Garfield County Regional Airport

KRIL RIL Rifle, CO

KRIL is the ICAO code for Garfield County Regional Airport (IATA RIL), located in Rifle, CO.

A no-curfew, no-slot alternative to Aspen's airport, 50 miles west of Aspen and 25 miles from Glenwood Springs.

Airport guide

Garfield County Regional Airport is the practical choice when Aspen (KASE) doesn't work. KASE has noise curfews, strict weight limits, and performance requirements that rule out most large-cabin jets. KRIL has none of those constraints. Heavy jets can operate here without the altitude-performance penalties that come with Aspen's 7,820-foot elevation. The airport sits at 5,548 feet, giving aircraft meaningfully more payload and range margin.

The airport is uncontrolled with a single paved runway of about 8,000 feet, which accommodates most large-cabin and ultra-long-range aircraft. Traffic is light compared to KASE during ski season, which means no holding patterns, no sequencing delays, and no need to book slots weeks in advance. FBO services are available on the field, though amenities are more functional than luxurious.

Getting there

Aspen is roughly 50 miles east on Highway 82, about 55 minutes to 1 hour 10 minutes depending on traffic and season. Glenwood Springs is 25 miles east, around 25 minutes. Vail is approximately 70 miles east on I-70, around 1 hour 15 minutes. Grand Junction is 50 miles west, about 45 minutes. Car service and SUV charters are available through local operators in the Roaring Fork Valley. During peak ski season, Hwy 82 between Rifle and Aspen can slow near Glenwood Canyon, so build in extra time.