Denver → Boulder
Denver Airport to Boulder Car Service
Boulder is 42 miles from Denver International Airport, about 46 minutes by car on a clear road. A private SUV for up to 6 passengers starts at $220 per vehicle.
Elevation profile
- Distance from DEN
- 42 mi
- Typical drive
- 46m
- SUV from
- $220
Rates by vehicle
One way, per vehicle — SUV, up to 6 passengers. Taxes, tolls and gratuity included. Photos show the models we drive, not our own cars.
Get a quote for this vehicle
Two roads from the airport to Boulder
Drivers leaving DEN for Boulder pick between two routes.
The first is E-470 to the Northwest Parkway. Both segments are tolled.
The second is I-270 to US-36. US-36 then carries you the rest of the way into Boulder.
Neither route crosses a mountain pass. This is a plains drive from start to finish.
About the 46 minutes
The 46-minute figure is for open road.
If you land during the weekday evening commute, mention it when you book.
The RTD AB1 bus, compared honestly
RTD runs the AB1 bus from the airport to Boulder. A ticket costs $10.50. The ride takes about 79 minutes and makes 16 stops.
For a solo traveler with one bag and a free evening, the bus is the sensible choice. We would rather say so than oversell a car.
The private SUV makes sense in 3 cases:
- Time matters. 46 minutes against 79 saves you about half an hour.
- You want door to door. The bus stops 16 times at fixed points. The car goes straight to the address you give us.
- You need to work on the way. A private back seat suits a phone call better than a public bus.
On price alone the bus stays cheaper, even for 6 people at $10.50 each. The car competes on time and privacy, not the fare.
University trips to CU Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder opened in 1876, the year Colorado became a state. It enrolls about 37,000 students.
Campus visits, academic interviews and move-in days all start with a flight into DEN. A Suburban or Navigator seats a family of up to 6. A Mercedes-Benz Sprinter seats a visiting group of up to 12.
Business travel to Boulder
Boulder trips often run on a meeting schedule. If you book for a team or a recurring visitor, see our corporate car service.
For details on airport pickups at DEN, see the airport car service page.
Where people get dropped off in Boulder
Pearl Street Mall is a four-block pedestrian zone downtown. Cars cannot drive onto it, so give us your hotel or the nearest cross street.
Chautauqua Park sits at the base of the Flatirons, on the edge of town.
Starting from downtown Denver instead of the airport? Boulder is 30 miles from downtown. Ask for a quote, or check the service areas we cover.
Vehicles and rates
- Chevrolet Suburban (2023): 6 passengers, 41.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row
- Lincoln Navigator: 6 passengers
- Mercedes-Benz Sprinter: 12 passengers
The $220 rate is per vehicle, for an SUV with up to 6 passengers. See the fleet for each vehicle and the rates page for the full price list.
What the price includes
$220one way, per vehicle (SUV, up to 6 passengers), everything included
- Airport waiting included — a delayed flight is not a rebooking
- Flight tracking — pickup moves with your arrival
- Your driver waits at the vehicle in the designated pickup area, not inside the terminal
- Child seats at no charge, on request
- Bottled water in the vehicle
- Gratuity — included, not added at the end
- Traction-law compliant vehicle, September through May
No meter, no surge pricing, no fuel surcharge. The number you are quoted is the number you pay.
Per vehicle or per seat: the actual math
Shared shuttles charge each passenger. We charge for the car. Which one wins depends entirely on how many of you are travelling.
| Passengers | Shared shuttle, total | Our car | Per seat with us | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $10.50 | $220 | $220 | Shuttle |
| 2 | $21 | $220 | $110 | Shuttle |
| 3 | $31.50 | $220 | $73 | Shuttle |
| 4 | $42 | $220 | $55 | Shuttle |
| 6 | $63 | $220 | $37 | Shuttle |
On price alone the shuttle wins at every group size on this route. Shuttle rates come from the operator's own page: RTD's AB1 airport bus to Boulder costs $10.50 and takes about 79 minutes with 16 stops.
Price is not the only difference. A shared shuttle, bus or train carries other passengers, makes other stops and leaves on its own schedule. The private car leaves when your flight lands and drives to one address.
Questions we actually get asked
- How long does it take to drive from Denver airport to Boulder?
- 42 miles and 46m on open roads.
- How much is a car from Denver airport to Boulder?
- From $220 one way for an SUV with up to six passengers — the price is for the vehicle, not per passenger. Tolls, child seats and gratuity are included. Larger groups ride in a Sprinter, quoted on request.
- Will our skis and luggage fit?
- A Suburban gives 41.5 cubic feet with all three rows up and 98.8 with the third folded. Ski bags are long rather than bulky, so the constraint is usually shape, not volume — tell us the passenger count, bag count and ski bag count and we will size the vehicle.
- Where do I meet my driver at Denver airport?
- Pre-arranged private cars meet passengers on Level 5 of the Jeppesen Terminal, at Island 2. Your driver waits at the vehicle in the designated pickup area, not inside the terminal.
- What happens if my flight is delayed?
- Airport waiting is included in the price. A delayed flight is not a rebooking.