay station.
Note that older third-party pages, including an earlier version of this page, described paying with a text message to a phone number. The airport's current page describes the plate-and-app system above and does not mention texting, so use the airport's method.
No shuttle is needed. The airport's FAQ answers "Is there a shuttle service at ASE?" with "No. Both of our parking lots are located within walking distance to the terminal." Follow the signs on Airport Road, the frontage road parallel to Highway 82.
If you would rather not park, the airport's transportation options page says RFTA buses are free into Aspen and Snowmass (fares apply north of the Brush Creek Intercept Lot), taxis, limousines and hotel shuttles meet you outside Baggage Claim, and rideshare pickup is on the front drive.
No. ParkingAccess does not list live parking inventory for ASE today, and there is nothing to book through us for this airport. The page you are reading carries the airport's own published rates so you can plan, and we updated it after finding that our earlier figures, the old $12 and $6 rates, stopped being current on October 1, 2026. If you are flying out of the region by another airport, such as Eagle County Regional (EGE) or Denver International (DEN), check those pages for what we do sell.
The airport's notice says: "The airport has a shortage of parking, so it's important that we make the best use of the space available," attributed to Airport Director Diane Jackson. It also reports that from October 2025 through June 2026, employees accounted for 73% of Elk Lot transactions and occupied an average of 73 spaces a day, and 141 spaces on average during winter periods when the lot exceeded capacity. Airlines and vendors will start validating employee parking by shift, with free parking for the verified shift plus a reasonable time to reach the car. Staff will update the County commissioners in October 2026.
For travelers the practical point is that the Elk Lot fills in winter. Plan for a backup, and arrive early in peak season.
The airport's parking page does not mention EV charging or valet parking, so we do not list either. If you need a charger, ask the airport or SP Plus before you drive in.
$28 in the Bear Lot and $15 in the Elk Lot, effective October 1, 2026, per the airport's rate notice. They were $12 and $6 before.
Yes, in both lots. After 30 minutes it is $6 per hour in Bear and $3 per hour in Elk.
Up to 30 days per parking session, according to the airport's parking page.
No, and you cannot make one. The airport does not take parking reservations right now.
April 4, 2027, 11:00 p.m. to November 19, 2027, 7:00 p.m. The airport's travel page lists Denver, Eagle County, Grand Junction and other airports as alternatives.
Use the official airport parking information above for current rates, then check back here as we expand live inventory coverage.
USD