Transportation
Air
Denver International Airport
8500 Peña Blvd
Denver, CO 80249
More than 69 million passengers travel through Denver International Airport (DIA) each year. DIA is currently forecast to rank as the third-busiest airport in the nation and in the top ten busiest in the world. Opened in 1995, DIA is the only major airport built in the United States in the past 27 years. The $4.2 billion facility encompasses 53 square miles, making DIA twice the size of Manhattan Island.
DIA's $544 million Hotel and Transit Center includes a commuter rail station connecting the airport with downtown Denver. The University of Colorado A Line commuter rail from Denver Union Station to Denver International Airport began service in 2016. The Westin Denver International Airport Hotel and Conference Center and its adjoining open-air plaza, opened in late 2015.
Travelers from around the world have voted Denver International Airport as the No. 2 U.S. airport in North America, according to the prestigious 2019 Skytrax World Airport Awards.
Reliever Airports
Colorado’s commercial and general aviation airports not only form a cohesive system for commerce and air travel needs, but generate nearly $37 billion annual impact according to the Colorado Department of Transportation. Three strategically located airports serve as Metro Denver’s reliever airports:
Centennial Airport/Arapahoe County Public Airport Authority
Front Desk & Admin: 303-790-0598
Airport Operations: 303-877-7307
Public Information/Media: 303-218-2929
7565 South Peoria St. Unit D9
Englewood, CO 80112
Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport
11755 Airport Way
Broomfield, CO 80021
Phone: 303-271-4850
Colorado Air and Space Port
5200 Front Range Parkway
Watkins, CO 80137
Phone: 303-261-9100
Mass Transit
Metro Denver's Regional Transportation District (RTD) is serviced by 12 light rail lines servicing 78 total rail stations, as well as the Flatiron Flyer with bus rapid transit service between Denver and Boulder.
FasTracks
- The University of Colorado A Line carries passengers from downtown Denver to DEN in 37 minutes.
- Also known as the Northwest Rail Line, the B Line operates between Union Station and Westminster, passing through north Denver on its way. Eventually, the line will extend to though Boulder and to downtown Longmont.
- The E-F-R Lines travel 15 miles along the Southwest Corridor transporting riders from downtown to Lone Tree.
- The G Line runs through northwest Denver, Adams County, and Arvada with the end-of-line stop in Wheat Ridge.
- The H Line connects Denver to Aurora, and was extended in 2017 to connect with the R Line. The L Line extension will eventually connect the existing downtown rail service to the University of Colorado A Line and act as a loop around downtown.
- The 13-mile N Line transports passengers from Union Station to Thornton in 29 minutes.
- The R Line carries passengers
from southeast Denver through Aurora with connection to the A Line at Peoria Station.
- The W Line connects Denver, Lakewood and Golden.
Click here to download a copy of the FasTrack map.
To promote the use of mass transit, Metro Denver employers can purchase EcoPasses for their employees, which allow seven-day access to RTD services. RTD's FlexPass Program also offers employers and employees payroll tax savings, pre-tax savings, and transit pass discounts.
Bus Lines
Greyhound and FLEX offer daily bus routes between locations such as Denver, Colorado Springs and Fort Collins.
Highways
Metro Denver's Beltway
- C470: Extends from I-25 in the southern Metro Denver area to I-70 near Golden.
- E-470: The 47-mile toll road runs along the eastern perimeter of Metro Denver, extending from state highway C-470 at I-25, running east then north along the western edge of Denver International Airport, terminating at I-25 on the north end of Metro Denver just south of 160th Avenue.
- Northwest Parkway: Seamlessly connects with E-470 at I-25, and with U.S. 36 and State Highway 128 in Broomfield.
Interstates
- Interstate 70 (I-70) is a 449.6-mile Interstate Highway that runs the width of Colorado east to west, connecting Colorado to Kansas (eastern border) to Utah (western border). At its highest point it travels through the Eisenhower Tunnel (11,158 feet) and crosses the Continental Divide.
- Interstate 25 (I-25) is a 298.60-mile Interstate Highway that runs the length of Colorado north to south, connecting Colorado to Wyoming (northern border) to New Mexico (southern border).
- Interstate 76 (I-76) is an east–west Interstate Highway that runs from I-70 in Arvada, Colorado, to an interchange with I-80 near Big Springs, Nebraska. The highway measures 187.29 miles long; all but approximately three miles of which is in Colorado.
- Interstate 270 (I-270) is a 7-mile auxiliary Interstate Highway located in the northeastern part of the Denver metropolitan area. It overlaps U.S. Highway 36 (US 36) and connects I-25 to I-70.
- Interstate 225 (I-225) is a 12-mile auxiliary Interstate Highway that acts as an eastern bypass in the Denver metropolitan area and serves Aurora, connecting I-70 to I-25. It also provides direct access to Denver International Airport for the Denver Tech Center and the southern suburbs of Denver.
- Traffic.com - Denver traffic and road construction reports
- CoTrip.org - Colorado road/weather conditions and highway info.
Passenger Rail
Denver Union Station
1701 Wynkoop St
Denver, CO 80202
Amtrak’s California Zephyr Line connects Denver Union Station with Chicago, Omaha, Salt Lake City, Oakland, and beyond.
Denver Metro Shuttles
On Location operates a coach bus shuttle service between downtown Denver, Capitol Hill, and concerts at Red Rocks Amphitheater. You can catch the shuttle bus from one of two locations in Denver:
Thirsty Lion Union Gastropub & Grill Union Station
1605 Wynkoop St,
Denver, CO 80202
Illegal Pete’s Colfax
2001 E Colfax Ave,
Denver, CO 80206
Shuttles from Thirsty Lion depart 30 minutes prior to event door time for events at Red Rocks Amphitheater, and 45 minutes prior to event door time from Illegal Pete’s Colfax. For more information or to book your shuttle pass, please consult their website.
E-Bikes and E-Scooters
Bikes and motor scooters are also available in the area for rent via rideshare apps such as Uber and Lyft, to transport guests short distances.
Ride Shares
Below are the two most popular ride share companies along the Front Range. Please note they do NOT service all the mountain communities. Please check with the community in which you plan to live before securing ride share.
Car Rentals
Here are a few of the car rental companies in Colorado:
