Denver International Airport

  Movies
  On Stage
  Music
  Visual Arts
  Dining
  Bars
  Books
  TV listings
  Columnists

Your Guide to DIA

Denver International Airport (DIA) opened in 1994, replacing Stapleton International Airport. DIA serves an average of 96,000 passengers a day, with 1,200 daily flights on 20 airlines. The airport is located on a 53 square-mile site, 23 miles east-northeast of Denver. The airport building, including the main terminal and three concourses, measures more than 5.5 million square feet and offers 94 gates for arriving and departing passengers.

In other words, the place is big.

But it needn't be intimidating. Here is some information about the airport that should help you make your trip through DIA go smoothly.

Getting there

Most travelers from Denver will approach DIA from the west, on I-70. You'll need to exit I-70 at Pena Boulevard to complete the trip to DIA. Click here to get specific driving directions from your address to the airport.

From downtown, you can expect to drive for about 35 minutes to get to DIA. Denver's city bus line, the RTD, runs regular shuttles to and from DIA. In addition, a variety of limo services and taxis serve the airport.

You can plan ahead for your trip to DIA by looking at this map of the airport from the City of Denver. (The map is in .pdf format, so you'll need an Adobe Acrobat reader to see it.)

Parking

DIA's parking booths are located on Pena Boulevard several hundred yards before you reach the main terminal. Once you pick up your ticket at the booth, you've got a 45-minute grace period before you have to pay for parking.

If you or car will be staying longer at the airport, you'll pay $4 for up to two hours of parking, and $2 for each extra hour after that, up to $10 for the day. Long term parking costs $1 per hour, up to $5 per day.

There are two main parking areas at DIA, one on each side of the terminal. If you need to check bags or pick up a boarding assignment, you'll want to park on the side where your airline's counter is located. If you'll be going straight to the gate, park on the east side -- it's less crowded (that's because United is on the west side, and most of its passengers park over there). Here's the list of airlines and which side their counters are on:

West Side: United, United Express, Air Canada, Northwest.

East Side: America West, American, Continental, Delta, Frontier, Korean Air, Martinair, Mexicana, Midwest Express, Reno Air, TWA, USAir, Vanguard.

Getting to the gate

You'll find the airlines' ticket counters on Level 6 in the main terminal. The gates are located in the three concourse buildings, A, B and C. Once you've checked in, you'll proceed to your gate in one of the concourse buildings via an underground train. Descend to Level 5 to pass through the security check, then descend to Level 4 to board the trains to Concourses A, B and C.

If your flight is leaving from Concourse A, and you don't mind the walk, you can skip the train and use the pedestrian skybridge. The skybridge is located on the north side of the main terminal on Level 6. By taking the skybridge, you'll also go through a much less crowded security checkpoint.

Here is a list of airlines and their home concourses:

Concourse A: America West, British Airways, Continental, Frontier, Martinair, Mexicana, Charters

Concourse B: United (Red Carpet Club), United Express, Air Canada, Mesa

Concourse C: American (Admiral's Club), Delta (Crown Room), Midwest Express, Northwest, TWA, USAir, Vanguard

Getting out of the airport

Unless you are in Concourse A and can use the pedestrian skybridge, you'll need to board an underground train to get back to the terminal. The train stations are located at the middle of each concourse, two floors below gate level. Once your train reaches the main terminal, you'll exit and take an escalator or elevator back to Level 5. You'll find baggage claim on that level, with each airline's claim on the same side of the terminal as its ticketing counter.

West Side: United, United Express, Air Canada, Northwest.

East Side: America West, American, Continental, Delta, Frontier, Korean Air, Martinair, Mexicana, Midwest Express, Reno Air, TWA, USAir, Vanguard.

Taxis, limos and shuttles are located directly outside baggage claim.

Getting help at the airport

If your car won't start, you've locked yourself out of it, or if you have no idea where you left the thing, call 303-342-4650 for DIA's roadside assistance.

Parking for those with disabilities is available at levels in the garage, except Level 3.

DIA's telephone number for general information is 303-342-2000. If you need to page someone at the airport, the number to call is 303-342-2300.

DIA Airlines
Call these numbers for flight status and times

Air Canada
1-800-776-3000
America West
1-800-235-9292
American Airlines
1-800-433-7300
Aspen Mountain Air
1-800-877-3932
Continental Airlines
1-800-525-0280
Delta Air Lines
1-800-221-1212
Frontier Airlines
1-800-432-1359
Korean Air
1-800-438-5000
Martinair
1-800-366-4655
Mexicana
1-800-531-7921
Midwest Express Airlines
1-800-452-2022
Northwest Airlines
1-800-225-2525
TWA
1-800-221-2000
United Airlines
1-800-241-6522
United Express
1-800-241-6522
US Airways
1-800-428-4322
Vanguard
1-800-826-4827

Subscribe | E-mail alerts | Electronic edition | RSS