# Denver International Airport (DEN)

> Denver, US · 25 km (15 mi) northeast of downtown Denver

Web: https://airport.flights/airport/den
JSON: https://airport.flights/api/airport/den.json

## Facts

- **IATA**: DEN
- **ICAO**: KDEN
- **Timezone**: America/Denver
- **Runways**: 6
- **Terminals**: 1
- **Passengers**: 82.4M/yr
- **Worldwide rank**: #6
- **Hub for**: United Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines
- **Official site**: https://www.flydenver.com/

## Overview

## Welcome

Denver International Airport (DEN) presents a complex yet familiar landscape for seasoned travelers. This high-altitude hub is renowned for its brutal weather disruptions and infamous security queues. However, ask any local, and they'll tell you that DEN's chaos is gamable with a bit of familiarity: strategic security choices, quick food stops, and an adept use of the A-Bridge and underground train can streamline your experience. Locals embrace this airport, treating it as a fourth place to work, eat, and drink, especially with its craft beer bars and coffee spots scattered throughout.

## At a glance

DEN accommodates 82.4 million passengers annually, making it one of the busiest airports in the U.S. With six runways and one sprawling Jeppesen Terminal, it serves as a major hub for United Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and Southwest Airlines. Located 25 km (15 miles) northeast of downtown Denver, the airport connects the mountainous highlands of Colorado to the world.

## Terminals & layout

The centerpiece of DEN is the Jeppesen Terminal, a deceptively vast space that deceives first-timers with its train-dependent layout. All concourses link back to this central terminal, requiring passengers to rely heavily on the underground train, especially during tight connections. People movers and walkways help mitigate distances within concourses, although walking can often be faster if you know your path.

## Getting to and from the city

Transportation to downtown Denver is straightforward yet varied. The A Line Commuter Rail offers a 37-38 minute ride to Union Station for $10.50, ideal during peak surge pricing for ride-shares. Uber and Lyft pickups, located on Level 5, island 5 of the ground transportation area, can vary casually from $60 to $100. Alternatively, express shuttle and bus services, including the RTD routes, provide connectivity to Boulder, Aurora, and other local destinations.

## Traveller essentials

Security can be a bottleneck: aim for South Security during off-peak times or utilize the often underrated North Security or Bridge Security to A for pre-board convenience. Parking options include East and West garages at $18/day, and more economical choices like the Pikes Peak Lot at $6/day.

## Dining & shopping highlights

Jeppesen Terminal offers a culinary array from Chick-fil-A at A Gates to the uniquely local Santo Restaurant within the terminal itself. Denver's love for craft beer extends to the New Belgium Hub near gate B30 and Great Divide Brewery in Concourse C, where rotating taps showcase regional flavors. For souvenirs and essentials, shops such as Tumi and Hudson News are well-distributed in the terminal.

## Lounges

Lounging at DEN comes with choices: the American Airlines Admirals Club and American Express Centurion Lounge both provide refuge in the Jeppesen Terminal. United flyers can find the United Club lounges convenient in both A Gates West and B Gates East. If you're in need of more local flair, the Capital One Lounge, newly available, combines comfort with regional touches.

## Insider tips

- **Insider:** Exploring Denver's conspiracy-theory murals? Head to Jeppesen Terminal Level 5 at baggage claim—where most iconic photos are snapped.

- **Time:** Connecting from A to B with seconds to spare? Always opt for the train—it's quicker than walking between concourses.

- **Avoid:** Hungry? Seek better options by walking 5–10 gates away from the busy central areas in each concourse.

- **Local:** Craving good beer? Try New Belgium Hub near B30 for a selection that rivals the bars downtown.

- **Money:** Taking a ride-share? Avoid surge pricing by checking the fixed-rate A Line to Union Station.

- **Quiet:** Need a peaceful spot to work? Find calm near the far ends of A and C concourses with open power outlets.

- **Time:** Returning a rental car? Allocate an extra 20–30 minutes for the off-site center shuttle return.

