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DENKDEN

Denver International Airport

Denver, US

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DENKDENNormal

Denver International Airport

Denver, United States · North America

DEN is a three-concourse hub with new Level 6 checkpoints, a $10 rail ride downtown, and serious card lounges on A and C — undone by a long train, early United Club closes, and no Priority Pass lounge.

Airportist Score

7.8/ 10

Very good

Ease of use7.6
Comfort & amenities8.0
Food & retail7.5
Ground access8.2
Reliability7.4
Lounges8.3

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

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DENKDENNormal

Denver International Airport

Denver, United States · North America

DEN is a three-concourse hub with new Level 6 checkpoints, a $10 rail ride downtown, and serious card lounges on A and C — undone by a long train, early United Club closes, and no Priority Pass lounge.

Airportist Score

7.8/ 10

Very good

Ease of use7.6
Comfort & amenities8.0
Food & retail7.5
Ground access8.2
Reliability7.4
Lounges8.3

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

Compare DEN with another airport

Typical security
5 min
editorial average, not live
Fastest to city
25-35 min
Taxi
Cheapest to city
RTD A Line
$ · 37 min
Lounges
9
4 rated worth it
On time
76%
of departures
Terminals
1
terminal + 3 concourses

12 photos

DENGuide

Most important tips

Know before you go

A compact traveler cheat sheet for timing, terminals, food, and disruption checks.

Timing

DEN Reserve is gone

East and West Level 6 halls (17 lanes each) replaced the reservation lane on 27 Jun 2026.

Check live waits on flydenver.com/security. Two hours domestic / three hours international is still the airport's pad for the train and far gates.

Terminal

A-Bridge or the train, never a walk to B/C

A is walkable after security. B and C are underground train only, one continuous ride.

Concourse B is United-only and about 4,500 ft end to end. Budget the train on any A↔C lounge hop.

Food

PP is dining, not a lounge

Live Priority Pass at DEN is Mercantile ($28 sit-down near A39) and Golf DEN — not Capital One, Centurion, or United.

Issuer rules vary; Amex and Capital One often exclude restaurant credits. Empty the bottle and refill airside instead of buying water.

Status

Match the lounge to the concourse

United clubs are on A/B and close by 21:00. Centurion and Admirals Club are on C. Capital One and the new Delta club are on A.

Club Fly near B60 is grab-and-go only and rejects one-time passes. The old A Admirals Club is closed.

Live conditions

Right now at DEN

Security waits and operational status from official feeds, where the airport publishes them.

Honest verdict

Who this airport works for

Best for

United hub connections on Concourse B
A-Line downtown for $10
Capital One / Centurion cardholders
Outdoor decks and free water refills

Watch out for

DEN Reserve is closed; do not follow old reservation-lane advice
United Clubs shut by 21:00 (A West 20:30, Club Fly 19:00)
No Priority Pass lounge — Mercantile credit is issuer-dependent
B and C are train-only; Admirals Club is on C, not A
Thunderstorms and a ~76% on-time rate

Airportist Score

Why this score

Overall is the published weighted sum of six categories. No holistic fudge on top.

Ease of use · 25%

Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.

7.6

Comfort & amenities · 20%

Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.

8.0

Food & retail · 15%

Food and retail quality and variety.

7.5

Ground access · 15%

Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.

8.2

Reliability · 15%

Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.

7.4

Lounges · 10%

Worth-it density and access quality.

8.3

Key stats

Editorial reference figures, not live readings.

Annual passengers

82.4M

Terminals

1 terminal + 3 concourses

On-time departures

76%

Typical security

5 min

Guide quick facts

From the editorial guide for DEN.

Updated Sep 24, 2026

Official 2025 traffic: 82,427,962 passengers (+0.1% vs 2024); international 4,867,484 (+4.8%)
United carried more than 41.4 million of those passengers
Jeppesen Terminal + Concourses A/B/C; A is walkable via the A-Bridge, B and C are train-only
East and West security on Level 6: 17 lanes each (34 total). DEN Reserve ended 27 Jun 2026
No Priority Pass lounge — live PP is Mercantile dining credit and Golf DEN, both on Concourse A
RTD A Line: $10 Airport Day Pass, about 37 minutes to Union Station from Level 1

