- For adventure and sunshine, consider a trip to
Denver ,Colorado . - Denver is accessible by plane, train, and car. Once here, there are many easy ways to explore.
Whether by plane, train, or car, you know you've reached Denver, Colorado, when the Rocky Mountains and a towering skyline come into view.
Those two things, along with the city's diverse food scene, craft breweries, vibrant art, and rich history, entice over 15 million visitors every year.
But before you can explore all that Denver has to offer, you'll need to get here. The city is easily accessible by both plane and train. Once you're here, there's a handful of ways to navigate Denver with public transportation.
Getting to Denver
Denver International Airport (DIA)
Denver International Airport (DIA) is the third-busiest airport in the US behind Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, according to Statistica. Twenty-four airlines operate in and out of the
From the airport, you can either rent a car, call a cab, or book a car through a ride-sharing app to make the 40-minute drive into the city. There's also a public train that takes people to and from downtown Denver to the airport for $10.50 (view the schedule and fares).
Amtrak
Amtrak's California Zephyr line stops in the heart of downtown Denver at Union Station. The Amtrak line runs daily and starts in San Francisco, California, and makes stops in other popular cities like Chicago, Illinois; Omaha, Nebraska; and Salt Lake City, Utah (view tickets and schedules here).
Getting around Denver
One of Denver's main appeals is its closeness to quaint towns, like Frisco, Golden, and Aspen. If you're planning to visit nearby cities or want to get outdoors during your trip, it might be worth renting a car.
Denver itself is a relatively walkable city. Its large downtown can be explored by foot, and plenty of Denver's noteworthy neighborhoods can be easily accessed by light rail, bus, or bike. Take a look at your options for navigating around the Mile High City.
Light Rail
Part of Denver's Regional Transportation District (RTD) is a light rail with 12 lines across Denver, Boulder, and other Colorado communities. Depending on the line and time of day, trains typically run every 15 or 30 minutes (view the schedules and routes). The price of a light-rail ticket depends on how far you're going, but most tickets cost $3.
Bus
Denver's public transportation options also include the RTD bus. The bus runs 365 days a year with routes spanning across the city (view the schedules and routes). Ticket prices are based on how far you're traveling and range from $3 to $5.25 per ride.
App-based car services
It's usually easy to find an Uber or Lyft ride in Denver.
Scooters
Another popular way that Denver's residents navigate the city is on electric scooters. The scooters, which should be used in bike lanes, are great for short distances. A variety of companies like Lyft and Lime offer scooters at affordable rates. Lyft's scooters cost $1 to unlock and $.30 a minute. You'll find them on the sidewalks and in parks throughout the city, where you can unlock them via an app.
Dockless pedal and electric bikes
On sidewalks and in alleys across Denver, you'll also spot Lyft- and Lime-branded bikes up for grabs. Similar to the electric scooters, the bikes can be rented by the minute on your phone.