Trips to Denver
Denver sits exactly one mile above sea level, and for most of our guests, that's the first sign the trip has really started. The city works well as a launching point for Canyon Spirit or as a destination in its own right, with the Rocky Mountains close enough for hiking, fishing, and skiing, and a downtown built around a real arts and craft beer scene. Red Rocks Amphitheatre draws its own crowd entirely apart from any train connection. However you're using your time here, a night or two goes a long way before or after the ride.
Getting To and From Denver
Denver Union Station anchors it all, whether you’re stepping off Canyon Spirit, catching the A Line in from the airport, or connecting from Amtrak’s California Zephyr. The airport itself sits about 25 miles out, with a 37-minute train ride or a flat-rate taxi getting you downtown. However you’re arriving, you land close to where you need to be.
For more information on Canyon Spirit arrivals and departures, visit: Canyon Spirit
Guests arriving in Denver aboard the Canyon Spirit train will be dropped off at Denver Union Station, the city’s central transportation hub located in the heart of downtown. Union Station offers immediate access to a wide selection of hotels, restaurants, cafés, and attractions, making it an ideal arrival point for continued travel or an extended stay in the city.
Upon arrival at Denver International Airport (DEN), travelers have two main options to reach Denver Union Station and downtown Denver. Travelers can take the A Line train directly to Denver Union Station. Departures run every 15 minutes between 5:00 AM and 8:00 PM, and every 30 minutes outside those hours. The one-way fare is USD $10.50, with a travel time of approximately 37 minutes. The airport stop is located adjacent to the Westin Denver International Airport Hotel, and tickets are available to purchase onsite. The train is fully wheelchair accessible, with two wheelchair spaces per car.
Travelers may also prefer to take a taxi, taking roughly 30 to 40 minutes. Taxi pick-up locations are on Level 5, Island 1: outside doors 505, 507, and 511 on the east side, and doors 506, 510, and 512 on the west side. A flat fare of approximately USD $72 applies for all companies.
Private Transfers between Denver International Airport and downtown are also available by request.
The California Zephyr Train travels through Denver, arriving and departing from Denver Union Station. Schedules, fares, and arrival times vary based on the departure city and chosen service. Union Station provides easy access to downtown Denver, connections to local transportation, and amenities such as dining, shopping, and ticketing services, making it a convenient starting point for exploring the city or continuing your journey by train, taxi, or shuttle.
Denver International Airport (DEN) is home to more than 10 major car rental companies, including Enterprise, Budget, National, Avis, Hertz, SIXT, and Alamo. Each company provides shuttle service from Island 4 on both the east and west sides, conveniently located near baggage claim and ground transportation. Shuttles transport passengers to the Transit Center, where vehicles can be picked up and rental procedures completed.
Guests departing Denver aboard the Canyon Spirit train can make their way to Denver Union Station, which serves as the primary departure point for the journey. Centrally located in downtown Denver, Union Station is easily reached from nearby hotels by foot, taxi, or rideshare, and is well connected to local transit options.
To reach Denver International Airport (DEN), travelers can choose a taxi, rideshare service such as Uber, or the A Line train. Taxis operate at a flat rate of USD $72, with dedicated pick-up and drop-off lanes on Wynkoop Street in addition to hotel pick-ups. It is recommended to book taxis or rideshares the night before departure, particularly during peak travel times, to guarantee availability.
The A Line train departs from Denver Union Station. Tickets are available at station vending machines or any RTD sales outlet, offering a convenient and reliable option for reaching the airport.
The California Zephyr Train travels through Denver, arriving and departing from Denver Union Station, with pricing and departure times varying by destination. Tickets can be purchased online through the Amtrak website or in person at the station, where staff can assist with reservations and travel information.
A SIXT Rent-a-Car is conveniently located inside Denver Union Station. Additional rental options, including Enterprise, Budget, and Avis, are available on Broadway, with Hertz nearby on Welton Street. All locations are within a 5- to 10-minute drive from the station, providing easy access for travelers arriving by train or continuing their journey by car.
Where to Stay in Denver
Where to Eat in Denver
Rooftop views over LoHi, tapas in the Great Hall at Union Station, a steakhouse built around heritage-bred beef, this city's kitchens don't do just one thing well. Denver's food scene holds its own against cities twice its size, and it keeps earning that reputation one neighborhood at a time. Whatever the night calls for, quick bite between sightseeing or a proper sit-down dinner, there's a real answer waiting downtown.
Fifth floor of the Umatilla in LoHi, and the skyline view alone is worth the elevator ride. We usually end up on the open-air patio if the weather’s decent, working through small plates pulled from Spain, North Africa, and the Middle East. Book ahead on weekends, it fills up fast once the sun starts going down.
Sunday to Thursday | 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Friday & Saturday | 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Fish comes in daily here, and it shows. We trust Jax when a guest asks for something lighter after a day of sightseeing, the sourcing is careful enough that we don’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone particular about seafood.
Tuesday to Thursday | 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Friday & Saturday | 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Sunday | 2:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Monday | 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Inside Union Station itself, so it’s an easy stop right off the train. The menu leans on Colorado farmers and producers, and the comfort food classics done a little differently are what keep bringing our guests back.
This is where we send guests who want the full evening, a real wine list, attentive service, and a room that feels like an occasion without trying too hard. Reserve ahead if dinner is the plan.
Monday to Friday | 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM
Saturday to Sunday | 3:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Also inside Union Station, tucked into the Great Hall, and built around Spanish and Portuguese pintxos. Great for a group that wants to share plates and linger over conversation rather than commit to one big entrée.
Heritage-bred beef is the draw, and the kitchen doesn’t overcomplicate it. Straightforward, regionally sourced, and one of our go-to picks when a guest wants a proper steak without the stuffiness some steakhouses lean into.
Monday to Friday | 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Saturday | 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Sunday | 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Denver Sightseeing Tours
Frequently Asked Questions
Real answers to the questions our Denver guests ask most, covering the train connection, getting around downtown, what's worth your time, and how to fit it all around the rest of your trip.
Union Station handles it all, we’ve never had a guest need a separate transfer after stepping off. The California Zephyr comes through too, so it’s genuinely one of the easier stations to navigate on the whole route.
We always tell first-timers the same thing: you’re eating dinner downtown one night and watching the peaks roll by the next morning. That’s a shorter gap than almost any other city we start from.
Union Station, and we steer guests toward hotels within walking distance of it, places like The Crawford, The Maven, or Limelight. Skip that, and you’re looking at a taxi across town on travel day.
About 25 miles out. The A Line runs every 15 minutes through the day and gets you to Union Station in 37 minutes for $10.50, our go-to recommendation over the $72 flat-rate taxi unless you’re arriving with a lot of luggage.
Two nights is the number we give most guests, enough for the city without cutting into trail time later. We’ve had plenty stretch it to three or four once Red Rocks or a mountain day trip gets added to the list.
Red Rocks Amphitheatre gets asked about more than anything else, and it delivers every time. Beyond that, we point people toward the historic neighborhoods downtown and the foothills, close enough for a genuine day trip without eating your whole stay.
It’s the pairing we recommend most. City energy on one end, red rock desert on the other, and Canyon Spirit connects the two without you having to plan the logistics yourself.
Honestly, most of our guests don’t need a car at all. Union Station, light rail, and a walkable downtown cover almost everything, we only suggest a rental if a mountain day trip is on the itinerary.
We split our recommendations into two groups: hotels within walking distance of Union Station, and everything else. If train travel is any part of your trip, the first group saves you a taxi on both ends.
Denver Vacation Packages
