RTD Airport Bus: Routes to and From Denver Airport

What is the RTD airport bus?

The RTD airport bus is Regional Transportation District service connecting Denver International Airport (DEN) with Boulder and several parts of the Denver metro area. RTD calls its dedicated airport buses SkyRide. These routes are useful when your destination lies along a bus corridor and going through downtown Denver would add an unnecessary transfer.

The bus is not the default RTD choice for every destination. Denver International Airport says the A Line train runs directly between Denver Airport Station and Union Station downtown. If you are headed to central Denver, choose the A Line. If you are headed toward Boulder, Westminster, Greenwood Village, Aurora, Brighton, or another stop shown on an airport-bus schedule, compare the relevant SkyRide route.

Route branches and timetables can change. Confirm the route, direction, stop, and departure in RTD's official schedule before you travel, especially for an early flight or a late arrival.

Which RTD bus goes to Denver airport?

RTD's official airport-connections guide groups the SkyRide options by corridor. Denver Airport Station's live facility page shows every bus currently attached to the station. Read both the route name and its stop list; a bus serving the airport may not stop near your hotel or home.

Origin or corridor	RTD airport route shown by RTD	Use it when
Boulder	AB1, AB2, or AB3	Your starting point appears on the selected Boulder branch's current stop list.
Westminster via Wagon Road Park-n-Ride	104L	Wagon Road or another listed stop is more convenient than traveling through Union Station.
Greenwood Village or Aurora	AT or ATA	You are near Arapahoe at Village Center, Nine Mile, or another stop on the active branch.
Brighton	145X	You can board at US 85 and Bridge Street Park-n-Ride or another scheduled stop.
Southeast Aurora	169L	Your trip begins near a listed stop such as the Smoky Hill corridor.
Downtown Denver	A Line train	You need direct RTD service to or from Union Station.

The route labels matter. RTD's airport article describes five SkyRide corridors, while the Denver Airport Station page lists eight bus route designations because some corridors have multiple branches. That is why a generic search for “the airport bus” is not enough: open the individual schedule and confirm the branch that matches your stop and travel day.

Where to catch the RTD airport bus at DEN

After baggage claim, follow airport signs toward the Transit Center. Denver International Airport places the Airport Transit Center on Level 1 beneath the Westin Denver International Hotel. The airport describes it as the main place for regional buses and the train to Union Station.

At the Transit Center, check the departure display and the signed bus gate rather than waiting at a hotel-shuttle or ride-share island. RTD's current AB1 schedule, for example, identifies Denver Airport Station Gate 8, but gate assignments and operations can change. Treat the live display and RTD service alerts as the final word on the day.

1. Open RTD's schedule and select the route, direction, and service day that match your trip.
2. At DEN, go to the Airport Transit Center on Level 1.
3. Confirm the route number and destination on the bus or departure display before boarding.
4. Pay with an accepted fare method, or have your valid pass ready.
5. Track your stop and request it in time; do not assume every branch serves every stop.

RTD airport bus fare and payment

Denver International Airport and RTD both publish a $10 Airport Day Pass. The airport says it is valid all day across the RTD system, including the airport. That makes it useful when your airport trip also includes another RTD bus or rail connection on the same day.

DEN also describes RTD's Tap-n-Ride option: tap a physical or mobile-wallet Visa or Mastercard when boarding a bus or at a rail station. The system applies fare capping, and each passenger needs a separate card or device. If your card, phone, or wallet may not work after landing, arrange a backup payment method before the trip.

Do not assume a standard local fare covers airport travel. Select the airport product shown by RTD or let the supported contactless system calculate the fare. Eligibility and discount rules can change, so use RTD's current fare page for any reduced-fare claim rather than relying on an old screenshot.

RTD airport bus or A Line train?

The right choice depends on the destination, not on whether you prefer a bus or train. For downtown Denver, DEN identifies the A Line as the direct service to Union Station. For Boulder and the suburban corridors in RTD's SkyRide list, a bus may avoid traveling downtown and transferring back out.

Question	Choose the RTD airport bus	Choose the A Line
Where are you going?	A stop appears on an active SkyRide route.	Your destination is downtown Denver or connects naturally at Union Station.
How many transfers?	The bus gives you the simpler path.	The rail trip is direct or creates the easier onward connection.
What should you verify?	Branch, direction, service day, gate, and stop.	Rail direction, platform, and any onward connection.
Where do you start at DEN?	Airport Transit Center, using the assigned bus gate.	Airport Transit Center, using the rail platform.

If your lodging description merely says “Denver,” look up its actual address before choosing. Downtown, the airport area, Boulder, and the suburbs require very different routes. Save the address and the correct stop offline so a weak connection after landing does not force you to rebuild the trip.

How to plan the airport-bound trip

Work backward from the time you need to be inside the terminal, not just the flight's departure time. First locate your boarding stop on RTD's official schedule. Then select the correct direction and service day. Add time to reach the stop, wait, ride, walk from the Transit Center, and complete airline and TSA formalities.

RTD labels schedule times as approximate. A printed or downloaded schedule is valuable as a backup, but check live service information before leaving. Weather, road conditions, construction, and service changes can affect a bus trip even when the timetable itself has not changed.

If you drive to a Park-n-Ride before boarding, check that facility's rules separately. RTD's airport-connections page publishes parking conditions and fees, but those details depend on vehicle registration and length of stay. The safest plan is to open the specific facility page rather than assuming every lot works the same way.

How to plan the trip after landing

Do not choose a scheduled departure until you have allowed for deplaning, baggage claim, and the walk to Level 1. If the next useful bus is too tight, identify the following departure or an alternate RTD connection in advance. Save both options to your phone.

Travelers continuing to Boulder should compare the active AB branches rather than memorizing one route number. Travelers heading elsewhere should verify that the stop is served in the required direction. The bus's destination sign is your last quick check before boarding.

Keep your boarding pass, accommodation address, RTD route, stop name, and backup connection available offline. For a broader ground-transport overview, see the airport bus guide. If the terminal itself is unfamiliar, use our guide to navigating an airport. Travelers considering leaving a car can also review airport parking lots.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Taking “Denver” to mean downtown. Check the street address before deciding between SkyRide and the A Line.
• Using a route number without checking the branch. AB and AT services can appear with multiple designations on official pages.
• Waiting at the wrong transport area. RTD buses use the Airport Transit Center, not the ride-share or shared-van pickup areas.
• Relying on a search-result timetable. Open RTD's current schedule and select the travel day and direction.
• Depending on airport connectivity. Download the itinerary, stop name, and backup route before the trip.

RTD and airport operating details can change. Confirm the fare, schedule, gate, and service alerts on the official RTD and DEN pages before traveling.