37 minutes from DEN to Union Station on the A Line
The A Line Commuter Rail runs from Denver International Airport’s Jeppesen Terminal to Union Station in about 37–38 minutes, so it suits solo travellers and light-luggage flyers who care more about predictable timing than curb-to-curb service. The fare is a flat $10.50 per person each way, which stings compared with regular RTD local fares but still undercuts a peak-time rideshare from DEN by a good margin.
The station sits directly under the Westin at Jeppesen Terminal, a solid 10–15 minute walk from some far-flung gates once you clear security and follow signs for “Transit Center / A Line.” Trains run about every 15 minutes for most of the day, shifting to every 30 minutes in the late night and early morning window, so just missing one after 1 a.m. can add noticeable wait time.
Door to door, plan on 50–60 minutes from DEN to most central downtown hotels: roughly 37–38 minutes on the train, then 5–15 minutes walking across Union Station plus a short walk or rideshare. Regulars often ride the A Line to Union Station, then grab a $8–$15 rideshare to LoDo, the Convention Center area, or nearby business hotels instead of paying for a full DEN–downtown car.
Onboard, cars have open seating and level boarding, but luggage space feels tight during ski season and peak afternoon arrivals, with some riders wedging large ski bags into aisles. Trains can occasionally hold for 5–10 minutes just outside Union Station, so don’t cut it too close to dinner reservations or meetings downtown.
What regulars do: they check the RTD schedule, then aim to hit the platform about 5 minutes before a known departure instead of wandering down whenever, which avoids the pain of a surprise 30-minute wait. Many locals also prefer the train-plus-short-rideshare combo to dodge Peña Boulevard traffic, especially during 4–7 p.m. rush.
Practical tip: If you land after about 1:00 a.m., confirm the next departure time on RTD’s site or the station screens before committing; missing a late-night train can add 30 minutes of standing around with your bags.