Many travelers journeying to Denver arrive via Denver International Airport (DEN), which serves as a central hub for United Airlines and as the gateway to Colorado and the Rocky Mountains. Although DEN is nearly 30 years old, it feels modern thanks to its spacious walkways, high ceilings, and updated signage. Once on the ground, travelers can navigate the city via public transportation, the Regional Transportation District (RTD) offers bus and light rail services, or rely on taxis, ride-share services, or a car.
For my trip to Denver in August 2024, I arrived via air travel and spent 4 days relying on ride-share services to navigate the city. This guide shares my experiences at DEN, as well as my experiences using Uber to get around Denver. I also provide a detailed cost breakdown of my expenses using rideshare, helping travelers create their trip budget.
Denver International Airport
DEN is the United States’ third-busiest airport in terms of passenger traffic, but its straightforward design and excellent signage make it very easy to find your way around. The airport is comprised of a single terminal (the Jeppesen Terminal), which is connected to three concourses via a train system. The train stations are near the center of each concourse, making them a reasonable walk from the gates.
My flight arrived at DEN relatively late (around 11 PM), so there were minimal crowds and no lines for the train. I arrived at Concourse C, the one farthest from the terminal, and the train ride was just a few minutes. From Concourses B and C, passengers must take the train to connect to other concourses and the terminal building. To reach the terminal from Concourse A, passengers can either use the pedestrian bridge or the train. Concourse A is mainly for international flights, while Concourses B and C serve regional and domestic routes.
Baggage claim is located on Level 5, which is the same level where travelers can access ground transportation services, including taxis, ride-share services, hotel shuttles, and RTD buses and trains. Here, one also finds numerous charter buses that provide transport to nearby cities and mountain resorts. Level 4 is for passengers being picked up by family or friends.
Ride-share services are very organized at DEN. Travelers walk to row 5, the outermost lane, and then proceed to the corresponding island (noted by a letter), as indicated on the ride-share app.
My arrival at DEN was a positive experience. There were no delays in approaching the gate, and after disembarking, I was able to locate both the train station and baggage carousel easily. For this trip, as I was traveling solo and it was rather late, I opted to use a ride-sharing service rather than take public transportation to the hotel, which was situated in downtown Denver.
Travelers looking to save money can take the A Line Train from DEN to Union Station, located in downtown Denver, for about $10.50. From there, they can either take the bus or use a ride-share service to their hotel.
As my flight wasn’t until past midnight, I arrived at the airport around 9:40 PM, and by then, there was little traffic and minimal lines to check in. The downside to late flights is that TSA Pre-Check is unavailable; only the standard checkpoints are open. Passengers with Pre-Check are provided a yellow pass at the ID checkpoint, which allows them to keep their shoes on and doesn’t require them to remove liquids from bags. However, at DEN, I was asked to remove my laptop and place it in a separate bin.
Another downside to a late flight is that the outdoor patios with firepits are closed (see picture above). I was looking forward to checking out the patio, but to my dismay, they closed at 10 PM (I couldn’t locate the hours on the airport website beforehand). Each concourse features its own outdoor patio, where passengers can relax and enjoy views of the planes and surrounding mountains.
(The roof seen in the picture is a reflection of the concourse’s roof. As the patio was closed, I had to take a photo against the door, which wound up capturing the reflection of the concourse.)
Ride-Share Service
Denver is a large city, and while some attractions are within walking distance of each other, travelers will need to rely on ground transportation to get around. When planning my trip to Denver, in an effort to save money, I considered using the RTD bus service for sightseeing. However, after speaking with my hotel’s front desk staff, I quickly learned that it may not be the best option, as there were reliability issues with some routes. With only a few days to spend in the city, I opted to use Uber as a more time-efficient means of transportation.
Is ride-sharing less expensive than renting a vehicle? For travelers visiting Denver solely, public transportation, ride-sharing, and taxis are the better, budget-friendly options, once you factor in costs such as rental rates, hotel parking charges, fuel, and parking fees at the sites, as not every attraction offers free parking. For those planning to visit Rocky Mountain National Park, Pikes Peak, and other cities, you will need to rent a car, participate in a tour, or arrange private transportation.
During my time in Colorado, I visited Rocky Mountain National Park, but I did so via a tour, which is an option for those who prefer not to rent a car (click on the link to learn more about the tour I took).
Overall, I had a very positive experience with Uber during my time in Denver. I never had to wait long to be assigned to a driver, and all vehicles were clean and presentable. And every driver was courteous and respectful! If using Uber, be mindful of Denver rush hour. My Friday afternoon ride from Wings Over the Rockies to the hotel took twice as long due to traffic, which increased the cost.
For fellow solo female travelers, always take advantage of Uber’s in-app safety features. Uber allows you to share your trip status with family and friends, verify your ride with a PIN, and more.
To help travelers plan their trip budget, I am sharing my Uber expenses from my time in Denver. To minimize costs, I walked to and from places within 1.5 miles of my hotel whenever possible. I also selected a centrally located hotel, the Hyatt House in downtown Denver, which was conveniently near several sites, thereby helping to reduce transportation costs. The furthest distances were to/from DEN and the Wings Over the Rockies Museum, located in Lowry Park on the eastern edge of the city.
This list provides the base fare for each Uber ride, as tipping is a matter of personal preference. Altogether, when including tips, the cost of ground transportation was $338.38.
| TO | FROM | DISTANCE (Miles) | UBER TYPE | BASE FARE |
| DEN | Hyatt House | 26.32 | X | $55.20 |
| Hyatt House | Wings Over the Rockies | 6.67 | Green | $20.93 |
| Wings Over the Rockies | Hyatt House | 6.79 | XL | $34.02 |
| Hyatt House | Mission Ballroom | 3.39 | Comfort | $15.34 |
| Mission Ballroom | Hyatt House | 2.88 | Comfort | $19.52 |
| Hyatt House | Molly Brown House Museum | .88 | X | $10.93 |
| Hyatt House | Museum of Nature & Science | 3.62 | X | $11.96 |
| Museum of Nature & Science | Denver Botanic Gardens | 2.47 | X | $10.76 |
| Denver Botanic Gardens | Hyatt House | 3.13 | X | $11.96 |
| Hyatt House | Union Station | 1.27 | XL | $12.68 |
| Hyatt House | History Colorado Center | .70 | X | $10.93 |
| Denver Art Museum | Union Station | 1.62 | X | $10.92 |
| Hyatt House | DEN | 26.38 | X | $40.48 |
| TOTAL | $265.63 |
Resources
Visit Denver, the official tourism website for the city, has a transportation page that lists the contact information for companies offering shuttle and charter bus services. It also provides detailed information on taxi service, including approximate fares to/from DEN.
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