## Terminals (1)

- **Jeppesen Terminal** — Aer Lingus, Aeromexico, Air Canada, Air France

## Dining (41)

- **Aletitude** — Jeppesen Terminal · Local · American · $$
- **Ancho’s Mexican Grill**
- **Auntie Anne’s Pretzels** — Jeppesen Terminal · Local · Snack · $
- **Bar Dough** — Jeppesen Terminal · Local · Italian · $$
- **Big Bowl**
- **Boulder Beer Tap House**
- **Breckenridge Brewery** — Jeppesen Terminal · Local · American · $$
- **Cantina Grill**
- **Caribou Coffee**
- **Chick-fil-A – A Gates** — Jeppesen Terminal · Fast Food · American · $
- **City Pho**
- **Coors Silver Bullet Bar** — Jeppesen Terminal · Bar · American · $$
- **Crú Food & Wine Bar**
- **Dazbog Coffee – A Gates** — Jeppesen Terminal · Coffee · American · $
- **Denver Central Market**
- **Denver Chophouse** — Concourse A
- **Einstein Bros Bagels**
- **El Chingon** — Jeppesen Terminal · Local · Mexican · $$
- **Etai’s Bakery Cafe** — Concourse B
- **Great Divide Brewing** — Jeppesen Terminal · Local · Brewery · $$
- **Jax Fish House**
- **McDonald’s – A Gates** — Jeppesen Terminal · Fast Food · American · $
- **Mesa Verde Bar & Grill**
- **Modern Market** — Concourse B
- **New Belgium Hub**
- **No Boundaries** — Jeppesen Terminal · Retail · Gift Shop · $$
- **Panda Express**
- **Pour La France**
- **Quiznos**
- **Root Down** — Concourse C
- **Santo** — Jeppesen Terminal · Local · Mexican · $$
- **Shake Shack – A Gates** — Jeppesen Terminal · Fast Food · American · $$
- **Smashburger** — Concourse B
- **Snarf’s Sandwiches** — Concourse C
- **Starbucks – B Gates Center Core** — Jeppesen Terminal · Coffee · Café · $
- **Steve’s Snappin’ Dogs** — Concourse B
- **Superfruit Republic** — Jeppesen Terminal · Healthy · Smoothie Bar · $
- **Tapas Sky Bar**
- **The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf** — Jeppesen Terminal · Café · Coffee Shop · $
- **Timberline Steaks & Grille**
- **Voodoo Doughnut** — Jeppesen Terminal · Local · Bakery · $

## Lounges (20)

- **American Airlines Admirals Club** — Concourse A
- **American Airlines Admirals Club** — Jeppesen Terminal · American Airlines, Day pass
- **American Express Centurion Lounge** — Concourse C
- **American Express Centurion Lounge** — Jeppesen Terminal · American Express, Priority Pass
- **Capital One Lounge** — Jeppesen Terminal, Plaza Premium
- **Capital One Lounge (Plaza Premium)** — Jeppesen Terminal · Capital One, Day pass
- **Chase Sapphire Lounge** — Planned, credit card lounge
- **Colorado Oasis** — Concourse A, pay-per-use
- **Colorado Oasis** — Jeppesen Terminal · Day pass
- **Delta Sky Club** — Concourse A
- **Delta Sky Club** — Jeppesen Terminal · Delta Airlines, Day pass
- **Escape Lounge** — Concourse A, pay-per-use
- **Minute Suites** — Concourse B, pay-per-use
- **The Club DEN** — Concourse A, Priority Pass
- **United Club** — Concourse B West
- **United Club | A Gates West** — Jeppesen Terminal · United Airlines, Day pass
- **United Club | B Gates East** — Jeppesen Terminal · United Airlines, Day pass
- **United Polaris Lounge** — Planned, United long-haul
- **USO Denver** — Jeppesen Terminal, military lounge
- **USO Denver** — Jeppesen Terminal · Military, Day pass

## Shops (20)

- **Black Canyon Market**
- **Colorado Limited**
- **CREW**
- **Denver Sports**
- **Duty Free Americas**
- **Erie Coffee & Goods**
- **Hudson News – A Gates** — Jeppesen Terminal · Travel Essentials
- **InMotion Entertainment**
- **iStore** — Jeppesen Terminal · Electronics
- **Johnston & Murphy**
- **Kiehl’s**
- **Kiehl’s** — Jeppesen Terminal · Beauty
- **MontBlanc**
- **Peak News & Gifts**
- **See’s Candies**
- **Spirit of the Red Horse**
- **Spirit of the Rockies**
- **Tattered Cover Book Store**
- **Time Travel**
- **Tumi** — Jeppesen Terminal · Fashion

## Parking (10)

- **61st and Peña Station Park-n-Ride** — A Line park-and-ride
- **East Economy** — Surface economy parking · $10/day
- **East Garage** — Terminal covered parking · $18/day
- **East Valet** — Terminal valet parking · $27/day, 2/hr
- **Hotel and Transit Center Parking** — Short-term parking
- **Mount Elbert Lot** — Overflow economy parking · $6/day
- **Pikes Peak Lot** — Long-term economy parking · $6/day
- **West Economy** — Surface economy parking · $10/day
- **West Garage** — Terminal covered parking · $18/day
- **West Valet** — Terminal valet parking · $27/day, 2/hr

## Ground transport (16)

- **A Line Commuter Rail** — Train to Union Station · 37–38 min DEN–Union Station · $10.50 · Every 15 min most of day · Every 30 min late night/early morning
- **Bustang** — Intercity coach to Colorado Sp
- **Car Rentals** — On-airport rental car shuttle · Shuttle 10–15 min each way between terminal and rental center (not including counter time) · Rental shuttles run frequently throughout the day
- **Front Range Ski Bus** — Seasonal ski bus service
- **Green Ride** — Intercity shuttle to northern  · 30-45 min longer with multiple stops
- **Groome Transportation** — Intercity shuttle to mountain  · 20-30 min slower with multiple stops
- **Hotel Shuttles** — Courtesy hotel buses · 10–20 min to nearby airport hotels · $0 (comped by most hotels) · Commonly advertised ~Every 30 min, but varies by property
- **Lyft** — Rideshare · 10-15 cheaper than Uber at times
- **Peña Boulevard** — Airport expressway for private · Typically ~15–20 min from I‑70 to DEN, longer with traffic · $0 (public roadway; toll-free) · Continuous access; congestion varies by time of day and incidents
- **RTD Bus Route 145X** — Express bus · Peak hours only · Weekdays
- **RTD Bus Route AB1** — Airport to Boulder
- **RTD Bus Route AB2** — Airport to Boulder variants
- **RTD Bus Route AT** — Airport to Aurora and Denver T
- **Shared Ride Shuttles** — Door-to-door shuttle · 30-60 min longer with multiple drop-offs
- **Taxis** — Metered cabs · Flat-rate zones from DEN (exact amounts vary by destination) · On demand during airport operating hours
- **Uber** — Rideshare · 60-100 depending on surge

## Insider tips

- _Insider_: Exploring Denver's conspiracy-theory murals? Head to Jeppesen Terminal Level 5 at baggage claim—where most iconic photos are snapped.
- _Time_: Connecting from A to B with seconds to spare? Always opt for the train—it's quicker than walking between concourses.
- _Avoid_: Hungry? Seek better options by walking 5–10 gates away from the busy central areas in each concourse.
- _Local_: Craving good beer? Try New Belgium Hub near B30 for a selection that rivals the bars downtown.
- _Money_: Taking a ride-share? Avoid surge pricing by checking the fixed-rate A Line to Union Station.
- _Quiet_: Need a peaceful spot to work? Find calm near the far ends of A and C concourses with open power outlets.
- _Time_: Returning a rental car? Allocate an extra 20–30 minutes for the off-site center shuttle return.