Car Rental at Denver Airport

Airport travel guide

The largest in the Rocky Mountains and one of the main cities of the American West, Denver is also among the country’s most interesting destinations. Known as the Mile High City, it combines impressive natural scenery with an innovative spirit that’s emphasized by a busy cultural scene and one of the highest concentrations of microbreweries anywhere on the planet. Thanks to its central location, Denver can also serve as a hub for exploring the rest of Colorado. These are three of the most interesting attractions in and around it:

• Denver Botanic Gardens. Colorado is home to an almost unparalleled natural beauty and a lot of it can be easily accessed from Denver, but it’s also possible to enjoy nature's calming effect within the city. Located in Cheesman Park, itself a public green area, the large Denver Botanic Gardens is where you can see thousands of flora species that are both local and from faraway places around the world. The gardens are also home to an amphitheater that frequently hosts cultural events.
• Breweries. Denver can only be described as a craft beer mecca and interesting brewery tours are one thing that the city has absolutely no shortage of. The most famous of them, Coors Brewery, is actually in the Denver suburb of Golden which is about a 30-minute drive to the west, but many microbrewery tours can also be found right in the heart of the city — including Great Divide Brewing, one of the pioneers that helped put Denver on the craft beer map. (Colorado is actually also one of America’s prime wine-growing destinations and consequently, there are also many wine tours in the area).
• Ski Resorts. Denver is your gateway to skiing in Colorado, as many of the fantastic resorts are located within a few hours' driving distance. Check out Breckenridge, Winter Park, Vail, Aspen, Keystone, or one of the many other amazing skiing options Colorado has to offer. 
• Rocky Mountain National Park. Made up of stunning snow-capped peaks, highland lakes, and thick forests, Rocky Mountain National Park is what for many people Colorado is all about. The famous national park is 75 miles (125 km) northwest of Denver and can be reached in about 90 minutes, making it one of the best day trips from Denver. The road network inside the park is in good shape and you can explore most of it by car, though traffic can be quite heavy, especially during holidays.

Top international routes

• Phoenix
• Los Angeles
• Salt Lake City
• Seattle
• Minneapolis
• Las Vegas
• Chicago
• Dallas
• Atlanta
• San Francisco

Main airlines

Denver International is a major hub for United Airlines which serves more than 40% of passengers at the airport. The airline serves destinations across the United States, particularly those in the West.

Southwest Airlines serves almost a third of the airport’s passengers. The airline has connections to many American cities and to some vacation destinations in Mexico.

Frontier Airlines’ largest hub is Denver International. The airline serves more than sixty destinations from it. It, however, only carries a total of 10% of the airport’s passengers.

Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and Volaris are also significant airlines serving the airport.

Terminals

Denver Airport consists of the main passenger terminal, called Jeppesen Terminal, and Concourses A, B, and C. A free underground rail link connects all areas of the airport, and it’s also possible to walk from the main terminal to Concourse A.

Location

Denver Airport is about 25 miles (40 km) from central Denver. Follow Pena Blvd to I-70 to reach the city. Note that E-470 is a toll road that does not accept cash payments. If you take it to or from the airport in either direction you will be billed through your rental contract for the toll and possibly an additional administrative fee.

Most popular types of rental car

• Small cars - from $52 per day
• Medium cars - from $47 per day
• Large cars - from $45 per day
• SUVs - from $46 per day
• Premium cars - from $77 per day
• Vans - from $89 per day
• Convertibles - from $73 per day

Car rental desks

Most are in the car rental area. Each offers a free shuttle bus which can be taken from Level 5, Island 4. Sixt is located just outside of the airport, but can likewise be reached with a shuttle provided by the company.

Services and facilities

You’ll find bars, coffee shops, grill restaurants, and fast food outlets, as well as many shops. The duty-free stores are in Concourses 1 and 2. You’ll also find ATMs, currency exchanges, a bank, an on-site hotel, baby changing facilities, a pet hotel and pet relief area, a spa, a health clinic, a video games area, an interfaith prayer room, art exhibitions, and a post office. Luggage storage is available on Level 5. Denver Airport is equipped for travelers with reduced mobility. You can find more information on the airport's official website.

Nearest gas station

A Phillips 66 station is located at the airport right before the rental car returns. Exit Pena Blvd. at 75th Ave. (the same exit as the rental car return) and follow the signs for gas to reach the station. While prices at this station are higher than others in the area, the difference is not large and its convenience more than makes up for the difference.

Popular one-way rentals

• Colorado Springs (82 miles / 132 km)
• Aspen (180 miles / 290 km)
• Boulder (40 miles / 65 km)
• Loveland (54 miles / 89 km)
• Salt Lake City (522 miles / 840 km)
• Fort Collins (68 miles / 109 km)