• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Uncover Colorado Logo

  • Blog
  • Activities
    • Year-round
      • Brewery Tours
      • Casinos & Gaming
      • Caves
      • Colorado Brands
      • Escape Rooms
      • Federal Lands
      • Food & Dining
      • Ghost Towns
      • Gondola & Chairlifts
      • Hot Springs
      • Lakes
      • Landmarks
      • Mine Tours
      • Mountains
      • Museums
      • Paintball
      • Performing Arts
      • Public Parks
      • Rivers
      • Scenic Drives
      • Sightseeing Tours
      • Shopping
      • Sports Teams
      • State Parks
      • Train Rides
      • Transportation
      • Winery Tours
      • Wildlife
      • Zip Lines & Aerial Parks
    • Spring, Summer & Fall
      • Amusement Parks
      • ATV Rentals
      • Biking
      • Boating
      • Camping
      • Drive-In Theaters
      • Fishing
      • Golf Courses
      • Hiking
      • Horseback Riding
      • Jeep Rentals
      • Rock Climbing
      • Tubing & Paddling
      • Waterfalls
      • Whitewater Rafting
    • Winter
      • Cross Country Skiing
      • Dog Sledding
      • Ice Climbing
      • Ice Fishing
      • Ice Skating
      • Skiing & Snowboarding
      • Sleigh Rides
      • Snow Tubing
      • Snowbiking
      • Snowmobiling
      • Snowshoeing
  • Events
    • January
    • February
    • March
    • April
    • May
    • June
    • July
    • August
    • September
    • October
    • November
    • December
  • Lodging
    • Budget Hotels
    • Historic Hotels
    • Luxury Hotels
    • Bed & Breakfasts
    • Boutique Hotels
    • Cabins & Glamping
    • Casinos w/ Lodging
    • Hot Spring w/ Lodging
    • Wineries w/ Lodging
    • Best Hotels
    • Dude Ranches
    • Campgrounds
  • Towns
  • Trip Planner
  • Search
  • Blog
  • Activities
  • Events
  • Lodging
  • Towns
  • Trip Planner
Exterior photo of the outside of Denver International Airport showing outside parking, covered parking garage, Jeppesen Terminal and Westin Airport Hotel
Denver International Airport, CO. Photo by: Doc Searls

Denver International Airport (DEN)

FacebookTwitter

Serving as Colorado’s only international airport and the global gateway to Colorado, Denver International Airport (locally called D.I.A.) is used by tens of thousands of people each day. It’s easy to reach downtown Denver, located only about 30 minutes by car depending on traffic.

You can catch flights out of Denver to and from the rest of Colorado’s regional airports:

  • ASE | Aspen-Pitkin County Airport – Aspen, CO (Central CO in Roaring Fork Valley)
  • CEZ | Cortez Municipal Airport – Cortez, CO (Four Corners Region)
  • COS | Colorado Springs Airport – Colorado Springs, CO (Central Front Range)
  • DRO | Durango-La Plata County Airport – Durango, CO (Four Corners Region)
  • EGE | Eagle County Regional Airport – Gypsum, CO (West of Vail and Beaver Creek)
  • GJT | Grand Junction Airport – Grand Junction, CO (Western CO)
  • GUC | Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport – Gunnison, CO (CO Colorado)
  • MTJ | Montrose Regional Airport – Montrose, CO (Western Slope and Southwest CO)
  • PUB | Pueblo Memorial Airport – Pueblo, CO (Southern Front Range)
  • ALS | San Luis Valley Regional Airport – Alamosa, CO (South Central CO)
  • TEX | Telluride Regional Airport – Telluride, CO (Southwest CO San Miguel County)
  • HDN | Yampa Valley Regional Airport – Hayden, CO (Northwest CO b/w Craig and Steamboat Springs)

Airlines Flying out of Denver Airport (DEN)

Denver International Airport Frontier Airlines Arrival Landing
Frontier Airbus landing at D.I.A. Photo: terraplanner

Completed in 1995, Denver International Airport offers direct flights around the country and even to international locations, such as Reykjavik, Iceland. It has nonstop connections throughout Europe, Asia, North America, and Latin America. It’s a hub for Frontier, Southwest, and United Airlines as well.

