Denver → Idaho Springs
Denver to Idaho Springs Car Service
Idaho Springs sits on I-70 at exit 241, 56 miles from Denver International Airport. On a clear summer road the drive takes 45 to 60 minutes.
Elevation profile
- Distance from DEN
- 56 mi
- Typical drive
- 45m–1h
- Elevation
- 7,526 ft
- Climb from DEN
- 2,246 ft
- SUV from
- $325
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 vehicleThe first stop in the mountains
The town sits 56 miles from the DEN terminal and 33 miles from downtown Denver. Plan on 45 to 60 minutes in summer traffic. We do not publish a winter figure.
Every ski town on I-70 lies farther west. Idaho Springs comes first, ahead of the Eisenhower Tunnel and ahead of any pass.
Floyd Hill, just before town
Just east of Idaho Springs, the interstate crosses Floyd Hill.
CDOT started rebuilding this stretch in July 2023. The I-70 Floyd Hill project covers exit 248 to exit 241 and adds an express lane. Completion is expected in 2028.
I-70 exits follow mileposts, so the construction zone spans roughly the last 7 miles of your drive.
Exit 241 serves both directions
Only one exit leads into town: exit 241. It now takes traffic from both directions and feeds Colorado Boulevard through a roundabout.
Older directions still mention exit 241A. CDOT closed that ramp permanently in 2015. A phone with stale maps can still send a rental driver looking for it.
7,526 feet above sea level
Idaho Springs sits at 7,526 feet. That is 2,246 feet higher than Denver.
Idaho Springs sits 474 feet under the 8,000-foot line where sleeping-elevation guidance starts. First-day tips are in our altitude guide.
Why people ride out here
Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway
The byway begins in Idaho Springs. It runs from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day.
Every vehicle on the byway needs a reservation from Recreation.gov. Book that slot first, then set the transfer time around it.
Indian Hot Springs
Indian Hot Springs is at 302 Soda Creek Road. Its geothermal cave holds mineral baths.
The ski areas beyond
Loveland Ski Area is 24 miles farther west on the same interstate. Winter Park leaves I-70 a few exits past town and heads north over Berthoud Pass.
Inside the traction law corridor
Colorado’s traction law covers I-70 from Morrison to Dotsero, September 1 through May 31. Exit 241 sits inside that stretch.
Price and seats
An SUV for up to 6 passengers starts at $325. The rate covers the whole vehicle, not each seat.
A Chevrolet Suburban or a Lincoln Navigator carries 6 passengers in our setup. A Mercedes-Benz Sprinter takes groups of up to 12. Compare the vehicles on the fleet page and the full price list on the rates page.
Send the passenger count and the number of ski or luggage bags with your request. Other towns we cover are listed under service areas.
What the price includes
$325one 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.
Questions we actually get asked
- How long does it take to drive from Denver airport to Idaho Springs?
- 56 miles and 45m–1h in clear conditions. Winter weekends run longer.
- How much is a car from Denver airport to Idaho Springs?
- From $325 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.
- Do I need snow chains or a special vehicle?
- Not in our car. Colorado enforces its traction law on I-70 between Dotsero and Morrison from September 1 through May 31, and every vehicle in our fleet carries compliant tires for the full season. In a rental it is your problem: the fine is $100 plus a $33 surcharge, and all-wheel drive alone does not satisfy the law.
- How high is it, and will the altitude bother me?
- Idaho Springs sits at 7,526 ft, 2,246 feet above Denver — below the 8,000-foot line where sleeping-elevation guidance starts.
- 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.