A Guide to Denver Public Transportation for Travelers

Denver is arguably the most beautiful city in the western United States. Nestled against the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and buffered up against the eastern plains, Denver offers a traveler an amazing variety of activities and attractions. Embracing the concept of "the wide open west," the Denver metropolitan area is spread out over 150 square miles. Luckily, Denver has a fantastic public transportation system that provides simple and quick access to the city. There are four primary aspects to the Denver public transportation system: the Light Rail train, public bus, skyRide, and the Park and Ride stops; together, they make a getting around town simple and convenient.

The Denver RTD, or Regional Transportation District, has worked hard to make navigating the RTD system as simple as possible. All a visitor needs to know is how to get information on stops and schedules, which form of transportation works best for them, and where to catch a ride. With a little bit of planning, making the Denver RTD work for you will be the key to an enjoyable stay in Denver for a vacation or business traveler.

Denver RTD Public Transportation System Choices

The following modes of public transportation are available through the Denver RTD system:

Denver Light Rail - The RTD Light Rail is a high speed, above ground train system that spans several miles of the Denver Metropolitan Area. I often use it when I go to Colorado Avalanche games or to a Denver Center performance. The Light Rail is a perfect way to avoid parking costs and congestion downtown. There are over 30 RTD Light Rail stops spanning from the Denver Tech Center to the Denver Downtown area. Light Rail is exceeding fast and convenient, and you can also transfer for free to the RTD bus system if a stop is off the Light Rail line or use the Light Rail Park-n-Rides to secure your car in a safe and free parking lot.

Denver skyRide - The RTD skyRide makes getting to and from the Denver International Airport very convenient. Depending on your destination or stop, the cost for skyRide ranges between $8.00 and $12.00, and skyRide shuttles run approximately every 15 minutes from 3:30 am - 1:10 am daily. RTD skyRide, like all other RTD public transportation options, is fully wheelchair accessible.

Denver RTD Bus System - The RTD Bus system has over 10,000 stops covering all parts of the Denver Metropolitan areas. I often ride the RTD Bus system from the downtown area to the Cherry Creek area just to save gas and time; not having to hunt for parking at the mall when I visit the Apple store is more than worth the cost of bus fare.

Park-n-Ride - There are over 70 free Park-n-Ride locations throughout the Denver Metro area, and all of them are free. Some, such as the Westminster Park-n-Ride, are even covered. I have parked for free in the Park-n-Ride lots well over 100 times, and I have never had anything but a positive experience. Follow this link for an alphabetical list of Park-n-Ride locations.

Free Mall Ride - If you are visiting the downtown area for business or pleasure, the free Mall Ride is the perfect solution to your commute. The Mall Ride travels the World Famous 16th Street Mall and intersects with both the Light Rail and the greater RTD Bus system. For both work and pleasure, the Free Mall Ride can save you valuable time and money.

Getting Information for the Denver RTD Public Transportation System

The Denver Regional Transportation District has made Denver Public Transit information simple and easy to find. First, if you need to contact RTD for information, they have an automated telephone system called MyStop that makes finding information very convenient. The telephone number to contact is 303.299.6000, then choose option 1, and follow it with option 1. Essentially, every one of Denver's 10,250 bus stops has a numerical code assigned to it, and you can get specific schedule information for that stop. Even if you don't know the stop number specifically, you can say an intersection or address and get the stop information that is closest. If that fails, a live agent will help you.

For Light Rail transportation throughout the city or Sky Ride from the airport, the RTD website is rich with information. Visit the Denver RTD site for complete schedule and transportation description.

Denver Public Transportation Fares, System Schedules and Routes

RTD Bus Information:

Please visit http://www.rtd-denver.com/Bus_schedules.shtml for information on RTD Bus schedules.

Bus Fares:

Local/Limited
Cash $2.00
Monthly Pass $70.00

Regional
Cash $4.50
Monthly Pass $164.00

RTD Light Rail Information:

Please visit http://www3.rtd-denver.com/schedules/getRouteList.action?routeType=2 for information regarding Light Rail Schedules.

Travel in One Zone $2.00
Travel in Two Zones $2.00
Travel in Three Zones $3.50

skyRide
DIA/Stapleton $8.00
DIA/Denver $10.00
DIA/Suburban $12.00