Cheap Car Rentals at Denver Airport

Tips when renting a car at Denver International Airport (DEN)

• Note that prices rise during peak travel times, such as winter ski season, summer vacation, large corporate conventions, and major sporting events like NFL football games, NHL hockey games, and NBA basketball games. Book early!
• In Colorado, you can drive with a valid driver’s license from your own country, so long as your stay amounts to less than 90 days. With that said, you may also want to obtain an International Driver’s Permit (IDP) to keep alongside your license. Even if you have your IDP on hand, you will also need to present your actual license when asked for a valid driver’s license.
• You will find many rental car offices at and around the airport, particularly in the central cluster near Peña Boulevard and the E-470 toll road. Shuttle vans are generally available from Jeppesen Terminal to the car rental offices. 
• While you can find many more rental car offices across Denver and the Front Range, make sure you know where you’re going if you plan to pick up a rental car farther away from the airport. If in doubt, you can save yourself time and peace of mind by picking it up at the airport.
• Planning to drive out of state and/or use any toll roads? Ask your rental agency how they handle fees.
• Pick the right car for your journey. Smaller cars will be more efficient on Denver’s city streets, while SUVs or all-wheel-drive vehicles are more suitable for trips outside the metro region, especially if you’re planning road trips to rural areas like Rocky Mountain National Park, Breckenridge, and Aspen.
• Inspect the car and take photos at pickup and drop-off.
• Since Colorado can get plenty of winter snow, tire chains may be required when driving, especially in high mountain areas that tend to experience the most snowfall. 

Why Rent a Car at Denver International Airport (DEN)

Once off the plane (and past U.S. Customs), visitors will find designated passenger pick-up areas outside Jeppesen Terminal for taxi and Uber/Lyft cars, shuttle vans to the rental car offices, and the Denver Airport Transit Center for RTD trains and buses.

Since the airport connects pretty seamlessly to E-470 and the I-70 freeway, you can store your luggage in the trunk and start driving wherever you want to go. It’s ideal for travellers with children, on a tight schedule, or planning to visit multiple destinations. While the Denver metro region has made some improvements in mass transit access, you may have trouble travelling to other parts of the Front Range car-free. And on the Western Slope, train and bus services can be even more sparse. Having your own car lets you reach more places with ease.

Driving from Denver International Airport (DEN) – Getting Started

As noted earlier, DEN sits right by E-470, and Peña Boulevard makes it easier to access Colorado’s larger freeway and highway network via I-70. Depending on traffic, you should be able to reach Downtown Denver in about 30-60 minutes, Denver Technology Center (DTC) in about 30-50 minutes, and 40-80 minutes to Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre at the western end of Denver. 

Whichever route you take, budget yourself plenty of time to get there, as Denver metro area traffic can get very heavy at times. 

Common routes include:

• Downtown Denver – About 30-60 minutes via Peña Boulevard and I-70 west
• Aurora – About 20-45 minutes via Peña Boulevard, I-70 west, and I-225 south
• Cherry Creek – About 35-75 minutes via Peña Boulevard, I-70 west, I-225 south, and local city streets
• Denver Technology Center (DTC) – 30-50 minutes via Peña Boulevard, I-70 west, and I-225 south
• Littleton/Highlands Ranch – 35-45 minutes via E-470 south/C-470 west
• Morrison/Red Rocks – 40-80 minutes via Peña Boulevard and I-70 west
• Boulder – 45-75 minutes via E-470 north and US 36 west
• Estes Park/Rocky Mountain National Park – 1.5-2.5 hours via E-470 west, I-25 north, SH 66 west, and US 36 west 
• Colorado Springs – 1.5-2.5 hours via E-470 south and I-25 south
• Breckenridge – 2-3.5 hours via Peña Boulevard, I-70 west, and SH 9 south
• Vail – 2.5-3.5 hours via Peña Boulevard and I-70 west
• Steamboat Springs – 3.5-5 hours via Peña Boulevard, I-70 west, SH 9 north, and US 40 west
• Aspen – 4-5.5 hours via Peña Boulevard, I-70 west, and SH 82 east

Inclement weather and heavy traffic can affect travel times, so use GPS or your favorite navigation app for real-time updates and road conditions. In addition, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has its own COtrip app available for download onto Apple and Android devices. If you’re driving into rural areas, cell service can be limited, so save and download directions before you start driving. And if you’re planning a trip to Breckenridge, Steamboat, Aspen, and/or other mountain communities, you may need snow tire chains to drive during the winter season. 

Explore Denver and More of Colorado from DEN

In Denver and its suburbs, you can discover vibrant multicultural neighbourhoods, incredible and delectable cuisine, exciting live entertainment shows, and ample opportunities for outdoor recreation. Once you venture beyond the Front Range, there’s plenty more of Colorado to discover, including the storied ski slopes of Breckenridge and Vail, the majestic beauty of Rocky Mountain National Park, and the posh luxury hotels and resorts of Aspen.

In and around Denver:

• Downtown Denver – Over the years, Denver’s core has grown into a lively place for incredible art, culinary creativity, and exciting urban adventures in neighbourhoods like LoDo, RiNo, and Larimer Square
• Cherry Creek – To the south east of Downtown is perhaps Denver’s most fashionable address, a central hub of designer boutiques, posh restaurants, and luxury hotels
• Central Park – North east of Downtown, you will find a quiet yet underrated part of Denver full of expansive parks and open spaces, including the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge
• Morrison & Golden – At the western edge of the Denver metro region is a treasure trove of special places, including the region’s premier concert venue at Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, the Dinosaur Ridge archaeological park, hiking at Apex Park and Windy Saddle Park, and the cute historic downtown area of Golden

Recommended day trips and scenic routes:

• Boulder – Home to the University of Colorado (CU), Boulder also has a thriving downtown anchored by Pearl Street Mall and an abundance of parks and trails leading into the Flatirons mountain range
• Rocky Mountain National Park – Straddling both sides of the Continental Divide, this park north west of Boulder is chock full of “14er” mountain peaks (or summits exceeding 14,000 feet above sea level), alpine lakes, and exceptional wildlife viewing
• Colorado Springs – Take I-25 south and discover a world of wonders in Colorado’s second-largest city, including Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods, the Manitou Cliff Dwellings museum, and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum
• Breckenridge – Head west on I-70 to reach many of Colorado’s most cherished ski towns, including this town surrounded by exceptional ski resorts like Breckenridge, Keystone, and Copper Mountain
• Steamboat Springs – Come for Steamboat’s signature Champagne Powder® snow and ski runs, and stay to experience this classic Western town and its refreshing hot spring thermal pools
• Aspen – This ski town certainly doesn’t come cheap, but it is a prime destination for Colorado’s most extravagant luxury hotels, gourmet restaurants, and designer boutiques, along with gorgeous natural landmarks like the Maroon Bells mountains and the four mountains of the Aspen Snowmass ski complex