Sitting just to the east of the Rocky Mountains, the city of Denver is the most populous city in the state of Colorado. Denver — The Mile High City — is an outdoorsy city known for its art, culture, food, music and sports. Its nickname “The Mile High City” references its elevation. Denver sits exactly 5,280 feet (1.6km) or one mile above sea level. Denver is located roughly 71 miles north of Colorado Springs, a city in Colorado at the eastern foot of the Rocky Mountains. Colorado Springs is even higher than Denver. It is at an elevation of 6,035 feet. Today, more than 31 million people visit Denver every year and almost 24 million visit Colorado Springs. Visitors often make the journey between both cities. So, if you’d like to do the same, there are four ways to get from Denver to Colorado Springs.
How to get from Denver to Colorado Springs
Shuttle
One of the most convenient ways to get from Denver to Colorado Springs is to take the Groome Transportation shuttle service. There are 18 round trips daily, and the fare is $50 one-way, but you can sometimes get a cheaper ticket if you book online. There are also discounts for children, seniors, students, and members of the military.
Bus
Travelling from the two places along the public bus route is another relaxing mode of transport as you don’t have to worry about driving the unfamiliar roads; you simply get to sit back, relax, and take in the sighs from the large windows. The price is also another draw – this is one of the cheapest ways to travel from Denver to Colorado Springs. The Bustang service, run by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) departs from Union Station and drops you off at a bus stop at I-25 and Tejon Street in Colorado Springs. The trip takes 2 hours and 15 minutes. Greyhound also offers this bus service along this route.
Car
The most convenient way to get to Colorado Springs is by car. And this is one incredibly scenic road trip. There are many car hire firms around Denver, but finding the best deal is the first step. Taking the car means leaving whenever you like and making pit stops and detours along the way.
Getting from Denver to Colorado Springs by car is very straightforward. From the city centre, follow Interstate Highway I-25 south to Colorado Springs. From the airport, take Pena Blvd to the exit for E-470 S and continue on this road for 23 miles until it links up with I-25 south of the city centre of Denver.
Traffic between Denver and Colorado Springs can be brutal, especially during rush hour. So, plan your trip between the hours of 1 pm and 3 pm or around 5 am or after 7 pm to miss the worst of it.
Plane
Colorado Springs Airport (COS) is a domestic airport with flights in and out to many destinations across the country. However, it isn’t worth the ticket price or the time it takes to fly between Denver and Colorado Springs because it will take you way longer to fly than to drive the 71 miles. Denver’s airport is located about 35 minutes east of the city, and you also have to factor in time spent in the airport before your flight. It is, therefore, much quicker, easier, and cheaper to get to Colorado Springs using one of the modes of transport listed above.