  • Aeromexico – Terminal West, Gate A
  • Air Canada – Terminal West, Gate A
  • Alaska Airlines – Terminal East, Gate C
  • Allegiant – Terminal West, Gate A
  • American Airlines – Terminal West, Gate A
  • Boutique Air – Terminal East, Gate A
  • British Airways – Terminal West, Gate A
  • Cayman Airways – Terminal West, Gate A
  • Copa Airlines – Terminal West, Gate A
  • Delta Air Lines – Terminal East, Gate A
  • Denver Air Connection – Terminal West, Gate A
  • Edelweiss – Terminal West, Gate A
  • Frontier Airlines – Terminal East, Gate A
  • Icelandair – Terminal West, Gate A
  • JetBlue Airways – Terminal West, Gate A
  • Lufthansa – Terminal West, Gate A
  • Southwest Airlines – Terminal East, Gate C
  • Spirit Airlines – Terminal East, GateC
  • Sun Country Airlines – Terminal West, GateA
  • United Airlines – Terminal West, Gate B
  • Volaris – Terminal West, Gate A
  • WestJet – Terminal West, Gate A
Denver International Airport Nonstop Flights Map
Direct nonstop destinations served from DEN.

Currently, Denver provides direct nonstop flights to over 190 destinations. There are 28 international destinations in 14 counties. Denver International Airport is a major domestic hub and America’s fourth largest domestic network, behind Atlanta, Chicago O’Hare, and Dallas-Fort Worth. By acres, it is the largest in the country and the second largest in the world.

Jeppesen Terminal

Denver International Airport Main Terminal Teepees Early Morning
Early morning at Jeppesen Terminal of Denver International Airport. Photo by: Peterquinn925

Covering 1.5 million square feet of space, the Jeppesen Terminal can be one hectic place. It’s host to the airport’s iconic peaked roof, which imitates the snowcapped Rocky Mountains and honors the Native American teepees that dotted the Colorado plains.

It includes access to passenger ticketing, baggage claim, international arrivals, shuttles, and walkways to ground transportation, as well as TSA security checkpoints, dining, and shopping.

  • Level 6 – Flight Ticketing
  • Level 6 – Passenger Drop-Off for Departures
  • Level 5 – Baggage Claim
  • Level 5 – Ground Transportation
  • Level 5 – International Arrivals (North End)
  • Level 4 – Passenger Pick-Up for Arrivals
  • Terminal Floor – Security Screening (North, South, A Bridge)
  • Underground – Automated “people mover” train serving the Terminal and Concourses A, B, C
Denver International Airport Interior Plane Hanging From Ceiling
Inside Jeppesen Terminal.

Concourse A

Concourse A is the only one that can be reached by walking via a pedestrian bridge. You can also take the underground train to any of its 51 gates. It has its own TSA checkpoint and international processing area, so if the North and South end TSA checkpoints are jam-packed consider walking.

Concourse B

Concourse B requires the underground train to reach, which can be found directly after the North and South security checkpoints. The best dining options are located within Concourse B, and it also has the most gates at 67. Even if you’re flying out of a different concourse you should consider making a stopover in Concourse B to eat if you have extra time.

Concourse C

Gate C also requires the underground train to reach. It takes less than 10 minutes, so no fear if you’re short on time. There are 61 gates here, with 16 of them recently completed during an expansion project. The project also included the construction of a commuter facility, providing a designated space for travelers on commuting flights to nearby Colorado airports.

Overlooking Gate C40 and C42 in Denver International Airport
Overlooking some gates in Concourse C, Denver International Airport. Photo by: Robert Geiger

How big is the airport?

Denver International Airport takes up a total of 54.05 square miles. It is America’s third busiest airport, recording 58.8 million passengers in 2021. It also boasts the world’s seventh-longest runway, at 4,877 meters, 16,001 feet, or 3.03 miles.

D.I.A. is also one of the busiest and largest airports on the earth. It’s ranked as having the third-highest number of passengers in the world. And with regards to the surface area, it’s the 2nd biggest airport in the world at 13,726 hectares, and 1st in the United States.

How early do you need to arrive?

