Denver, citywide
Getting around Denver
Trains, highways, buses and trails, and what each means for where you live.
By Ryan Garvey, Broker Associate, Compass · Updated
Denver has a ring of highways, light rail and commuter rail, and more than 90 miles of off-street trails inside the city. When you compare neighborhoods, look at how each one connects to where you'll actually go: the nearest highway on-ramp, the nearest station and which lines stop there, and whether a trail runs your way.
One thing to know this year: RTD is rebuilding the light rail tracks downtown, and through 2027 some lines are suspended or rerouted. If you're buying near a station because of the train, check which lines stop there today and which come back after the rebuild.
As of October 2026
The rail lines
| Line | Route | Status |
|---|---|---|
| A | Union Station to the airport About 37 minutes over 23 miles. Every 15 minutes from 6:15 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., every 30 minutes otherwise. | Running |
| B | Union Station to Westminster Ends at Westminster for now; the stations on toward Boulder and Longmont aren't built. | Running |
| C | Littleton to Union Station Back since June 2026 to cover for the D Line. RTD says it stays once the rebuild is done. | Running |
| D | Littleton to downtown Suspended since June 7, 2026. RTD plans to retire it after the rebuild and keep the C Line on its route. | Suspended |
| E | Union Station to RidgeGate Parkway The southeast line down I-25 through the Tech Center to Lone Tree. | Running |
| G | Union Station to Wheat Ridge Through Arvada, with a stop in Olde Town. | Running |
| H | Downtown to Aurora's Florida station Suspended since June 7, 2026, with no return date announced. The T Line and the longer R Line cover the southeast meanwhile. | Suspended |
| L | Welton Street through Five Points Suspended until the downtown rebuild finishes in 2027. The Route 43 bus runs more often in its place. | Suspended |
| N | Union Station to Eastlake (124th Avenue) North through Commerce City, Thornton and Northglenn. | Running |
| R | Peoria to RidgeGate Parkway Through Aurora along I-225. Extended to RidgeGate in June 2026 while the H Line is out. | Running |
| T | Lincoln to Alameda A temporary line since June 2026, filling in for the H Line on the southeast corridor until the rebuild is done. | Temporary |
| W | Union Station to Golden West through Lakewood to the Jefferson County Government Center. | Running |
The highways
- I-25
- The north-south spine. It curves around the west side of downtown, and part of it has reversible express lanes.
- I-70
- East-west, from the mountains past the north edge of downtown and east past the Peña Boulevard turnoff for the airport. The old viaduct by Elyria-Swansea is now a below-grade highway with express toll lanes.
- I-225
- An eastern bypass through Aurora, from I-25 at the Tech Center up to I-70.
- C-470
- The southwest beltway, from Golden past Littleton and Highlands Ranch to I-25 in Lone Tree.
- E-470
- A 47-mile toll road around the east side, through Parker, Aurora and past the airport to Brighton.
- Northwest Parkway
- A short toll road in Broomfield linking US 36 to I-25 and E-470.
- US 36
- The road to Boulder, with the Flatiron Flyer buses running along it.
- Peña Boulevard
- The 11-mile freeway from I-70 to the airport terminal.
Buses
- The free 16th Street FreeRide runs the length of downtown about every three minutes, seven days a week.
- Colfax got bus-only center lanes between Broadway and Colorado Boulevard on September 27, 2026, for the 15 and 15L routes. Full bus rapid transit, 8.5 miles out to I-225 in Aurora, is planned for late 2027 or early 2028.
- There's no train to Boulder yet. The Flatiron Flyer buses run from Union Station up US 36, with stops in Westminster, Broomfield and Louisville.
Bikes and trails
- Denver has more than 90 miles of off-street trails inside city limits, built around the Cherry Creek and South Platte River trails. The parks page has the long ones.
- The city set a goal in 2018 of 125 new miles of bike lanes by 2023 and met it. Its current plan aims to put every household within a quarter mile of a low-stress bikeway: a trail, a protected lane or a quiet neighborhood street.
- Denver's e-bike rebates for 2026 have all been claimed. The city reissues unused vouchers to a waiting list, so check its rebate page before you count on one.
Denver’s e-bike rebate page · The long trails, on the parks page
FAQ
- How long is the train from downtown Denver to the airport?
- RTD's A Line takes about 37 minutes from Union Station to the airport, every 15 minutes from 6:15 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and every 30 minutes otherwise.
- Which light rail lines are suspended?
- As of October 2026, the D, H and L Lines are suspended during RTD's downtown rail rebuild. The C Line and a temporary T Line fill in, and the R Line runs on to RidgeGate. RTD says the L Line returns when the rebuild finishes in 2027 and plans to retire the D Line.
- Is there a train to Boulder?
- Not yet. The B Line ends at Westminster. The Flatiron Flyer buses run from Union Station to Boulder along US 36.
- What is happening on Colfax?
- Bus-only center lanes opened between Broadway and Colorado Boulevard on September 27, 2026. Full bus rapid transit out to I-225 is planned for late 2027 or early 2028.
Sources
- Final September 2026 service changes, RTD
- Final June 2026 service changes, RTD
- Downtown Rail Reconstruction Project, RTD
- Rail project FAQs, RTD
- 10 things you didn't know about the A Line, RTD
- East Colfax Avenue bus rapid transit investment update, RTD
- Flatiron Flyer, RTD
- Interstate 25 in Colorado, Wikipedia
- Interstate 70 in Colorado, Wikipedia
- Interstate 225, Wikipedia
- Colorado State Highway 470, Wikipedia
- E-470, Wikipedia
- Northwest Parkway, Wikipedia
- U.S. Route 36 in Colorado, Wikipedia
- Peña Boulevard, Wikipedia
- Trails, City and County of Denver
- Bicycles, City and County of Denver
- 2023 Denver bike map, City and County of Denver
- Electric bike rebates, City and County of Denver
- RTD rail lines and stations, RTD open GIS data