Traveling To
And
Around Colorado
The basics
First and foremost, it’s important to know that Denver International Airport (DIA) is on the eastern outskirts of Denver—a place that I like to call “The Flatlands.” When flying into Denver, I always get a good chuckle of all the tourists looking outside the windows wondering, “where are the mountains? Did I get on a flight to Kansas?”
From DIA to Downtown Denver, it’s a 30-45min drive. Although you can certainly find some nice views of the mountains from Downtown Denver (ie. from rooftop restaurants or open views), the mountain views are from afar. If your goal is to plan a trip to the mountains, it’s important to note that Denver is on the outskirts of the Rocky Mountains. I like to joke that settlers were traveling west, saw the vast size of the rocky mountains, and said, “let’s just setup shop here.”
Denver aka The Mile High City is a great place to start your vacation. As someone who grew up in Chicagoland where the city seems to be endless with traffic galore, you will find that Denver is much more calm and easier to navigate. As the 19th largest city in the United States, Denver has all of the attractions to explore without the constant hustle and bustle of larger cities. At 5280’ above sea level, Denver is the highest city in the United States so it’s not a bad idea to stay for a night or two so that your body can acclimate to the altitude prior to heading to the mountain towns which are must higher (Breckenridge is at 9600′ above sea level). If you are tight on time and don’t have time for Denver you should be fine going straight to the mountains. Most people acclimate to the higher elevation just fine but altitude sickness, which can give similar symptoms as the flu, is a real thing for some. To prevent altitude sickness, drink more water than you typically do at home.
The airport is roughly a 45-60min drive from the Foothills. The “Foothills” travel almost perfectly north to south and it’s where the mountains raise up in a hurry!
Heading to the Mountains for your Vacation?
Rent a Car
I highly recommend renting a car. Having a vehicle will give you the ability to see more of the state and at your own convenience. You’re likely coming to Colorado to explore and site see so this will be your most convenient option.
If you are traveling in the winter, I highly recommend an AWD or 4×4 vehicle. If you are traveling in the summer, a 2WD vehicle will likely be sufficient to get you everywhere you want to go, including the majority of hiking trailheads.
Another thing to keep in mind is that city folk like to play in the mountains on weekends. Be aware that traffic to the mountains (ie. Denver to Breckenridge) can be heavier from 3-7pm on Friday as well as Saturday/Sunday mornings. Traffic will also be heavier on your return trip to Denver from the mountains from 2:30-7pm on Saturday and Sunday. Give yourself extra time if traveling on the weekends and you have a flight to catch. There is typically little-to-no mountain traffic on weekdays so try to plan your travels accordingly.
Flights from Denver (DIA) to Mountain Towns
From DIA you can catch flights to various mountain towns but it will likely be expensive. Between layover time and then still having to bus/rent a car to get to your final destination, chances are that you’re better off getting a rental car.
Exceptions: Telluride region, Grand Junction region
Shuttle Bus from DIA to the Mountains:
Depending on where you’re heading and your travel itinerary, this can be a great option. Say you’re coming to ski, maybe inexperienced in driving in the snow/mountains, or possibly want to save money. There are many shuttle services such as Summit Express that will take you to various mountain towns. From there, take the town bus from your hotel to the ski lifts or around town.
Public Transportation in the Mountains:
The bus systems tend to be a great way to travel around the popular resort towns. They’re very clean, filled with happy travelers, often free, and a hassle-free way to lug your hiking, biking, skiing gear around. For further information, google search “bus system in (town you’re staying).”
Uber/Lyft in popular ski resort towns:
Yes, there are some but nowhere near as many as you’d expect. It can be risky to rely on a ride share companies in these “small” mountain towns (Breckenridge, Steamboat, Vail, Winter Park) when it is busy or late. Don’t pull a me by staying out too late past the bus schedule and having to ask a cop to drive us back to our Airbnb (although, yes, it did work).
Heading Downtown Denver?
The train, which runs every 30mins from the airport to Union Station is a convenient option. It is a fast and inexpensive option with Union Station being in the heart of the city. Within Union Station, there are a bunch of restaurants making it a fun place to wander around.
Of course, there are plenty of Ubers and Lyfts available that can take you to your destination, though pricier than the train.
Car rental centers are located just off the airport campus. From the airport, you will hop on a quick bus to get there.
Once downtown, it is very easy to walk around, Uber, or my personal favorite, find an electric scooter or e-bike scattered throughout the city to ride. You can rent a scooter through the Uber/Lyft app. Scooters can be more fun, quicker, and cheaper than an Uber car ride.