
Your browser is not supported for this experience.
We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari.
1 / 1
Denver has many transportation options for getting you around the city, from the efficient airport train to a downtown light rail and bus network, plus opportunities for mountain getaways.
Denver International Airport (DEN) is a major airline hub in the United States. With convenient rail service to downtown Denver, free Wi-Fi access throughout the airport and top-notch customer service, you'll be glad you landed in Denver. Find out about DEN's accessibility services, including wheelchair, security checkpoint and medical services.
It's easy to get from DEN to downtown Denver on the airport rail line dubbed the A Line. At a cost of $10 each way, travelers can use the A Line to get from the airport to downtown Denver and vice versa. (There are discounts for those with disabilities who ride regularly.) Trains leave every 15 minutes between 5 a.m. and 8 p.m. and every 30 minutes outside of those hours.
The A Line whisks travelers to the heart of downtown, specifically Denver Union Station, which is the city's transportation hub and "living room," thanks to its plush surroundings. From Union Station, travelers can access additional local and regional transportation services, such as light rail, regional and local buses, Amtrak rail service, taxis and the free 16th Street Mall shuttle (MallRide) and free downtown MetroRide buses that provide access to most downtown hotels.
All of the Regional Transportation District's (RTD’s) SkyRide buses are wheelchair accessible and make hourly runs to the airport from various Park-n-Rides around the city. Drivers assist with baggage. [Access-a-Ride is RTD’s ADA complementary paratransit service and is only available for residents. It is a shared-ride service intended for those who cannot use regular fixed-route bus/light rail service due to a disability.]
As for ridesharing services, Uber provides service in Denver through its Uber WAV rides website or through the mobile app. Lyft presently doesn't list Denver as a city where wheelchair rides are available on its Lyft WAV rides website; however, you can turn on wheelchair access in the mobile app even if wheelchair rides aren't available in your area to access vehicles that can accommodate non-folding wheelchairs or motorized wheelchairs and scooters. Lyft says that if you can fold or stow your mobility device in a vehicle's backseat or trunk, you can request any vehicle. See Lyft's foldable wheelchair policy.
The major rental car companies like Avis, Hertz and Enterprise offer special services such as hand controls, spinner knobs and easy-access buses. To ensure availability, the companies suggest making reservations up to three days in advance.
Metro Taxi has wheelchair-accessible vehicles and can provide assistance for limited numbers with prior notice and reservation. They also offer tours of the area.
The light rail network covers 113 miles across 12 rail lines and has 78 stations along Denver's north, east, southeast, southwest and west rail corridors. From as far south as Parker and Lone Tree, the trains follow I-225 and I-25 into downtown and beyond, with stops at Empower Field at Mile High, Ball Arena, Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park and Denver Union Station. Going to a Rockies game? Take the light rail to Coors Field ! Other lines will deliver you out west to Golden, south to Littleton, north to places like Westminster, Arvada and Thornton.
The train cars are clean, cool and comfortable, and many stations have Park-n-Ride lots (free or paid) that often connect to bus stops and FlexRide services.
See the How to Ride Rail webpage for more information.
Denver has a robust bus network for getting around the metro area. See the How to Ride the Bus webpage for more information.
You can get around the core of the downtown area and access hotels, major attractions and restaurants via two free bus services. While the MallRide cruises up and down the 16th Street Mall, the MetroRide goes farther to the northeast. Both services have been modified while the mall undergoes a major renovation effort. See the map for the current routes.
Mobility Plus Colorado rents a variety of wheelchairs and scooters.
Several companies in the Denver metro area rent accessible vans. United Access and Mobility Works have airport delivery options.
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has dispatched a fleet of purple buses called Bustang. The daily west route follows Interstate 70 and has eight stops, including Frisco, Vail and Glenwood Springs. Bustang buses have Wi-Fi, bathrooms and bike racks. In the wintertime, there's a handy service called Snowstang, which provides 40 days of service to four ski areas: Loveland Ski Area, Copper Mountain, Arapahoe Basin, and Steamboat Resort and Howelsen Hill in Steamboat Springs. The bus service runs on Saturdays and Sundays, plus the Martin Luther King Jr. and Presidents Day holidays. Passengers can board at Denver Union Station or the Denver Federal Center. And CDOT has launched a year-round express service called Pegasus, which departs Union Station every hour (from sunrise to sunset) and has stops at the Denver Federal Center in Lakewood, Idaho Springs, Frisco, Vail and Avon. Buses are equipped with wheelchair lifts or ramps.
Get a feel for the rails while seeing some spectacular scenery that only a train ride can provide by traveling from Denver to Glenwood Springs, Colorado, to Moab, Utah, on the Rocky Mountaineer. You'll go through Ruby Canyon, see Mount Logan and cross the Continental Divide and see deserts, arches and hoodoos. The spacious glass-domed train coaches let you take it all in. The rail service offers a host of options for those with disabilities.
Denver is a ski-in, ski-out city, thanks to the "ski train" service to the mountains. In wintertime, the Winter Park Express transports skiers and snowboarders from Denver Union Station to Winter Park Resort, which is home to the National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD). The NSCD is a world leader in adaptive sports programs. In the winter, NSCD's adaptive ski school offers a variety of private and group lessons in adaptive alpine skiing, snowboarding, ski biking, Nordic skiing and snowshoeing.
We're always happy to receive feedback. If you know of a program, activity or business that you think should be featured in our accessibility guide, please drop us a line at tourism@visitdenver.com.
How often does the train run from Denver Airport to Union Station?
Trains leave every 15 minutes between 5 a.m. and 8 p.m. and every 30 minutes outside of those hours.
What are the transportation options for disabled people in Denver?
Denver has a robust and accessible transportation network with an airport train that provides a direct connection to downtown, plus light rail and buses. There are also some exciting options for exploring the Rocky Mountains from regular bus service to train rides.
Is Denver a walkable city?
Denver is known as a walkable city. Although Denver is near the Rocky Mountains, the streets are flat and the sidewalks are wide. Denver scored 96 out of 100, according to Walk Score.
Featured
Featured