Denver, Colorado Hotels and City Guide

Denver - Transportation

Getting Around (Intro)
Getting Around Denver

Besides trying to figure out the complex grid system, Denver is an easy city in which to get around. Visitors can use their own or rental cars to navigate the city, as well as avail themselves of Denver’s public transportation. Traveling around Denver’s districts is easy enough, especially if you have some good maps and a strong sense of where you are going.

Visitors and citizens can use the Light Rail, city buses, taxis, and because Denver is such a fit place, you can always walk. The Mile High City is friendly to pedestrians, and walking is a beautiful way to see the area’s attractions. Throughout the city, you can stop at Visitor Information Centers for directions and suggestions.

The Light Rail
The Light Rail is a great way to get around Denver, and Regional Transportation District makes it easy for visitors. Start by using the convenient online planner offered at the RTD website. Here you can enter in your destination and planned time you would like to visit it, and this planner lets you know the best route. At the stations – which are worth seeing in and of themselves because of the open design and beautiful artwork – you can purchase tickets from the vending machines. Fares range from $2 to $4.50 for one-way trips. Discounts are available for seniors, disabled people, and students. Day passes are available for local ($6) express ($10), and regional trains ($12). If you plan to ride the train during your vacation, consider a 5 day pass, which is $45. For information on fares and help with planning your train trips, visit the RTD website or call 303.299.6000.

Buses
Riding the bus is just as easy as the Light Rail. The Regional Transportation District strives to make this a pleasant experience for visitors and citizens alike. You can find information on how to plan your trips, which routes to take, what fares are, and where stations are located. In addition, Information Centers are found in the city. They are open from 6:00 am to 8 pm Monday through Friday and from 9:00 am to 6 pm on weekends and holidays. You won’t ever be stranded in Denver.

All Denver bus stops are marked with red and white signs. Each bus route that the bus will stop at is noted on the sign. If you want to end up back in the same place, your return stop will likely be right across the street from where you depart. Have exact change ready or a buss pass. If you have to transfer buses, make sure to ask the driver for a transfer slip so you can get on your next bus without having to pay again. It is a good idea to buy your tickets ahead of time.
For local buses, fares are $2.00 or $1.00 for seniors, students, and disabled people. A 10-ride ticket book is $18 ($9 for those qualifying for discount).

Bike-n-Ride
If you are enjoying Denver’s sites from a bike, you have the added option of catching a ride on the bus as well. Your bike comes right with you. All Denver city buses (except the free ones for the 16th Street Mall) are equipped with two bike racks. If these are full, you can put the bikes in the baggage bins. For information on the bike-n-ride program, call 1.800.366.7433.

Car Rental
Cars offer visitors the luxury of coming and going whenever they please. If you arrive without a car, then there are a host of rental companies from which you can find transportation for your stay.

Alamo Rent A Car - Toll free: 1-800-462-5266
Avis Rent A Car - 1-800-331-1212
Budget Rent A Car - 1-800-527-0700
Dollar Rent A Car - 1-800-800-3665
E-Z Rent-A-Car - 1-800-277-5171
Enterprise Rent-A-Car - 1-800-261-7331
Hertz Car Rental - 1-800-654-3131
Thrifty - 1-800-847-4389

These chain companies are convenient in terms of return policies and times, and you can reserve cars by calling or going online. It will save you some trouble if you reserve a car in advance of your trip.

Depending on the area, Denver has metered parking. Parking in metered spots is free on weekends and after 10:00 pm on weekdays. There are also meters based on European models: you purchase a ticket from a nearby machine and put it on your dashboard.

Taxis
There are many taxi companies in Denver, including a very green taxi company that uses hybrid cars. Typical fares are as follows:

$2.50 for the first 1/9 mile
$0.25 for each additional 1/9 mile
$0.37 per minute when taxi is traveling less than 15 mph
A charge of $0.37.5 per minute is assessed for each minute of wait time after three minutes
$3.25 additional charge trips starting from the airport

Traveler Information, Maps & Books
A great resource is the RTD website. This very user-friendly site will help plan trips and familiarize people with Denver transportation. A good street atlas is a must no matter what form of transportation you will be using. AAA members can access great free maps, and a useful guide is the Rand McNally Denver Regional Street Guide. The Mile High City is very friendly to visitors, and you will find a lot of useful help from the Denver Office of Information at 918 16th Street or 201 West Colfax Avenue #301. Call 303.892.1505 or 720.913.4800.

Hotels in Denver, Colorado