Travel by Denver Airport Rail

It's now easier than ever to get from Denver International Airport (DEN) to downtown Denver with the opening of the new airport rail line.

At a cost of $10.50, travelers can use the University of Colorado A Line (usually referred to as simply the A Line) to get from the airport to downtown Denver and vice versa, courtesy of the Regional Transportation District (RTD), metro Denver's public transit provider.

The A Line, which opened on April 22, 2016, 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. Union Station itself is a beautiful 1914 Beaux-Arts building and the location of a number of hip, locally owned restaurants, bars, shops and a boutique hotel, The Crawford Hotel.

The Denver airport rail has six stops between the airport and Denver Union Station. The 23-mile ride takes approximately 37 minutes.

DAILY SCHEDULE FROM UNION STATION

3:15 a.m.–4:15 a.m. every 30 minutes
4:15 a.m.–6:30 p.m. every 15 minutes
6:30 p.m.–1:00 a.m. every 30 minutes

FARES

$10.50 - each way to/from Denver International Airport to Union Station downtown
Discounts are available

WHERE AND HOW TO BUY A TICKET

Tickets can be purchased on rail line platforms at ticket vending machines, inside DEN or Union Station, or at any RTD sales outlet.

WHERE TO CATCH THE A LINE

Airport: The location is right by the new Westin Denver International Airport Hotel.
Downtown/Union Station: 1701 Wynkoop St.

TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS FROM UNION STATION TO YOUR HOTEL

Download the Denver Union Station Arrival Guide here.

LUGGAGE

Rail vehicles on the A Line have overhead storage, luggage towers and bicycle racks. Travelers must be able to handle their own luggage.

ACCESSIBILITY

Trains have level boarding at all doors of the train and have two wheelchair spaces per car.

STATIONS SERVED BY A LINE

The new A Line services eight stations:

Denver Airport
61st & Pena
40th Ave & Airport Blvd – Gateway Park
Peoria
Central Park
40th & Colorado
38th & Blake
Union Station

QUICK FACTS

Travel Time: 37 minutes
Cost: $10.50 one way to/from airport to Union Station
Speed: Up to 79 mph
Capacity: 209 people per car (including seating for 91 people and two wheelchair spaces)
Features: Overhead storage, luggage towers and bicycle racks

INSIDER TIPS

Looking for hotels near the Denver Airport? Right next to the Denver Airport Station is the Westin Denver International Airport Hotel, which is connected to the airport. Have an early flight or late arrival? No problem, stay right at the airport!

Union Station, located at the other end of the line from the airport, provides easy access to the restaurants, bars, microbreweries, shops and attractions around Lower Downtown (LoDo), Coors Field and the bustling pedestrian 16th Street Mall.