15 official sources

https://www.flydenver.com/
https://www.flydenver.com/press-release/denver-international-airport-sees-slight-growth-in-passenger-traffic-over-previous-year/
https://www.flydenver.com/security/
https://www.flydenver.com/security/den-reserve/
https://www.flydenver.com/parking-and-transportation/to-and-from/
https://www.flydenver.com/parking-and-transportation/to-and-from/taxi/
https://www.flydenver.com/at-the-airport/services-and-amenities/
https://www.flydenver.com/at-the-airport/services-and-amenities/wifi-and-technology/
https://www.flydenver.com/at-the-airport/services-and-amenities/outdoor-decks-and-firepits/
https://www.rtd-denver.com/fares-passes/fares
https://www.prioritypass.com/en-GB/lounges/united-states-of-america/denver-international
https://www.thecenturionlounge.com/locations/den/
https://news.delta.com/stunning-delta-sky-club-opens-denver-international-airport-bringing-colorados-beauty-indoors
https://united.mediaroom.com/news-releases?item=125398
https://airport.mastercard.com/en/lounge-finder/airport?airportcode=DEN

Full guide

Explore the DEN guide

Each section answers one trip question in depth.

Map
Denver International Airport, the Denver city center, and 2 other airports in the city
City center2 other airports
View Map
Getting There
3 ways into the city, compared on time, cost, and luggage.
Fastest: TaxiCheapest: RTD A Line
View Getting There
Lounges
9 lounges with access rules, hours, and verdicts. 4 rated worth it.
Capital One LoungeDelta Sky ClubUSO Denver International Airport Center
View Lounges
Traveler Tips
Skip DEN Reserve pages and old “sign up in the app” advice — that product is closed
12 tips & hacks
View Traveler Tips
Amenities
5 rated amenities — food, Wi-Fi, quiet spots, family, and sleep.
Water refillsOutdoor decksRTD A Line
View Amenities
Water
Where to refill for free, and where a bottle costs the least airside.
4 spots4 free or refill
View Water
Reviews
Editorial and traveler reviews — what people actually complain about.
View Reviews

Denver International Airport, the Denver city center, and 2 other airports in the city

This airport DEN
City center Denver
Other airports APA, BJC

Terminal navigation guide

Terminal-change and gate-area notes pulled from the markdown guide.

From Terminals & Navigation

One passenger terminal (Jeppesen). Gates are in A, B, and C, not in the landside building
Concourse B is United-only. Concourse A handles Frontier, Delta, many internationals, and some United. Concourse C is Southwest plus American and Alaska
Train from Jeppesen to A is one stop; A→B→C is a continuous ride with no platform change
Do not try to walk B or C. Concourse B is about 4,500 ft end to end; far east B gates sit on a lower level
Arrivals: international passengers clear customs in A. A-Bridge walkers exit on Level 6 and drop to Level 5 for bags and ground transport
Common mistake: riding to C for the old Admirals Club on A, or walking to Centurion on a B departure without padding the train

Ground transport guide

City-transfer, rideshare, train, and parking guidance from the markdown guide.

From Ground Transport & Parking

RTD A Line from the Transit Center on Level 1 (under the Westin): about 37 minutes to Union Station, typically every 15 minutes, 24/7
Airport Day Pass is $10 and covers the whole RTD system that service day (valid until 02:59). Standard Day Pass ($5.50) does not include the airport — upgrade is $4.50, or $7.25 from a 3-Hour Pass
Youth 19 and under and active-duty U.S. military ride free; Discount fares (65+, disability, Medicare, LiVE) already include the airport
Buy in the RTD NextRide app, tap a contactless card, or use TVMs at the station. Tell the validator it is an airport fare
Taxi: Level 5, Island 1 (doors 505/507/511 east, 506/510/512 west). Official zone flats including the airport fee: Downtown $72.04, DTC $80.04, Boulder $115.04, Tower Road $37.04. Other destinations are metered plus a $6.04 access fee — confirm the zone before the car moves
Rideshare (Uber/Lyft): Level 5, Island 5, east or west. Official flydenver time to downtown is 25–35 minutes in traffic
Hotel shuttles Island 3, rental-car shuttles Island 4. Do not wait at Island 1 for an Uber

Ride to Denver

Pickup at DEN. Where the app supports it, dropoff is set to Denver city center for a live price.

To city center

Denver

~30 km

Typical fare

$80.04

From Taxi notes

On-demand apps

Uber → city Lyft → city

Fixed-price transfers

GetTransfer quotes Kiwitaxi quotes

Compare prepaid private transfers to Denver — useful overnight, with luggage, or when you want a locked-in fare before you land.

Cheapest

RTD A Line

Direct rail to Union Station from the Level 1 Transit Center; Airport Day Pass $10.

