Denver International Airport (DEN) - The fourth busiest in the USA

Denver International Airport (DEN) is the largest airport in the United States by land area and its fourth busiest by passenger traffic.

The airport is located 25 miles northeast of downtown Denver and is a major hub in the U.S. aviation network. It serves direct or non-stop flights to over 200 destinations - one of the few airports in the US to reach this milestone.

In 2024, DEN handled over 82 million passengers, ranking among the 10 busiest airports globally. The airport is a significant economic driver for Colorado, itself a tourism hotspot, contributing over $47 billion annually to the region's economy.

Major Airlines - United, Frontier, Southwest

The biggest airline at Denver Airport is United Airlines. The airport is its primary hub from where United serves flights to cities all over the world. Its regional subsidiary, United Express, serves many smaller cities domestically, further improving connectivity. Together, these two airlines provide direct or non-stop flights to over 190 destinations and take up over 45% of the market share at DEN.

Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines, two major low-cost US airlines, have an operating base at Denver Airport. They provide hundreds of cheap flights to domestic destinations, and together make up for 40% of the flights at DEN.

Most other US airlines also have a presence at DEN. These include Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Allegiant Air.

Of the foreign airlines serving Denver, notable ones include Air Canada, Air France, British Airways, Lufthansa, and Turkish Airlines. Worth mentioning are the 3 Mexican airlines with scheduled flights to and from Denver: the flag carrier Aeroméxico, and the 2 biggest low-cost airlines in the country - Viva and Volaris.

The airport accommodates over 200 nonstop destinations across more than 20 countries, with more than 1,700 daily flights.

Click here to see all airlines serving Denver International Airport.

Terminal Layout and Gates of DEN

For such a massive airport, it may come as a surprise that DEN has just 1 passenger terminal called the Jeppesen Terminal. It houses everything from ticketing, baggage claim, and security checkpoints, to dining establishments and departure gates.

It is split into Concourses A, B, and C:

• Concourse A handles all international flights, including all international carriers, plus many domestic flights by major US airlines. It has 62 gates.

• Concourse B is used exclusively by United Airlines. It is the biggest concourse featuring 72 gates.

• Concourse C serves mostly regional flights. It is primarily used by Southwest and has 47 gates.

Concourse A can be reached via a pedestrian bridge directly from the terminal building or by using the Automated Guideway Transit System (AGTS).

Concourses B and C can only be reached via the AGTS.

See all destinations you can reach from Denver.

Jeppesen Terminal Levels Explained

The massive size of the main terminal can be overwhelming for first time travelers or frankly anyone going through Denver.

Here’s the lowdown on what levels 4, 5, and 6 house and where to go. Note that Jeppesen Terminal doesn’t have levels 1, 2, and 3 to avoid confusion with the Transit Center, which does.

• Level 4: This is the level below the baggage reclaim and it’s where you can get picked up after arrival. Accessible via stairs, elevator, and escalators.

• Level 5: Akin to a ground level for Arrivals, here is where you can find the South Security Checkpoint, baggage reclaim, taxi and ride-share pick-up locations, and shuttles to the rental car center and hotels.

• Level 6: If you’re departing from DEN, this level is likely where you will end up first (i.e., Departures). It has the West Security Checkpoint and check-in desks.

Once inside and through security, the airside area is further split into concourses A, B, and C (see above).

Connecting Flights and Transit

There are generally speaking 2 types of connections you might have at Denver Airport.

Domestic Connections are very straightforward. As you won’t have to clear Immigration or Customs, all you need to do is find your new gate. You can use the underground train system (AGTS) to reach any of the concourses.

As an International Arrival, you will be required to clear customs in the Jeppesen Terminal before proceeding to your connecting flight. This is the standard at all US airports, and Denver is no exception.

Immigration procedures are always conducted at Denver Airport, regardless of whether you’re leaving or entering the US. A notable exception is pre-cleared flights, which are treated as arriving domestic flights.

