City Guide / Denver

How to Get Around Denver Without a Car

By Landing | Nov 14, 2020
Union Station in Denver Colorado

If you’re thinking of moving to Denver, CO., you certainly aren’t alone. Denver’s population increased by roughly 1.33% in the past year, and it’s been consistently increasing for the past several. It isn’t hard to see why the city has grown in popularity, especially when you consider the booming job market spread out across industries.  For instance, Denver’s tech, medical, legal, and finance industries are highly active, and the beautiful mountain views, acres of parks, cultural amenities, and affordable Denver apartments make it all worth it. 

Denver is a great place, and it’s been considered one of the best places to live in the U.S. for several years, including this past year. If you’re moving without a car, as many people do, you might be wondering how you’ll get around such a large city. Fortunately, Denver has a great transportation system and several options for people without cars. Here’s a quick guide on urban living in the Denver area.

The airport rail 

This is certainly one of the best ways to get around Denver, Colorado, and it’s likely to be the first transportation system you experience in the city. The airport rail can take you directly from Denver International Airport to Union Station in downtown Denver and vice versa. Between the hours of 6 a.m. and 8 p.m., the trams run every 15 minutes. Outside of those hours, you can catch a ride every 30 minutes.  

Union Station is specifically located in the LoDo district. LoDo is largely known for its trendy dining with rows of creative restaurants, not to mention shopping at some of the best independent shops. Stop to admire LoDo’s gorgeous Victorian-era buildings downtown as well. These are all illuminated by string lights in Larimer Square. Admirers of the arts should absolutely stop by the Denver Performing Arts Complex as well. Baseball fans can also enjoy seeing games in Coors Field. Having such an easy connection to the city center with so many resources within walking distance makes Denver extremely livable without a car. 

The light rail system

There’s also a light rail system that connects Union Station to over 36 different stations around the city, in addition to the neighboring city of Boulder, CO. One of the most notable destinations is the town of Aurora, which is a must-visit for any sports fan. Aurora is home to many of Denver’s major sports teams including the MLB’s Colorado Rockies, the NFL’s Denver Broncos, the NBA’s Denver Nuggets, the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche, and the MLS’s Colorado Rapids.

You can also expect the rail system to take you to these notable areas.

  • Cheesman Park: Home of Denver botanic gardens.
  • City Park: Home of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, the Denver Art Museum, and Denver Zoo. 
  • Capitol Hill: Home of Historic Denver Inc.
  • Cherry Creek: Home of Cherry Creek State Park, one of the largest dog parks in the U.S.
  • Greenwood Village: Home of the Denver Tech Center.
  • Washington Park: A residential area with sports facilities, playgrounds, and golf courses.
  • Arvada: Home to the Old Town Arvada Historic District.
  • Fort Collins: Home to the Horsetooth Rock Formation and Horsetooth Falls.

The bus system

Like many large cities, Denver has a reliable bus service for the metro area. There’s a multitude of passes and discounts/reimbursement programs, including discounts for military and services for passengers with disabilities. One bus even makes hourly stops to the airport, in the event that the rail system doesn’t take you where you need to go.

There’s even a 16th Street Mall Ride hybrid vehicle that can take you between Coors Field, the Colorado Convention Center, the LoDo district, and more.

Even without a car, you can still experience all the great things the Denver metro area has to offer. You can even find ways to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in order to try out some of Denver County’s world-class skiing, among other day trips from Denver.

If you’re looking to move to Denver, Landing offers furnished apartments in Denver, with flexible lease terms that make moving easy.

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Landing

Ted may be the world's slowest typist and struggle to hold a pen, but he has mastered how to pursue a more flexible lifestyle throughout his airborne adventures around the U.S. Whether you're looking for more information before migrating to a new city or want to find an easier way to rent a nest—erm, apartment—Ted will always be here to share his best advice for where to live and how to thrive.