In a city where you can sip coffee by Sloan’s Lake in the morning, discover Flemish masterworks at the Denver Art Museum in the afternoon, and catch a Colorado Avalanche game in the evening, you’ll want to know the fastest way to get around.
Denver is designed for easy exploration, and the Regional Transportation District (RTD) is the catalyst. RTD’s light rails, buses, and shuttles deliver residents to almost any part of the Mile High City.
From regional and local buses to light and commuter rails, Denver’s public transportation options can overwhelm the uninitiated.
To help you understand the RTD and everything it offers, the team at Prevu Real Estate has put together an essential guide to commuting in Denver, Colorado.
How to commute in Denver
- The Regional Transportation District
- Light rail system
- Buses and shuttles
- Passes & MyRide
- Highway system
- Biking
The Regional Transportation District (RTD)
The RTD operates almost all of Denver’s public transportation. Over 100 bus routes, ten rail lines, and 96 Park-N-Ride lots help keep the Mile High City connected. Knowing everything about RTD services is the key to optimizing your commute time.
For example, RTD’s light and commuter rails extend to various Denver suburbs, such as Boulder and Littleton. They offer the most straightforward way to travel long distances, culminating in stops at Union Station and Denver International Airport.
There are also regional and local buses. The difference lies in the fare zones, with local buses covering less ground for a lower fare while regional buses reach the furthest parts of Denver for a higher fare.
Below, we break down each RTD system in detail.
Light rail system
If you set your sights on living in one of Denver’s coveted suburbs and traveling to Downtown Denver, the light rail will be your lifeline.
RTD’s rail system is made up of 13 lines, three of which are temporarily suspended due to Covid-19 restrictions. Commuters will need to understand the difference between light rail and commuter rail.
RTD opened its first light rail line in 1994. The line covered a 5.3-mile stretch, now serviced by the D and L lines. Since then, 12 new lines have been added. These rails live up to their name in the shorter distance and smaller capacity compared to commuter rail.
The light rail lines primarily function around Downtown Denver and Union Station, covering most of the city center and extending to various suburbs, such as Golden, Aurora, and Littleton. For example, the light rail lines will be your go-to trains if you live around Capitol Hill.
The commuter rail was introduced in 2016 and now serves commuters who travel long distances. The commuter rail’s cars' design enables them to travel at higher speeds than the light rail and offers more space, making them the perfect option for travelers farther away from the city. The A, B, G, and N lines are part of the commuter rail and connect Downtown Denver with Westminster, the Denver International Airport, and Eastlake.
Most light rail trains follow a similar schedule, arriving every 15 to 30 minutes. Service usually stops between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m., depending on the line. Certain commuter trains typically arrive every hour, have fewer stops, and may stop running after 10:30 p.m. Busier commuter lines, like the A line servicing Denver International Airport, sometimes follow a similar schedule to the light rail.
Buses and shuttles
The regional and local bus routes cover practically every nook and cranny of the Mile High City.
Over 9000 bus stops dot the Denver metropolitan area, spanning eight counties. The 125 bus routes can take you anywhere from Boulder to Five Points, and most buses run 24 hours daily.
For travel within Denver proper, local buses will be your top choice. Fares for a one-way trip on a local line start at $3.00. In addition, regional buses will help you get to the far-away suburbs of Denver, such as Lone Tree, Aurora, and Boulder, with a one-way fare of $5.25.
Make sure you have the exact fare or invest in a pass because RTD bus operators don’t carry change.
But besides covering most of Denver with its bus fleet, the RTD also operates several shuttles, some free of charge.
For example, the SkyRide shuttle covers travel to the Denver International Airport from Boulder, Thornton, and Denver Tech Center for $10.50.
Other shuttles, such as MallRide and MetroRide, are free.
MallRide travels along 16th Street, taking travelers from Union Station to Civic Center, covering one of Denver’s most action-packed streets rife with bars, theaters, and restaurants. The MetroRide is designed for quick travel around downtown, operating during weekday rush hours and connecting commuters to convenient rail and bus lines.
Passes & MyRide
RTD offers a variety of ways to pay for your commute. Depending on your needs, you can purchase single-day passes, 3-Hour Passes, or monthly passes.
If you’re planning on traveling a lot, investing in passes is the most cost-effective option. A typical monthly pass costs $114 and covers the entire calendar month. It’s valid for buses and rails and can save you cash if commuting often. Depending on your situation, various discount options are also available to help lower the cost of the pass.
Those who occasionally need to make long trips via buses should consider a 3-Hour Cash Pass. These are designed to help you easily board any RTD bus without worrying about carrying the exact fare. Within the pass’s three-hour window, you can connect to any number of eligible bus lines.
Those who need complete access to RTD’s rail lines and buses may want to get MyRide.
RTD released a new version of MyRide in September 2022, which offers a customizable fare-payment system for commuters. MyRide can be used for any of RTD’s public transit options, including buses and rails. Travelers can put money into their accounts and use a MyRide card or mobile app to pay their fares.
Highway system
While public transportation helps avoid traffic jams and saves us gas money, there’s something about hopping into your car and driving to work that never loses its charm.
Denverites who plan to commute via driving should keep a few things in mind. I-25 and I-70 are two of the most-used interstates in Denver, especially during rush hour. The congestion where the two roads merge has been locally dubbed "The Mousetrap."
Luckily, there are alternative routes to consider if you want to beat the post-work traffic. The E-470, along with highways 85 and 287, is a reliable toll highway that lets you travel along the perimeter of Denver’s metro area. From there, you can take exits to I-70 or I-25 as needed.
Biking
For a city with a LEED Platinum Certification for its sustainability efforts, it's no surprise that Denver invests a lot in bike accessibility.
The Mile High City currently offers 196 miles worth of bike lanes, with 270 miles on the way, thanks to the Denver Moves initiative. The trails vary from on-street bike lanes to exclusive roads for bikes only. A few of the paths offer some of the most scenic ways to experience Denver.
For example, the South Platte and Cherry Creek trails follow along their namesake rivers, offering access to Downtown Denver and passing through some of Denver’s best neighborhoods.
The RTD also joined the effort and invested in bike racks for its fleet of buses, minus the MallRide and MetroRide shuttles. Bikers have access to a first-come-first-served bike rack mounted on the front of the bus. The light rail also has designated boarding and storage areas for folks carrying their wheels.
