The Most Expensive U.S. Vacation Spot—According To A 2024 Report

28.04.2024 - 21:33 / forbes.com / Elton John / Justin Bieber / Mariah Carey / Aspen Mountain

Love to travel to the most posh places? A new analysis from travel experts at the blog OptimosTravel ranks Aspen—a mountain town in Colorado—the most expensive U.S. vacation destination.

For travelers looking to spend a pretty penny, there’s plenty of ways to do just that in Aspen: A hulking tomahawk ribeye for two ($150) with blue cheese bone marrow butter at Steakhouse No. 316; a Christmas-week stay in the ski-in, ski-out Little Nell in a luxury suite (starting at $2,719 a night), and a shopping spree at some of the town’s luxury stores like Gucci, Prada, and Hermès.

But because Aspen is an outdoor lover’s paradise, there’s plenty of ways to enjoy the hiking trails and open spaces for free or for the cost of a parking permit if you’re visiting Maroon Bells, a popular hiking and photography spot where bell-shaped peaks reflect into a lake.

As part of its analysis, the experts at OptimosTravel say they analyzed more than 100 well-known destinations across the country, taking into account popular travel expenses like meals, public transportation, room rates, and attraction fees.

On a clear day with no traffic delays, it takes about 3 1/2 hours to drive from Denver to Aspen. But many fly into the Aspen/Pitken County Airport, with United Airlines, Delta, and American Airlines serving the airport.

“Aspen's breathtaking scenery comes with a premium price tag,” the study says.

Aspen is most famous for its skiing, with runs spread across four mountains: Aspen Highlands, Aspen Mountain, Snowmass, and Buttermilk.

The alpine ski village is also a known winter playground for celebs like Justin and Hailey Bieber, Kendall Jenner, Mariah Carey, Rihanna, Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, Elton John, Kevin Costner, and many more.

Aspen has a rich history, too, from its silver mining boom in the late 1800s to the World War II veterans imaging the ski runs on Aspen Mountain.

Aspen is an expensive city to live in and visit. The average home value in Aspen is $3.47 million, according to figures from Zillow.

According to OptimosTravel, visitors should expect to spend roughly $761.39 per day while in town. But like all ski towns, seasonality is a major factor influencing how much a vacation in Aspen will cost. Room rates are higher during peak ski season and over the holidays, and reservations are tougher to snag during those busy times.

But in the summer, you can find better deals on hotels and even save by camping in scenic spots like the Elk Mountains, where there’s wildflower fields, alpine lakes, and star-studded skies above.

Aspen also has fun free things to do: Admission is free to the Aspen Art Museum and the John Denver Sanctuary near the Roaring Fork River is a nice spot for a picnic after you’ve browsed the singer's