Time to city

37 min

Cost

$

Tip: A $5.50 local Day Pass does not cover the airport. Youth 19 and under ride free.

Fastest

Taxi

Official downtown Zone A flat is $72.04 including the airport fee. Pickup Level 5, Island 1.

Time to city

25-35 min

Cost

$$$

Tip: Confirm the zone before the car moves. DTC $80.04, Boulder $115.04. Metered trips add $6.04.

Best for luggage

Uber/Lyft

App pickup on Level 5, Island 5 (east or west). Official flydenver time downtown is 25–35 minutes.

Time to city

25-35 min

Cost

$$

Tip: Island 1 is taxis. Island 5 is rideshare. Surge is common at the morning bank.

Check your lounge access at DEN

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Worth it

Capital One Lounge

Concourse Aairside

Best food-and-grab-and-go room at DEN when you can get in. Afternoon waitlists are common. Not Priority Pass.

Access: Capital One Venture X · Day pass

Hours: 05:00–21:00

Amenities: Hot food · Grab-and-go food · Bar · Showers · Work rooms · Nap pod

Best for: Food · Concourse A departures · Showers

Full access guide

Worth it

Concourse Aairside

New 13,000 sq ft / 230-seat club opened 3 Mar 2026 on A's 4th floor. Delta credentials only. Check the Fly Delta app for hours.

Access: Delta Sky Club · Amex Platinum

Amenities: Hot buffet · Bar · Media room

Best for: Delta passengers · Long layovers

Full access guide

Depends

Concourse Aairside

Convenient for A-side United flights, but it closes at 20:30 — earlier than the B clubs.

Access: United Club · Star Alliance Gold · Business class ticket · Day pass

Hours: 05:00–20:30

Amenities: Buffet · Bar · Work areas

Best for: United passengers · Concourse A departures

Full access guide

Worth it

USO Denver International Airport Center

Concourse Aairside

Airside on A Level 4. Valuable if you have a DoD ID; not a public lounge and not in Jeppesen landside.

Access: USO

Hours: 07:00–22:00

Amenities: Snacks · Wi-Fi · Children's area · Games

Best for: Military travelers

Full access guide

Depends

Concourse Bairside

B East flagship near Gate B44. Use it when it is nearer than B32; still a hub cafeteria at banks.

Access: United Club · Star Alliance Gold · Business class ticket · Day pass

Hours: 05:30–21:00

Amenities: Buffet · Bar

Best for: United passengers · East B gates

Full access guide

Depends

Concourse Bairside

Full-service B West club near Gate B32. Closes at 21:00, so redeye passengers are on their own.

Access: United Club · Star Alliance Gold · Business class ticket · Day pass

Hours: 05:30–21:00

Amenities: Buffet · Bar · Wellness room

Best for: United passengers · West B gates

Full access guide

Depends

United Club Fly

Concourse Bairside

Grab-and-go only near B60. Scan in, take food and coffee, walk to the gate. One-time passes are not valid.

Access: United Club · Star Alliance Gold · Business class ticket

Hours: 07:00–19:00

Amenities: Grab-and-go food · Barista coffee

Best for: Tight connections on east B

Full access guide

Depends

American Airlines Admirals Club

Concourse Cairside

The operating Admirals Club is on C near C32, not on A. Longest published hours of DEN's airline clubs.

Access: Admirals Club · oneworld Sapphire · oneworld Emerald · Day pass

Hours: 04:30–23:30

Amenities: Buffet · Bar · Kids room

Best for: American Airlines passengers · Late C departures

Full access guide

Worth it

American Express Centurion Lounge

Concourse Cairside

One of DEN's stronger sit-down rooms, but it is on C — budget the train from A or B, and expect a queue at banks.

Access: Amex Platinum · Amex Centurion

Hours: 05:00–22:00

Amenities: Hot buffet · Bar · Showers

Best for: Long layovers · Food and drinks

Full access guide

Lounge & amenity notes

Lounge, food, and quiet-spot picks pulled from the markdown guide.

