"DIA airport shuttle" covers several very different things at Denver International Airport: shared-ride vans that carry several parties to different addresses, free-standing hotel shuttles for the hotels near the airport, mountain carriers to the ski towns, and, the one most people should consider first, the RTD A Line train to Union Station for US$10. A private car is the door-to-door alternative, and on Elly8.net it costs a fixed US$225 in a Business Sedan from DEN to LoDo and Union Station, up to US$585 in a 12-seat Executive Sprinter.
Which one wins depends on three things: how many of you there are, where you are going, and what time you land. One traveller heading downtown at midday should take the train. Six people with ski bags landing at 11 p.m. should not. The rest of this guide puts real numbers on everything in between.
Is a DIA airport shuttle cheaper than a private car?
For one or two travellers, yes: the A Line costs US$10 with an Airport Day Pass and shared-ride vans charge per seat. For a group, often no. An Elly8.net Business SUV from DEN to LoDo is US$295 for up to six people, about US$49 each, and an Executive Sprinter is US$585 for up to twelve, fixed and all-in.
The per-person maths changes quickly with group size. A shared van or train fare is charged per head; a private car is charged per vehicle. A family of four with a shared-van fare multiplied by four is often close to a private SUV, and the SUV goes straight to the door with no other stops.
The shuttle options at DEN, one by one
Denver International lists its ground transportation by type, and each type has its own pickup island on Level 5 of the Jeppesen Terminal. Knowing which island you need saves a lot of walking with bags.
Shared-ride vans (commuter shuttles)
According to DEN's shared van and commuter shuttle page, shared-ride services run regularly from the airport, with individual operators offering pre-arranged, on-demand or charter service to the Denver metro area and the rest of Colorado, and some beyond. They pick up on Level 5, Island 5, outside doors 505 to 507 on the east side and 510 to 512 on the west side. Fares are set by each operator rather than by the airport, so check with the provider you choose.
The trade-off with a shared van is built into the model. The van is efficient because it carries several parties, which means it may wait for other passengers and stop at other addresses before yours. That is fine on a relaxed trip and frustrating after a delayed flight.
Shared services are strongest for places the train does not reach. The airport's list includes operators serving Fort Collins and Loveland to the north and Colorado Springs, Castle Rock and Monument to the south, which are long, expensive trips by taxi or rideshare.
Hotel shuttles
DEN's hotel shuttle page says more than 40 hotels within 10 miles of the airport run shuttles, and the airport's passenger pickup map places them on Island 3. Schedules vary by hotel, from every 30 minutes around the clock to hourly or on call, so check yours before you land.
These are the right answer for an airport-area hotel the night before an early flight. They do not go downtown, to Cherry Creek or to the Tech Center.
The A Line and RTD buses
Technically a train, but it is the real competition for any downtown shuttle. The A Line runs from the DEN Transit Center, at the south end of the Jeppesen Terminal, to Denver Union Station. DEN's transit center page lists the Airport Day Pass at US$10, valid all day across the RTD system including the airport, and RTD's fares page confirms that trips to or from the airport need the Airport Day Pass or an upgrade. RTD buses also run from the transit center, including the AB routes to Boulder.
Mountain carriers
Mountain carriers run to the ski and resort towns from Level 5, Island 1. We cover them in detail in Denver airport to Breck: shuttle vs private car, because the I-70 trip changes the comparison completely.
Cost compared: shuttle, train or private car
The table compares the options for the most common trip, DEN to LoDo and Union Station, about 25 miles (40 km) and around 37 minutes on a clear road. Elly8.net prices are fixed per vehicle, in either direction, and include taxes, standard gratuity and meet and greet.
| Option | Price | How it is charged | Where you board at DEN | Stops before yours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTD A Line | US$10 Airport Day Pass | per person | DEN Transit Center, south end of the terminal | station stops only |
| Shared-ride van | set by each operator | per seat | Level 5, Island 5 | possible, depends on bookings |
| Hotel shuttle | set by the hotel | per hotel policy | Level 5, Island 3 | other hotels on shared routes |
| Elly8.net Business Sedan | US$225 | per vehicle, up to 3 | met inside at baggage claim | none |
| Elly8.net Business SUV | US$295 | per vehicle, up to 6 | met inside at baggage claim | none |
| Elly8.net Executive Sprinter | US$585 | per vehicle, up to 12 | met inside at baggage claim | none |
Per person, the Elly8.net Business Sedan with three people is US$75 each; the Business SUV with six is about US$49; the Sprinter with twelve is under US$49. Round trips run from US$430 in a Business Sedan to US$1,115 in an Executive Sprinter. For addresses away from downtown, such as Cherry Creek, Boulder or the Tech Center, the web booker gives a fixed price before you pay.
Wait time: where the minutes go
Cost is easy to compare. Waiting is where the options really differ, and it happens in different places.
On the train, the wait is at the platform and at Union Station. Bags have to be carried from baggage claim to the transit center and then from the station to the hotel. For a light traveller staying near the station, that is nothing. For a family with car seats, it is the longest part of the trip.
