AB2 hits Boulder park‑and‑rides that AB1 sometimes skips
RTD’s AB2 bus runs between Denver International Airport and Boulder, mirroring AB1 but with a different stop pattern that matters if you use specific park‑and‑rides like Table Mesa or Wagon Road. The route boards at the Jeppesen Terminal Level 5, Island 5, in the Transit Center under the main terminal, alongside other RTD SkyRide buses.
From DEN, AB2 typically runs every 60 minutes in off‑peak hours and more often at peaks; check the current RTD timetable for exact first and last departures, as times shift by season and day of week. Travel time from the airport to downtown Boulder (Walnut & 14th) usually lands around 60–75 minutes, depending on traffic on I‑70 and US‑36.
A standard RTD Local/Limited fare currently covers AB2; it’s not a premium upcharge like some airport coaches used to be, so you pay the same basic rate as any regional RTD trip on that fare level. Pay with the RTD MyRide card, the RTD app, or cash on board; drivers do not make change, so bring small bills if you’re paying the driver directly.
AB2 shares much of its path with AB1 but can differ on which intermediate stops it hits between DEN and Boulder, which Reddit regulars say is why newcomers sometimes board the wrong variant and end up at a park‑and‑ride a few miles from their car. Advice from Boulder trip‑planning threads is blunt: match your exact stop name to the AB1/AB2 timetable, don’t just guess from “Boulder Airport Bus.”
Regulars on r/boulder say they save a screenshot of the proper AB2 timetable on their phone the night before traveling, especially for early departures before 6:00 a.m., so they’re not stuck refreshing RTD’s website on spotty LTE at a windswept stop. They also double‑check the bus headsign at the curb; it should clearly say “AB2 Boulder” or similar, not just “AB.”
Watch out for: people report standing at the Table Mesa station for 45+ minutes after reading only the AB1 column on mobile and missing that their exact trip that day is an AB2 run. Always confirm the route label (AB1 vs AB2), stop name, and departure time line up in the same column on the current RTD PDF or app.
One tip: at DEN, walk straight to the Transit Center after baggage claim on Level 5, and look for the posted RTD route list with “AB2” and departure times; confirm that schedule against your saved screenshot before you settle in for the 60‑plus‑minute ride to Boulder.