How to Get to Boulder, Colorado

Boulder is a 45-minute drive from Denver International Airport — only 15 minutes longer than the drive from downtown Denver — along an easy stretch of Highway 36.

As your meeting attendees make their way into Boulder, cresting the hill known as Davidson Mesa and looking down into the Boulder Valley, you may hear a few gasps. It's a breathtaking view of the city spread out before you, cradled by the red sandstone and pine-dotted foothills and with glimpses of the white-capped Rocky Mountains beyond.

With a little planning, the pleasure of arriving to Boulder can be easily continued as you transport your group around this well-laid-out city. Below are some tips for arriving to Boulder and getting around once you’re here.

Arriving by Air
Driving to Boulder from DIA
Shuttle Services
Public Bus
Public Transit in Boulder

Arriving by Air

Denver Airport

Denver International Airport (DIA), pictured above, is 42 miles away, served by 25 airlines and with approximately 160 daily nonstop flights from major U.S. cities. Among many awards, Skytrax World Airport Awards named DIA No. 3 Best Airport Serving 50-60 Million Passengers Per Year (the highest among U.S. airports).

Driving to Boulder from DIA

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With accessible roadways year-round, driving to Boulder from DIA is easy.

Without Tolls: Take Peña Boulevard and merge onto I-70 west. Take I-70 to I-270 west. Continue onto Highway 36, which will take you to the east side of Boulder. This route is free of tolls and takes about 45 minutes during non-peak traffic hours.

With Tolls: From Peña Boulevard, take the toll road exit north (E-470 north to the Northwest Parkway toward Hwy. 36 West/Denver Boulder Turnpike). Exit onto Hwy. 36 and continue west into Boulder. Please be aware this route has tolls, and if you are renting a car, you will need to make arrangements with your rental car agency.

Shuttle Services

Eight Black Airport Shuttle is a reliable provider, delivering guests directly to many of Boulder's hotels or other locations. Rates, schedules and details are available on the Eight Black website.

Boulder Transport provides luxury limousine, airport, and contract transportation services in Boulder, Colorado.

Accessibility Info

Currently, there are no accessibility features or options for these services.

Public Bus

You can take the Regional Transportation District (RTD) bus from DIA to Boulder (Route AB). The route makes several convenient stops in Boulder. Buses leave approximately every 60 minutes from the airport. The schedule and route information can be found on RTD's website (select Route AB/AB1/AB2). Tickets are paid directly to the driver upon boarding the bus. You'll need cash and exact fare only, as drivers cannot make changes. This is an economical option, with one-way tickets costing $10.50. RTD has an information booth on the baggage claim level of the Main Terminal. The trip takes approximately 80 minutes. www.rtd-denver.com.

Uber now has a partnership with RTD (which runs the public buses). You can use the Uber app to plan your route and pay for your bus fare. Just open your Uber app, choose your destination and starting location, and hit "Transit" among the product options.

Public Transit in Boulder

Public Transportation

Meeting planners find it's convenient to hold a "walking conference" in Boulder's compact downtown, with conference hotels and great venues in one easily walkable area. Public bike-sharing kiosks, called B-Cycle are located throughout Boulder and make it fun and easy to pedal from station to station at an affordable rate. Boulder’s in-city bus routes (named the Hop, Skip and Jump) offer another way for attendees to get around town.

The regional bus system, Regional Transportation District (RTD), can also help attendees travel throughout the entire city and to nearby towns and Denver. The downtown bus station at 14th and Walnut is a convenient hub for getting around town, to nearby towns, and to and from the airport via Route AB.

Accessibility Info

All RTD buses and rail vehicles are accessible for mobility aids such as wheelchairs, electric scooters, segways, walkers and crutches. Bus and rail operators are trained to assist passengers with disabilities boarding or exiting the vehicle. Learn more about accessibility features, including those for blind or visually impaired passengers, on RTD routes.