A few different factors go into deciding how early you need to arrive at the airport. The standard rule of thumb is 3 hours for international travel and 2 hours for domestic travel. If you’re not checking bags, it’s recommended you arrive at least 60 minutes before departure.

When planning, be sure to account for transportation times and delays, such as traffic, airport parking, shuttle time, etc. Once inside the airport, you might need time to check your bags or print a ticket at the counter, as well as stand in line for security. Then you still must find your gate, which most usually adds in an underground train ride to your terminal (unless you’re in Terminal A, which you can walk to).

East & West Terminalโ€”Airlines, Arrivals, Pickups, Tickets

Denver International Airport West Side Night
Evening entry to the West Terminal.

When you approach the airport by automobile, you’ll notice two main options, East and West. Parking, arrival pick-ups, and departure drop-offs depend on which airline you’ll be flying. If arriving by train you’ll still need to head in the right direction to find your airline to check in and drop off your bag.

East Terminal:

  • Alaska Airlines
  • Boutique Air
  • Delta Airlines
  • Frontier Airlines
  • Great Lakes
  • Jet Blue
  • Southwest Airlines
  • Spirit

West Terminal:

  • AeroMexico
  • Air Canada
  • American Airlines
  • Branson Air Express
  • British Airways
  • Iceland Air
  • Lufthansa
  • United Airlines
  • United Express
  • Volaris

Dining

Lounge 5280 Denver Airport Dining
Lounge 5280 in Concourse B, Denver International Airport.

Like the Mile High City, Denver International Airport is always reaching new culinary heights. Seemingly, on every new visit to D.I.A. there is a new restaurant or bar to imbibe at. Each concourse offers a wide selection of food available during typical dining hours. There are also some places to eat in Jeppesen Terminal pre-security.

  • Read about the best restaurants in the Denver Airport.
  • Read about the best bars in the Denver Airport.
  • Read about where to get beer and the breweries in Denver Airport.

Parking and Transportation

Denver International Airport Herz Rental Parking Lot
Herz Rental Parking Lot, Denver Airport. Photo by: david__jones

There are several choices for Denver Airport parking lots, owned either by the airport or third parties. You can save money parking at one of the third-party lots and taking a free, convenient shuttle to the terminal. Just plan ahead as it will take you a little extra time compared to parking directly in the airport lots.

Ground Transportation from East and West Terminals:

The following ground transportation is found on Level 5 on either side of the main terminal.

  • Island 1: Taxis, Mountain Carriers
  • Island 2: Limousines/Sedans
  • Island 3: Hotel Shuttles, Charter Buses, On-Airport Parking shuttles
  • Island 4: Rental Car shuttles
  • Island 5: Public Bus Service, Off-Airport parking shuttles, Rideshare apps

Ride-Sharing:

Both Lyft and Uber are available to pick you up directly from D.I.A. on Level 5 on either the East or West side of the terminal. Be sure you note if you are at the East or West location when booking your ride.

Airport Shuttles:

There are a number of shuttles that take you from D.I.A. to a variety of Colorado destinations. There is even one to the ever-popular Rocky Mountains that will transport you to your choice of alpine resorts.

  • The Summit Express delivers passengers daily to a number of scheduled destinations in Summit County, including Breckenridge, Frisco, Keystone, and Copper Mountain. You can also schedule private shuttles to other resorts, such as Vail, Beaver Creek, Steamboat Springs, and Aspen. The shuttle will also take you back to the airport when your trip is over.
  • Another popular shuttle is Blue Sky Limo, which has drop-off locations in Vail, Avon, Breckenridge, and Beaver Creek.
  • Silver Mountain Express offers private car service to and from Denver International (DEN) as well as Eagle-Vail (EGE) airports.
  • Epic Mountain Express is another choice that runs shared airport shuttles from Breckenridge, Keystone, Frisco, Silverthorne, Dillon, Avon, Copper, Vail, Edwards, and Beaver Creek.
  • Arrow Stage Lines has locations in Denver and Fort Collins and operates smoothly out of the Denver Airport.
  • Based out of Fraser, CO, Grand Mountain Rides provides luxury transportation services from mountain homes around the Winter Park and Breckenridge areas to Denver Airport, and vice-versa. They have a number of vehicles in their lineup.

