Getting around · Denver · United States
Getting around Denver
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Daderot, Public domain
Quick answer
Downtown, LoDo, RiNo and the Golden Triangle are walkable or a short ride apart, and RTD's light rail and commuter rail connect Union Station with the airport, Golden and the suburbs. A car is helpful for the mountains. Not for the city itself, where rail, walking and rideshare work.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Train
- Airports
- DEN
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
- Travel pass
- RTD day pass
Ways to get around
Train
RTD commuter rail runs from Union Station to the airport on the A Line in about 37 minutes, and the W Line light rail reaches Golden.
Buy fares on the RTD MyRide app or at station machines; the airport fare is higher than a local one.
Tram
RTD light-rail lines serve downtown, the convention centre, Broadway and the southern suburbs.
Bus
RTD buses cover the city, and regional routes run to Boulder, including the FF Flatiron Flyer from Union Station.
Walking
LoDo, Larimer Square, the 16th Street Mall and the Golden Triangle are within about 20 minutes on foot of each other.
Car
A car is very useful for Red Rocks, Rocky Mountain National Park and mountain towns; Interstate 70 to the mountains is heavily congested on weekend mornings and Sunday afternoons, especially in ski season.
In winter, check road conditions and traction laws before driving into the mountains.
Scooter
Shared e-scooters and e-bikes are widely available in central neighbourhoods.
Tickets and passes
RTD day pass
A day pass for unlimited local and regional rides; check whether it covers the airport fare when buying.
From the airport
Denver International Airport (DEN) is about 40 km northeast of downtown. The RTD A Line train runs to Union Station in about 37 minutes; taxis and rideshares take about 30–45 minutes depending on traffic.
Do you need a car?
Not for the city itself, where rail, walking and rideshare work. A car is close to essential for Rocky Mountain National Park, mountain towns and many trailheads, though shuttles serve Red Rocks concerts and some ski areas.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Boulder | About 40 minutes by car or 50 minutes by bus | Car via US Route 36, or RTD Flatiron Flyer bus |
| Golden | About 30 minutes by car or 45 minutes by light rail | Car, or RTD W Line light rail |
| Rocky Mountain National Park | About 1.5–2 hours by car to Estes Park | Car via Boulder or US Route 36 |
| Colorado Springs and Garden of the Gods | About 1.25 hours by car | Car via Interstate 25 |
| Georgetown | About 1 hour by car | Car via Interstate 70 |
| Breckenridge | About 1.75–2.5 hours by car, depending on traffic | Car via Interstate 70, or ski shuttle |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Denver?
Not for the city itself, where rail, walking and rideshare work. A car is close to essential for Rocky Mountain National Park, mountain towns and many trailheads, though shuttles serve Red Rocks concerts and some ski areas.
+How do you get from the airport to Denver?
Denver International Airport (DEN) is about 40 km northeast of downtown. The RTD A Line train runs to Union Station in about 37 minutes; taxis and rideshares take about 30–45 minutes depending on traffic.
+What is the best way to get around Denver?
Train: RTD commuter rail runs from Union Station to the airport on the A Line in about 37 minutes, and the W Line light rail reaches Golden.