Transportation to and around Boulder

From Denver International Airport

Around Boulder by bus, bike, and taxi

From Denver International Airport

Denver International Airport rooftop. (©UCAR, photo by Carlye Calvin.)

NCAR/UCAR headquarters in Boulder, Colorado, are about 50 miles northwest of Denver International Airport.

• DIA ground transportation info and map of pickup areas

RTD skyRide Bus

SkyRide's air conditioned buses have plush, adjustable seating and ample luggage storage; drivers take your bags at curbside and return them to you at your destination. This service of the Regional Transportation District (RTD) runs hourly between roughly 6:00 a.m. and midnight; travel time to Boulder is approximately 55-75 minutes, depending on time of day and weather.

Employees and official visitors: skyRide plus NCAR/UCAR Shuttle

Official visitors include researchers, professionals, and students invited to participate in our activities. Public visitors, please see below.

• Employees ride free from DIA with currently valid EcoPass (rides to DIA require your EcoPass plus a reduced fare of $5.00)
• Official visitors may purchase tickets at the RTD counter in the main terminal (northwest corner of fountain area) or pay exact fare on the bus.
• Follow signs to the RTD bus stop at the airport (map)
• Take the RTD skyRide AB bus (schedule - see West Bound section for service from terminal to Boulder)
• Get off at the Table Mesa Park n' Ride stop in Boulder
• Walk a few steps to the NCAR/UCAR shuttle van stop (map) and board the van traveling to the NCAR/UCAR campus you are visiting (schedule) (map of all our locations | Google Maps version)

Public visitors - skyRide plus taxi

• Phone one of the Boulder taxi companies in advance to have them meet you at the Table Mesa Park n'Ride stop on arrival in Boulder.
• Purchase tickets at the RTD counter in the main terminal (northwest corner of fountain area), or pay exact fare on the bus.
• Follow signs to the RTD bus stop at the airport (map)
• Take the RTD skyRide AB bus (schedule - see West Bound section for service from terminal to Boulder)
• Get off at the Table Mesa Park n' Ride stop in Boulder
• Tell the taxi driver which NCAR/UCAR campus you wish to visit (map of all our locations | Google Maps version)

Boulder SuperShuttle (Commercial Van)

Shuttle vans leave from east and west sides of the main terminal hourly between roughly 6:00 a.m. and midnight; travel time to Boulder is roughly 50-80 minutes.

No reservations are needed from DIA to Boulder. Purchase tickets at the Boulder SuperShuttle counter in the main terminal. To our knowledge, this is the only door-to-door commercial van service to Boulder. Be sure to tell the driver which campus you are visiting (map of all our locations | Google Maps version).

For alternatives, see the DIA ground transportation page.

Rental Car

• Rental car companies in the airport terminal.
• Driving directions to our Boulder and Broomfield-RAF campuses

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Around Boulder by bus, bike, and taxi

Commuting via bike and bus. (©UCAR, photo by Carlye Calvin.)

Bus Service

RTD Trip Planner

• RTD Trip Planner - Enter start and end points, maximum walking distance, and preferred time, and this online service will plot your bus route.

Selected Boulder Routes

HOP (University of Colorado, Downtown, NCAR/UCAR Shuttle stop at 29th Street)

SKIP (north and south on Broadway, NCAR/UCAR Shuttle stop at Table Mesa/Broadway)

BOLT (between Longmont and downtown Boulder, stops near Foothills and Center Green campuses, Diagonal Hwy. and 47th)

205 (stops near Foothills and Center Green campuses, Diagonal Hwy. and 47th)

208 (between downtown Boulder and Center Green campus, stops at Valmont & 34th St.)

A UCAR/NCAR shuttle van. (©UCAR, photo by Carlye Calvin.)

About Boulder's named bus routes

How to use Boulder's Community Transit Network

Bus fare information (all buses require exact change or EcoPass)

UCAR/NCAR Shuttle

For employees and official visitors, UCAR provides scheduled service between our three Boulder campuses and major bus lines. There is no shuttle service to the Broomfield Research Aviation Facility.

All our shuttles have bike racks.

• UCAR/NCAR shuttle routes and schedule

Bike & Pedestrian Routes

• GO Boulder bike route trip planner (choose "Log in as guest" or create a free account)
  
• More GO Boulder information and maps
• NCAR's mesa road: Public use and safety

Blue & Red Bikes

Blue bicycles are available at FL2 and CG1 for short-term use by UCAR and NCAR employees and official visitors.  Borrow one to travel between campuses, run errands, or just get a little exercise during your lunch break.

• Blue Bikes from UCAR Sustainability

UCAR is a co-sponsor of Boulder B-cycle, a community nonprofit organization whose bike sharing stations can be found at Center Green, the Foothills Lab, and across Boulder. Use a credit card at any B-cycle station to purchase short-term access, or sign up online for 24-hour, 7-day, or annual access.

• Red Bikes from Boulder B-cycle

Taxis and Other Options

• Local Transportation (Boulder Convention and Visitors Bureau)

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