The suggested minimum connecting time is 40 minutes for domestic connections and 2 hours for international connections.

Wi-Fi at Denver Airport

DEN provides free wireless internet access throughout the airport. It’s very easy to connect - just select "DEN Airport Free WiFi" or “DEN Airport Free WiFi 2.4” from the list of available networks.

This service is not limited in time or bandwidth, and the connection is fast enough for most daily tasks.

Additional Services at Denver Airport

Traveling through DEN comes with many perks. The airport is known for its efficiency, pleasant passenger experience, and quirky art installations, among other useful facilities.

Here are some of the services you can take advantage of at Denver Airport and where to find them:

• Child Play Area near Gate C48.

• Interfaith Chapel on Level 6, East.

• An outdoor desk for plainspotting and lounging in the sun at each concourse:

  • Near Gate A15

  • Near Gate B7

  • Near Gate C67

• Lost & Found inside the Jeppesen Terminal

• Many battery charging stations and work desks spread around the airport.

• Pet relief areas near all gates and in the main area of the terminal.

• Canine Therapy: meet the airport’s friendly dogs and cats, hug them, pet them, and take pictures!

• Currency Exchange in the center core of concourses A and B, as well as the Jeppesen Terminal.

• Smoking areas outside the terminal, pre-Security. Note that the airport is a non-smoking zone and you won’t be allowed to smoke airside.

• Mail Services: Mail Safe Express, FedEx, and the US Postal Service all have offices at the airport.

• Public Art and Exhibitions: Denver Airport is famous for its quirky, sometimes provocative art exhibitions around the airport.

Dining Options at DEN

Denver is a wonderful airport to be stuck at for the multitude of amazing, world-class, and award-winning dining options to try.

Hopefully, you don’t actually get stuck at the airport, but you should give yourself enough time to try some of the best places to eat and drink. Arguably, Concourses A and B have the greatest variety and the most renowned restaurants, but you can find something suiting your taste and budget in the main building and Concourse C just the same.

Here are some of the best dining options at DEN:

• Jeppesen Terminal: Boulder Beer Tap House, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Einstein Bros. Bagels, and several coffee houses.

• Concourse A: Elway's Taproom & Grill (Gate A18), Tacos Tequila Whiskey (Gate A18), Peet's Coffee (Gate A18), Denver Chophouse (Center core), and Mesa Verde Bar & Grill (mezzanine).

• Concourse B: Voodoo Doughnut (mezzanine), Snooze (mezzanine), Steve’s Snappin’ Dogs (Gate B24), Que Bueno! Mexican Grille (Gate B52), and Kabod Coffee (Gates B24 and B89).

• Concourse C: Root Down (center core), La Casita (center core), Little Man Ice Cream (Gate C27), Dazbog Coffee (Gate C27), and Cino Colo (Gate C49).

Lounges at DEN

As a major and incredibly busy airport served by the largest airlines in the US, it’s no surprise that it houses a fair few lounges where you can relax waiting for your flight or during a layover.

While Concourse A offers the most choice, including a free relaxation area and several non-standard lounge options, the other two concourses have 2 lounges each, meaning you will have a VIP lounge nearby no matter which airline you fly with or from which gate.

In Concourse A, the classic lounges are:

• Capital One Lounge (Plaza Premium) near Gate A34 on the Mezzanine level. It’s open from 5 AM until 9 PM.

• Delta Sky Club at the south end of the center core. It’s open from 4:15 AM until 00:15.

• United Club near Gate A25. It’s open from 5 AM until 8:30 PM.

• USO Denver: A lounge serving exclusively active military members and their families. It’s on the north end of Gates A Bridge from the Jeppesen Terminal and is open between 8 AM and 5 PM.

Some unique lounge venues in Concourse A include:

• Colorado Oasis in the center core is a place to get a chair massage. It’s open from 7 AM until 9 PM (7 PM on Saturdays).

