AirportsMadeSimple™

DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (DEN or DIA)
8500 Pena Blvd. Denver, CO 80249-6340

Weather: CLICK HERE

Terminal map: CLICK HERE

FLYING IN

TRANSPORTATION:

Signs to transportation clear? Yes

Types of transportation:

Rental cars, taxis, hotel shuttles, commuter shuttles, public (bus) transportation

(With reservation): luxury limousines, mountain carriers, charter buses

Available 24 hours?  Maybe

Most flights arrive before midnight, and the rental car/other counters close at 11:30 p.m. each day.  If you arrive anytime before 6:30 a.m. and 11:30 p.m., best to confirm your transportation.

RENTAL CARS:

Do you even need a rental car?  Yes. The airport is very isolated.  Denver:  30 minutes    Boulder:  45 minutes

Cars located onsite or offsite?  Offsite

Where are the check-in counters?   Counters located in central area of airport (you will pass them on way to ground transportation)

If you have a reservation, you do NOT need to stop at the rental counter in the terminal.  You can proceed directly to the corresponding transportation shuttle, then check in at the offsite location.

Hours:  6:30 a.m. – 11:30 p.m., 7 days per week

Total time from gate to car:  Allow 30 minutes (excluding baggage claim time)

BONUS TIPS:

FOOD:

Variety of restaurants (fast-food and sit-down)

Please note most restaurants close at 9:00 p.m., seven days/week except:

Chef Jimmy’s Bistro & Spirits, A gates, Center core (closes at 11:30 p.m.)

Boulder Beer Tap House, West Side, Level 5 (closes at 11:00 p.m.)

Mesa Verde Smoking Lounge, A gates, Mezzanine (closes at 11:30 p.m.)

Burger King, East Side, Level 6 (Open 24 hours)

McDonalds, A gates, Center core (Open 24 hours)

MISC.:

Construction exiting airport? No

Smoking allowed? Yes, in designated areas, both inside and outside the airport

What if it snows?  They’re prepared

FLYING OUT

TRAVELING TO AIRPORT:

Construction delays?  No

Will peak traffic times affect you? No, not once you’re 15 minutes from airport

Will weather affect your flight?  Maybe, but they are very prepared for snow

I recently flew out of DEN after 18” of snow, and my flight wasn’t cancelled.

ARRIVING AT AIRPORT:

Signs clearly marked for departure/arrival and rental cars?  Yes (but…please see notes about rental car drop-off)

PARKING AVAILABLE:

Onsite and offsite parking is available – clearly marked

RENTAL CARS:

Are they located offsite or onsite?  Offsite

Drop-off signs clearly marked?  No – you will need to run a Google map.

Some rental agencies are listed from the highway, some aren’t.  There are two total exits to drop off rental cars. Period.  If you miss that last exit you have to drive through the airport.  Take one of the two exits that say “rental cars” and you’ll be fine.

Total time from drop-off to gate:  30-45 minutes once you arrive at the rental car drop-off station.  You then board a shuttle to the terminal.

TERMINAL:

Is there more than one? No

This airport is set up as follows:  One (1) “terminal” and three (3) “gates” – Gates A, B & C.  You arrive at the main “terminal” then take a train to one of the three gates.  It’s clearly marked.  >>>>>>>>>Allow an additional 10 minutes for this process.

SECURITY CHECKPOINT:

Average clearance time (excluding First Class/Priority): 20 minutes

www.ClearMe.com or equivalent available?  Yes (delete 15 minutes for clearance time)

WI-FI:

Free or pay?  Free

BONUS TIPS:

Curbside check available?  Yes
Curbside only for: American, Continental, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, US Airways, and United Airlines

Hotels close?  None onsite – Offsite (located in the 6900 blocks of Tower Road, allow 15 minutes)

FOOD:

Variety of restaurants (fast-food and sit-down); HOWEVER, please note most close at 9:00 p.m., seven days/week except:

Chef Jimmy’s Bistro & Spirits, A gates, Center core (closes at 11:30 p.m.)

Boulder Beer Tap House, West Side, Level 5 (closes at 11:00 p.m.)

Mesa Verde Smoking Lounge, A gates, Mezzanine (closes at 11:30 p.m.)

Burger King, East Side, Level 6 (Open 24 hours)

McDonalds, A gates, Center core (Open 24 hours)

Comments, suggestions, questions? Please drop us a note at airportsmadesimple@gmail.com.