Travel

COLTT 2024 details to be announced soon. Email coltt@cu.edu to be added to our mailing list.

Here are some of our hotel recommendations in the area: Courtyard by Marriott, Boulderado, Boulder University Inn, or Hyatt Place Boulder/Pearl Street.

Travel

Boulder is served by the Denver International Airport (DEN), with daily flights to pretty much every major city in North America. The airport is about 45 minutes away by car.  

Bus Service

The RTD (Regional Transportation Denver) provides regular express bus service called SkyRide between Boulder and DIA hourly from the wee hours of the morning until just after midnight. The route to Boulder is the AB/AB1, and takes approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes to get to Boulder (https://www.rtd-denver.com/app/route/AB/schedule?direction=westbound&version=upcoming). 

Bus fares to and from the airport are currently $10.30 one way. There are a few ways to pay - purchase a ticket in advance online through RTD’s website. https://www.rtd-denver.com/fares-passes/fares. If you arrive at DIA during normal business hours, you can purchase tickets at the DEN Transit Center. Or, if you carry cash, you can pay on the bus – but you will need to have exact fare.

Van Service

GreenRide Boulder provides service to Boulder hotels for $30 each way. The shuttle picks up at DIA on the East Terminal, Level 5:  go out door 507, then walk to Island 5.See http://greenrideboulder.com/

SuperShuttle provides service to Boulder hotels for $27 to $33 each way, with the cost depending on location. See http://www.supershuttle.com/Locations/DENBoulderDIAExpressAirportShuttle.aspx. Total travel time = 1.25-2 hours.

Taxis

Taxis are the most efficient – but also the most expensive – way to get to and from the airport. Taxis currently charge a flat rate of $84.00 one way between Boulder and DIA, plus an additional $4.15 gate fee for trips originating at the airport. Taxis pick-up and drop-off from DIA Main Terminal Level 5, Island 1, outside Doors 505, 507 and 511 (Terminal East), and Doors 506, 510 and 512 (Terminal West). If you need to call a taxi, we recommend Boulder Yellow Cab: http://www.boulderyellowcab.com/.

Getting to the University of Colorado Boulder

The Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences Building is located at 3775 Discovery Dr, Boulder, CO 80303.

Walking around town – Downtown Boulder is relatively flat because it is along a creek bed. If the weather cooperates, this is the best way to see Boulder!

Public transportation – Boulder is well served by a network of local and regional buses. Fares are $3.00 one-way for in-town travel. Or you can purchase a Day Pass for $6.00 for unlimited rides. If you are buying your ticket on the bus, be sure to have exact change!

Buses with names (SKIP, HOP) are local Boulder buses; buses with numbers (209, 204) are regional RTD buses. You can look up the schedules for all buses on RTD’s website (rtd-denver.com). 

The HOP runs in a circle that connects campus to the Hill, downtown Boulder, and various retail areas in central Boulder. HOPs run frequently in both directions (clockwise and counter-clockwise), every 12-20 minutes 7am-10pm.

Many other buses run later into the evening. If you plan to get back to your hotel by bus, check out the routes online before you leave so you know what options you have.

Short-term Bicycle Rentals – If you are going for a short trip (30 minutes or less), and between locations that have BCycle bike rental stations, this is a great option to get around cheaply and quickly.  BCycle (boulder.bcycle.com) charges $15.00 a day for unlimited numbers of rentals (or $5.00/30 minutes) – so long as you get your bike to one of their rental stations within 30 minutes. You can purchase your day pass online or at any of their bike stations.

Taxis/etc. – Do not expect to be able to hail a taxi on the street in Boulder! ZTrip is a local cab company that offers online pre-booking of taxis, which is recommended especially if you are going outside of the downtown area. They can be reached at 303-699-8747. You can also take your chances and wait for a cab at the cab stand at 11th and Pearl downtown. And of course Über and Lyft also operate in the area.

Boulder is known for its amazing views of the Flatirons and outdoor activities. While there’s a lot to do and see, here are just a few noteworthy ideas if you want to venture out and explore the city! Note: If you plan to drive around the City of Boulder, there is street and garage parking available. You can also use the Park Mobile app to find and pay for parking.

The Hill – This is the undergrad student neighborhood just to the west of campus across Broadway.  The place to go if you want some cheap food, college bars, a tattoo and more.  Most of the shops and restaurants are clustered in just a few blocks.  They are building some conference centers on the north end, so beware of construction.

Pearl Street – Boulder’s downtown more or less runs parallel to Boulder Creek, just to its north.  The center of the action is Pearl Street, which is a pedestrian mall for four blocks stretching from 11th through 15th Streets.  The area west of 11th street is also referred to as “West Pearl”, and the area east of 15th street is called “East Pearl”.

Downtown Boulder showcases smaller and locally owned retail, but you will still find some name brand chains mixed in with the rest. 

29th Street Mall – A sprawling open air shopping center with lots of chain restaurants and name brands and a movie theater. If you’re hoping for more familiar names in the Boulder area, you’ll probably find them here.

Colorado Shakespeare Festival – A professional theatre company associated with the university. One of the oldest Shakespeare festivals in the United States brings professional talent from all over the Denver area and the country together to produce shows in the outdoor Mary Rippon Theatre (backdropped by a stunning view of the sun setting behind the Flatirons) and the indoor University Theatre from June to August.

Chautauqua – A park that holds one of the most common photo-ops in Boulder and access to the most popular trailheads into the Flatirons. If you like to hike, you can park inside the park or the surrounding neighborhoods and make your way up to the top. If hikes aren’t your thing but the views are, you can take a car up to Flagstaff and walk around the accessible and beginner-friendly trails.