From Lounges, Food & Amenities

Capital One Lounge (A mezzanine near A34, 05:00–21:00): Venture X, walk-up from $90. Showers, grab-and-go wall. Crowds and waitlists are normal in the afternoon
Delta Sky Club (A, 4th floor): new 13,000 sq ft / 230 seats opened 3 Mar 2026; Delta plans ~19,000 sq ft / 400 seats by end of 2026. Same-day Delta credentials. Not Priority Pass
United Club A West (near A25, 05:00–20:30): quietest United option when B is slammed
United Club B West (near B32, 05:30–21:00) and B East (near B44, 05:30–21:00): full clubs. One-time pass $59 at participating clubs
United Club Fly (near B60, 07:00–19:00): grab-and-go coffee and food only — one-time passes are not valid
Amex Centurion (C mezzanine near C46, 05:00–22:00): Platinum / Centurion, same-day departing pass. Showers. Train required from A/B
Admirals Club is in C (mezzanine near C32, 04:30–23:30), not A. The old A club is closed
USO is airside on A Level 4 (center, above the mezzanine), 07:00–22:00, military ID only — not in Jeppesen landside

excellent

Water refills

Accessibility

Free bottle-fillers in the center of each concourse after security.

excellent

Outdoor decks

Family Friendly

Firepits at A15, B7, and C67, 06:00–22:00 weather permitting. No smoking airside.

excellent

RTD A Line

Easy Transport

$10 Airport Day Pass, about 37 minutes to Union Station from Level 1.

good

Card lounges on A and C

Has Lounge

Capital One near A34 and Centurion near C46. No Priority Pass lounge.

good

Free Wi-Fi

Fast WiFi

SSID DEN Airport Free WiFi, no password, landside and airside.

Editorial guide tricks

The markdown guide's highest-signal tactics before the data-backed tips below.

From Best Airport Tricks & Hacks

Skip DEN Reserve pages and old “sign up in the app” advice — that product is closed
Hand-luggage A departure: security on Level 6, then the A-Bridge instead of the train
Stay airside on connections. A→B→C is one underground train; you do not re-clear TSA
United Clubs close early for a hub with redeyes (A West 20:30, B clubs 21:00, Club Fly 19:00). A tight 21:30 departure has no United room
Priority Pass is not a lounge here. Mercantile near A39 is a $28 sit-down credit (not grab-and-go); issuer rules vary — Amex and Capital One often exclude restaurant credits
Golf DEN (A mezzanine, opposite Mesa Grill, 07:00–19:00) is 25 minutes on a simulator plus a snack and a drink, not a place to work
Empty the bottle at security and refill at the stations in the center of each concourse
Rest and Recharge on the Concourse A mezzanine is the free quiet option when lounges are full or closed

01

SecurityTraveler Tips & Hacks

Ignore DEN Reserve

Check live waits. PreCheck and CLEAR are in both halls.

The free reservation lane ended 27 Jun 2026 after East and West Level 6 halls opened (17 lanes each).

02

TransportTraveler Tips & Hacks

Buy the Airport Day Pass, not a local Day Pass

$10 rail to Union Station in about 37 minutes.

A Line is Level 1 under the Westin. $10 covers the airport; a $5.50 Day Pass does not.

03

NavigationTraveler Tips & Hacks

Do not walk to B or C

One underground train, no TSA redo.

After Level 6 security, walk the A-Bridge for A gates; take the AGTS for B and C. Connections stay airside.

04

LoungeTraveler Tips & Hacks

Priority Pass is not a lounge here

Match the card to the concourse, not to Priority Pass.

Live PP is Mercantile ($28 sit-down near A39) and Golf DEN. Capital One, Centurion, and United do not take it.

Best value

Concourse A refill stations

Center / corner cores of A; one commonly cited station is near Gate A34

Refill stationConcourse Aairside

Free filtered water after security. Best value if you kept the bottle empty through TSA.

Concourse B refill stations

Center of Concourse B; one commonly cited station is near Gate B60

Refill stationConcourse Bairside

Same free network on United's concourse. Walk to the core rather than buying at the gate.

Concourse C refill stations

Center of Concourse C; one commonly cited station is near Gate C32

Refill stationConcourse Cairside

Same free network on C. No verified bottled-water shelf price — refill instead.

Level 6 drinking fountains

Pre-security near the East and West checkpoints on Level 6

Free waterJeppesen Terminallandside

Drink before you queue. Airside concourse stations are the better refill once you are through.

Entry requirements

United States (US)

Sign in and add a passport to see the entry requirement for United States.

Passports are saved in profile settings. Check the official site before you travel.

Disruptions

No current alerts on file

No editorial alerts are on file for this airport. We do not invent them.

Editorial file dated Sep 24, 2026. Typical delay percentages are omitted — they are not live news.

Live operations

Live operational signals from Flighty or FAA, plus checkpoint waits where airports publish them.

Traveler reviews

What travelers say

Write a review

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