Denver Airport Transit Center

Denver Airport Transit Center Train Platform Looking In
Train Platform at Denver Airport Transit Center. Photo: rtd-denver.com

The Transit Center allows you to access the University of Colorado A Line, aka the Denver Airport Train. From here you can get to Denver Union Station in around 45 minutes. The one-day fare grants you access to all of the RTD Light Rail and RTD Bus Line routes `for a 24-hour period. You can reach most of the Denver Metropolitan Area via these two public transportation services.

You can also catch the Amtrak train from Union Station and head west as far as California, with Colorado stops in Fraser, Granby, Glenwood Springs, and Grand Junction.

The Westin & Nearby Hotels

Westin Hotel Denver International Airport
West Hotel, Denver Airport.

There are many hotels close to Denver Airport, including several popular chains with branches on Tower Road leading to D.I.A. Most offer shuttles to and from the airport, as well as parking if you have a car. There is only one located within walking distance of the airport though, and that’s the Westin!

This 4-star hotel is located steps away from Jeppesen Terminal. The Westin Denver International Airport is hands-down the most time-efficient hotel to stay in for those traveling on a short business or leisure trip that needs to be near the airport. Whether it’s an early flight that you don’t want to miss or the convenience of not having to rent a car, the Westin Hotel is the spot.

It features a casual restaurant on-site, Grill & Vine, for all-day dining and the Sky Lounge for drinks. Relax at the indoor pool and even get a workout in at the 24/7 fitness center. Downtown Denver is only a train ride away! It’s also rated as one of the best properties in the city, so you aren’t passing up quality for convenience.

Check prices, availability or book Westin Hotel D.I.A.

Denver International Airport Sunset
Sunset over Jeppesen Terminal. Photo by: flydenver.com

Details

Address: 8500 Peรฑa Blvd, Denver, CO 80249

Phone: 303-342-2000

Code: DEN

Elevation: 1,655 meters / 5,430 feet

Website: flydenver.com

Latest in Denver International Airport

Denver Airport Food Wolfgang Puck Restaurant

Dining Guide at Denver International Airport

Are you traveling this holiday season? Most likely if you are, then a trip to Denver…

Dining Guide at Denver International AirportRead More

Image of an airplane wing with the Denver International Airport in the background

5 Breweries Inside the Denver Int’l Airport

Colorado is known for its love of craft beer, so itโ€™s no surprise that there are…

5 Breweries Inside the Denver Int’l AirportRead More

Denver Airport Parking Lots Economy and Garages

The Different Parking Options at the Denver International Airport

So, youโ€™ve planned your dream vacation and made all the proper arrangements. There is only one…

The Different Parking Options at the Denver International AirportRead More

DIA Conspiracy Theories

Denver International Airport Conspiracy Theories and the Surrounding Facts

Since the construction of Denver International Airport (airport code=Denver, nickname=DIA) was finished in 1995, the newest…

Denver International Airport Conspiracy Theories and the Surrounding FactsRead More

View more Denver Airport articles

Primary Sidebar

Join our Colorado travel community

Enter your email below and grab our free locals' guide and monthly what's up designed to help you live your Colorado life and uncover fun things to do. โ€”and never miss out again.

Recent Posts

  • 9 Best Motorcycle Rides in Colorado
  • 2022-23 Colorado Ski Resort Season Opening & Closing Dates
  • 12 Marvelous Hiking Trails near Montrose
  • Things to do in April in Colorado
  • 10 Picturesque Hiking Trails near Paonia

Footer

Get In Touch

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Resources
  • Disclaimer
Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter

Disclosure: Uncover Colorado is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Things To Do

  • Travel Blog
  • Colorado Activities
  • Colorado Events
  • Colorado Towns
  • Colorado Hotels
  • Colorado Restaurants
  • Colorado Transportation
  • Made in Colorado

Cheers! Mile High Happy Hour shares showcases Denver neighborhoods' restaurant happy hours.

Winter Activities

  • Federal Lands
  • Ghost Towns
  • Hot Springs
  • Ice Skating
  • Ski Resorts
  • Snow Tubing
  • State Parks
  • Train Rides

Copyright © 2023 ยท Uncover Colorado | Sitemap | Advertise