Denver Airport to downtown Denver is easiest by RTD’s A Line to Union Station or by a road transfer from the terminal. The train takes 37 minutes to downtown, while the airport has designated Level 5 pickup points for taxis, rideshares, shared vans and rental cars. Denver International Airport is about a 28-minute drive from Budget Inn.
- Train: The A Line runs between Denver Airport Station and Union Station; the trip to downtown takes 37 minutes.
- Train fare: The Airport Day Pass costs $10 and is valid all day on the RTD system, including the airport.
- Taxi: Pickup is on Level 5, Island 1; the flat rate to Downtown Denver is $72.04, including the airport access fee.
- Rideshare: Uber and Lyft pickup is on Level 5, Island 5.
How do you take the A Line from Denver Airport to downtown?
The A Line runs from Denver Airport Station to Union Station, with a trip time of 37 minutes to downtown Denver. It also stops at 61st & Peña, 40th & Airport and 38th & Blake.
From baggage claim, follow signs for “Train to Denver” to reach the Airport Transit Center on Level 1, beneath the Westin Denver International Hotel. Denver Airport Station is there. For the return trip, the same line provides Denver light rail to the airport from Union Station.
DEN and Denver Union Station’s transportation FAQ give differing frequency details: trains run approximately every 15 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes in the early morning and late evening. Service operates around the clock, seven days a week. Schedules can change, so check the official site before you go.
The Airport Day Pass costs $10 for all-day travel across the RTD system, including the airport. You can also pay through Tap-n-Ride by tapping a Visa or Mastercard, including a card in a mobile wallet, at rail stations or when boarding buses. Daily and monthly fare capping applies.
How do you get from Union Station to the downtown area?
Union Station connects the A Line with RTD buses and rail services, and its underground bus concourse is beneath 17th Street. If your destination is farther along the downtown corridor, the RTD Free MallRide runs between Union Station and Civic Center Station, stopping on every block of 16th Street Mall.
Union Station is about a 22-minute walk or a 3-minute drive from Budget Inn. The station can also be a transfer point if you’re continuing by bus or rail. The Denver Union Station guide covers the station’s transit connections and surrounding area.
Denver’s local transport options include ways to get around from downtown after you arrive.
For moving around the city after arrival, this guide to getting around Denver from downtown covers local transport options.
What are the airport taxi, rideshare and car options?
Taxis, app-based rides, shared vans and rental cars all use designated pickup areas at Denver International Airport. Road travel from the airport to downtown takes an estimated 25–35 minutes by taxi or rideshare and 45–60 minutes by shared van; peak traffic can extend those times.
Taxi
Taxi pickup is on Level 5, Island 1. Use east-side doors 505, 507 and 511, or west-side doors 506, 510 and 512. The one-way flat rate to Downtown Denver, Zone A, is $72.04, including the airport access fee. Taxis are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, without advance booking.
Uber and Lyft
Rideshare pickup is on Level 5, Island 5, on either the east or west side of the terminal. Request a ride through the app after collecting your luggage or reaching Level 5.
Payment is made in the app, and drivers may not solicit customers. Before getting in, match the vehicle’s license plate, make and model, and the driver’s name to the details in the app.
Rental cars and shuttles
Rental-car pickup is on Level 5, Island 4. Rental counters are off-site, reached by a free shuttle from the Jeppesen Terminal pickup area. Shared vans and commuter shuttles also pick up on Level 5, Island 4: use doors 511–513 on the east side or 504–508 on the west side.
Which arrival option fits your timing and luggage?
The A Line takes 37 minutes to downtown and has an all-day airport pass; a taxi or rideshare takes an estimated 25–35 minutes by road, while a shared van takes an estimated 45–60 minutes. Road times can increase during peak traffic.
For a set taxi fare, the price to Downtown Denver, Zone A, is $72.04. Rideshare pickup is at a separate Level 5 island and requires an app request.
A rental car involves a free shuttle to off-site counters, while shared vans use the same island as rental-car pickup. These pickup and transfer steps can help you choose what works with your bags and onward plans.
What should you know about late arrivals and service updates?
The A Line operates around the clock, with trains approximately every 15 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes in the early morning and late evening. Check the official site before you go for current service details and fares.
Taxis are available around the clock without advance booking. For in-person ground-transport help, DEN’s Ground Transportation Information Counter is in the central area of Level 5 in Jeppesen Terminal and is open daily from 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
FAQs
How long is the A Line ride from Denver Airport to downtown?
The A Line trip from Denver Airport Station to downtown Denver takes 37 minutes.
Where do you catch the train at Denver International Airport?
Follow the “Train to Denver” signs from baggage claim to the Airport Transit Center on Level 1, beneath the Westin Denver International Hotel.
How much is a taxi from DEN to downtown Denver?
The one-way flat rate to Downtown Denver, Zone A, is $72.04, including the airport access fee.
Where is rideshare pickup at DEN?
Uber and Lyft pickup is on Level 5, Island 5, on either side of the terminal. Request your ride through the app after collecting your luggage or reaching Level 5.