On a shared van, the wait can come before departure, if the van holds for other passengers, and during the trip, if it stops at other addresses. Neither is a fault; it is how a shared service keeps the seat price down.
With a private car, the wait is the chauffeur's. Your flight number is tracked, the chauffeur meets you inside at baggage claim with a name board, and complimentary waiting after a tracked landing means a late flight or a slow carousel does not cost more. DEN's limousine page places pre-arranged cars at the limo booth on Level 5, Island 2, a short walk from the bags.
The one wait no option avoids is the road. Peña Boulevard and the interstate slow down at rush hour and in snow, and a snowy evening can add a lot to the 37-minute clear-road time. With a fixed price, that time costs you patience rather than money.
Comfort: bags, seats and the end of a long day
Denver arrivals carry more than most: ski bags, boot bags, golf travel cases and conference boxes. A shared van has to fit everyone's bags in one rear compartment. A train has luggage space that fills on busy services. A private Business SUV takes up to six passengers and six bags; the Executive Sprinter takes twelve and twelve, according to the Elly8.net fleet page.
Child seats matter too. They are available on request with any Elly8.net booking; add each child's age and weight. Shared services and trains are a different arrangement entirely, and parents should check before travelling.
Then there is the door. A private car stops at your hotel entrance or your front door, not at a station or a shared stop. After a long flight that is the part people remember.
Going to the airport: the shuttle question in reverse
Departures change the picture slightly. The A Line runs from Union Station to the airport, so a downtown hotel near the station has an easy train ride to DEN. Shared vans to the airport are pre-arranged with the operator, so the pickup time is set around other passengers' flights as well as yours. Hotel shuttles run from the airport-area hotels only.
For an early-morning flight from a home in the suburbs, or a family leaving a Cherry Creek hotel with skis, a private car avoids the walk and the timing compromise: it comes to the door at the time you choose. The fixed fare is the same in both directions, and the drop-off is on Level 6, next to check-in.
Verdict: which one should you book?
Take the A Line if you are one or two people, travelling light, staying near Union Station or along the line, and landing during service hours. US$10 is hard to beat, and we say so.
Take a hotel shuttle if you are staying at an airport-area hotel. That is what they are for.
Take a shared van if you are going somewhere the train does not reach, such as Fort Collins or Colorado Springs, travelling alone or as a couple, and you do not mind stops.
Book a private car if you are three or more, if you have ski or golf bags, if you need child seats, if you land late, if you have a meeting to get to, or if you simply want a fixed price and no stops. It is also the answer for departures that start early in the morning, covered in Denver to DIA by private car.
If you are weighing rideshare and taxis as well, our Denver airport Uber vs taxi vs private car guide uses the airport's published taxi flat rates. The general case is set out in chauffeur vs shared airport shuttle.
How to book a private DIA transfer
- Enter DEN as the pickup with your flight number, and your drop-off address. Our airport transfers page explains what happens on the day.
- Pick the vehicle for your group and bags: Business Sedan, Business SUV, First Class Sedan, First Class SUV or Executive Sprinter. Larger groups can book two vehicles; see group transportation.
- Press Reserve now on the Denver fares panel, or use the web booker for any other address. Confirmation arrives by email, then the chauffeur's details before pickup.
Rides in Denver are operated by licensed, commercially insured local chauffeur partners vetted through the Limousine Worldwide network; Elly8.net takes the booking, fixes the price and runs the 24/7 desk. Our airport meet and greet page explains the arrivals routine in more detail.
Frequently asked questions
Where do shuttles pick up at Denver International Airport?
All ground transportation is on Level 5 of the Jeppesen Terminal. Shared-ride vans use Island 5, hotel shuttles Island 3, mountain carriers Island 1 and pre-arranged limousines Island 2. The A Line and RTD buses leave from the DEN Transit Center at the south end of the terminal.
How much is the train from DIA to downtown Denver?
The A Line needs an RTD Airport Day Pass, which DEN lists at US$10. It is valid all day across the RTD system, including the airport, and runs to Denver Union Station. For one traveller with a light bag heading downtown, it is the cheapest option.
Is a private car worth it for a family of four?
Often, yes. An Elly8.net Business SUV from DEN to LoDo is US$295 fixed for up to six passengers and six bags, with child seats on request. Compare that with four shared-van seats or four day passes plus a taxi from Union Station, and the gap is small.
What happens if my flight into DEN is late?
The chauffeur tracks the flight number you give at booking, so the pickup moves with your actual landing. Complimentary waiting after a tracked landing is included, and the fixed price does not change for a delay or a slow baggage carousel.
Can a private car be booked from a hotel to DIA?
Yes. Every Elly8.net airport fare is the same fixed price in either direction, so LoDo and Union Station to DEN is US$225 in a Business Sedan and US$585 in an Executive Sprinter. Other addresses are priced by the web booker.
What is the cancellation policy?
Free more than 72 hours before pickup. At 72 hours or less the charge is 10%, at 48 hours or less 50%, and at 24 hours or less, or for a no-show, 100%. Refunds go back to the original card.
