Denver Airport Arrival Guide: Finding Your Train, Shuttle or Driver

At Denver International Airport, the most useful instruction is often a precise meeting point. “I’m outside” leaves a driver guessing; the terminal side, level and door number make the next step much easier. A few minutes of preparation can save you an unnecessary walk with your bags.

Use this guide after choosing your transportation. If you are still comparing the options, start with our Denver Airport to downtown transport guide.

Before leaving baggage claim

Before choosing an exit, count the bags and people who need to be with you. Oversized luggage can create a separate wait, and one missing suitcase changes when the group is ready. Once everyone is together, open the pickup instructions and follow the directions for that service.

If you have arranged a private pickup, follow the agreed check-in process and tell the provider when you are ready. Landing time and the time you reach the pickup point are different. If luggage is delayed, update the provider so you can discuss the next step.

Taking the A Line to Union Station

Follow signs for the train to Denver and the airport Transit Center on Level 1, beneath the Westin. The A Line connects the airport with Union Station. DEN’s ground transportation guide explains where to board.

Before boarding, have the correct fare or ticket ready and check the service information. Keep the hotel address available for the arrival at Union Station. If another connection is needed, decide where you are going next before rolling the bags off the train.

Meeting an Uber or Lyft

DEN directs ride-app passengers to Level 5, Island 5 on either the east or west side. Request your ride once you have collected your luggage, then follow the pickup location shown in the app. Use the designated crosswalks to reach the island.

Confirm the car and license plate against the app before boarding. The airport’s official rideshare instructions also explain arrangements for passengers who need extra assistance. Follow current signs and app instructions if the location changes.

Collecting a rental car

The rental facilities require a shuttle ride from the terminal. DEN lists rental-car shuttles on Level 5, Island 4, on both sides of Jeppesen Terminal. Check the shuttle’s company name before boarding so your first stop is the correct rental location.

Allow time for the shuttle and vehicle collection when planning the rest of your day. Keep your reservation and required documents handy. The airport’s rental-car page provides the current pickup details.

Meeting a prebooked private driver

Use the instructions from your transportation provider, since private pickups should not be assumed to use the rideshare area. Confirm whether the arrangement is curbside or a meeting inside, how the driver will contact you and what to do if your flight or baggage is delayed.

For iLimo airport transportation, provide the flight number, arrival date, destination, passenger count and luggage details when requesting service. Mention ski bags, child-seat needs or mobility requirements in advance so the vehicle and arrangements can be discussed.

If you cannot find your ride, stop in one agreed place and read the signs around you. Tell the provider the terminal side, level and door number, then explain whether you are at the curb or the designated pickup island. Follow their directions from there instead of walking between levels while the driver searches for you.

Four details that make a pickup easier

A useful arrival message tells the provider that your bags are collected, how many travelers are ready, the location shown on the nearest signs and whether you need help. “We have all four travelers and our bags” answers a different question from “our flight has landed.”

If your party is arriving on separate flights, choose one contact person and one meeting plan before travel. Let the driver know when the last traveler is ready, or arrange separate transfers if waiting would make the journey impractical.

Heading straight to the mountains?

Confirm that your reservation goes to your exact resort or accommodation, and whether any transfers or intermediate stops are involved. A downtown ride and a mountain transfer serve different journeys.

For an Aspen arrival, our Denver-to-Aspen planning guide covers the next part of the trip. Keep your first evening flexible enough for the drive, then enjoy settling in once you arrive.