• Executive Shine in the center core plus locations in the other concourses offers shoe shining service. Payment is in cash only and it’s open from 7 AM until 6 PM daily.

• Golf DEN on the mezzanine level of the center core is a place to play virtual golf. Reservation required.

• Rest & Recharge area is a free, open area with loungers on the north side of the mezzanine level.

The lounges in Concourse B are:

• United Club near Gate B44. Open from 5 AM to 9 PM.

• United Club Fly near Gate B60. Open from 7 AM to 8 PM.

Lastly, Concourse C offers the following lounges:

• American Airlines Admirals Club near Gate C30. It’s available from 4:30 AM until 11:30 PM.

• American Express Centurion Lounge near Gate C46. Open from 5 AM until 10 PM.

These airline-specific lounges are typically accessible by premium travelers, those holding business or first class tickets, or those part of a membership program. Still, typically, an entry pass can be purchased by anyone at the door, subject to availability.

The lounges all offer complimentary food and beverages, Wi-Fi, and comfortable seating. The Capital One Lounge (Plaza Premium) and the Centurion Lounge are the only 2 lounges to offer shower facilities in Denver Airport.

Transportation at Denver Airport

The airport is well-connected to Denver and the region. Public transport is provided by the Regional Transportation District (RTD) and the Colorado Department of Transportation with its Bustang service.

RTD bus routes AB, AT, 104L, 145X, and 169L all stop at the DEN Transit Center. To reach it, take the escalator on the south end of the Jeppesen Terminal down to the ground level. These buses depart every 15 minutes on average between 3:30 AM and midnight. One-day passes cost 10.50 USD.

The Bustang is an interregional service connecting various places around Denver, such as Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Vail, Glenwood Springs, and Fort Morgan, to Union Station. From there, you can take the A Line Commuter Train for direct service to the airport.

The reverse journey from the airport to Union Station is all the same - hop on the A Line at its stop in the Transit Center and arrive in downtown Denver 37 minutes later. The single ticket costs 10.50 USD.

Shared Vans and Commuter Shuttles are available at Level 5, island 5 of the Jeppesen Terminal and offer routes within the Denver metro area, the state of Colorado, and beyond.

If public transit is not to your liking, there are taxis in front of the terminal at all times. A typical trip to downtown Denver is charged at a flat rate of 72.04 USD, including the airport access fee.

Uber and Lyft, the two most popular ride-hailing apps, serve Denver with dedicated pick-up locations at Island 5 of either side of the terminal. Follow the signs at the airport and the instructions in the app to get to the vehicle.

If you want a private transfer instead, click here for the best offers.

Last but not least, multiple rental car agencies provide services at the Rental Car Lots inside the airport’s grounds. To reach it, you need to take the courtesy shuttle outside doors 505-513 of Level 5 of the Jeppesen Terminal.

Parking at Denver International

Several parking lots and garages are spread around the airport grounds.

The table below summarizes the information about price, location, connectivity, and important details for all parking lots at DEN:

Note that as of January 6, 2025, all parking payments are cashless, accepting credit/debit cards and mobile payments only. If you must pay in cash, this is possible only at the automated kiosks on Level 5 of the Jeppesen Terminal next to doors 506-509.

Hotels near Denver Airport

The only airport inside the airport itself is the Westin Denver International Airport. It is located just a few steps from the main terminal and the DEN Transit Center, making it a no-brainer pick for those who want the convenience of a perfect location. Combine this with its top-notch amenities, over 500 luxury rooms, and impeccable service, and the Westin becomes the best airport hotel in Denver.

Other accommodation options exist outside the airport grounds, on the south side of Peña Boulevard. Most of the hotels there offer complimentary shuttles to the terminal building, thus eliminating the worry over transport. Some notable hotels include the Hyatt House Denver Airport, the Spark by Hilton, and the Baymont by Wyndham.

To see a longer list of available airport hotels near DEN, click here.