Cheap flights to Denver, Colorado (CO)

Denver Travel Guide

 Denver isn’t called “The Mile High City” for nothing. It got its nickname from the 13th step leading up to the State Capitol, which is precisely 5,280 feet above sea level.

Colorado’s capital might be best known for its ski resorts and breathtaking scenery, but visitors will discover just how much more the city has to offer. Surprisingly, Denver gets 300 days of sunshine a year; more than Miami. It embraces its cowboy past – William F. Cody (Buffalo Bill) is buried just 30 minutes from the city, after all – its mining heritage and its great outdoors. But Denver is a cosmopolitan, artsy and cultural city too. Its Daniel Libeskind-designed Denver Art Museum is home to collections of African, American Indian, European and American, and Modern art, while the Museum of Contemporary Art focuses on art created since 1945. Lower Downtown, LoDo to the locals, is a lively, historic district with bars, restaurants, microbreweries and book shops.

The Rocky Mountains offer a majestic backdrop to the Denver landscape. They are the perfect setting for nature lovers taking cheap flights to Denver for the camping, hiking, bicycling, fishing and, of course, the skiing, in the ten national parks or 11 national forests on the city’s doorstep. Stand atop any one of Denver’s mountains and you’ll be able to see miles of breathtaking Colorado landscape.

With more than 11 million visitors booking Denver flights, accommodations, ski weekends and business conventions in the city, it’s no wonder the tourism industry in Denver continues to thrive.

 What’s the weather like in Denver?

Thanks to its location in the Rockies, Denver has a mild climate. Colorado weather is famous for its fluctuations, during any season and any day, which also means that most weather conditions are temporary. The average temperatures in January range from the mid-teens to the low 40s and in July from the upper 50s to the upper 80s.

When is the best time to fly to Denver?

Peak Season:

Summer offers the best chance for good weather with the warmest temperatures, and the wildflowers are at their peak in July and August.

The ski season runs from mid-November to March, which also marks a busy time. Many avid skiers and snowboarders travel to Denver during these months to go to the nearby Rocky Mountain slopes.

Off Season:

Spring and fall are when you’re more likely to find cheap plane tickets to Denver. There’s a chance of snow, but it will probably melt quickly. Spring is typically colorful and wet where Fall is usually dry. September is the time to catch the foliage change color and is the favorite time of year for many locals.

When is the best time to book a flight to Denver?

When looking for the best fares to Denver, Monday is a great day to search. Airlines analyze their fares from the previous week and on Tuesdays they often mark down fares, hoping to move their inventory. Business travelers generally fly on Monday and return Thursday or Friday, leaving Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday the best time to find affordable flights.

How long is the flight to Denver?

When flying from Miami to Denver, expect a flight time of four hours for nonstop and about six hours for a connecting flight.  A flight into Denver from Los Angeles averages two hours and 20 minutes, nonstop or connecting, while a flight from Honolulu takes about six hours and 35 minutes for nonstop and nine hours and 15 minutes with connections.

Which airlines fly to Denver?

The major airlines flying into Denver International Airport (DIA) from Florida are Frontier and American, in addition to Spirit, Alaska, Delta and Southwest from Los Angeles. From Honolulu United, Delta, American and Hawaiian fly to Denver.

What should you pack for a flight to Denver?

 Due to Denver altitude (5,480 feet above sea level)temperature diversity occurs, sometimes drastically. It is often 70 in February and 40 in May, so plan on packing some layers. For the traditional winter months, pack a fleece jacket, long underwear, a water resistant jacket, jeans, snow boots and snow pants if you’re planning to go skiing. During the spring and fall you’ll be comfortable in T-shirts and jeans or shorts, a light fleece shirt and a rain jacket.  Summer clothing in town is pretty casual, so jeans, shorts, sundresses, hiking pants, a light jacket are acceptable, but if you’re heading to the high country to camp, bring warmer clothing. Coloradans are casual by nature, but if you are attending a concert downtown or eating at a fine dining restaurant such as Elways (http://www.elways.com/downtown), dress up a bit.

Whether you are visiting museums, galleries, rafting, biking or hiking, comfortable footwear is essential. Due to Denver’s Mile-High altitude, sunglasses and sunscreen, especially in the mountains is a must.

Getting to and around the city of Denver

 You can walk around downtown Denver easily or take public transportation. The 16th Street Mall has a free bus service running down the length of it. It stops every two blocks.

To get around Denver, its suburbs and outlying communities, like Boulder and Evergreen, you can take the Regional Transportation District (RTD). It offers bus and light-rail services and has free transfer tickets, but you’ll need exact change.

A great way to sightsee is hopping on the open-air Platte Valley Trolley, which has half-hour tours on its “Denver Sightseeing Route” in the warmer months.

If you’re heading out of town for the day, you’ll need to rent a car. Be mindful of driving conditions during winter; storms can make driving treacherous.

What are some things to do in Denver?

Detroit, Michigan, and the surrounding area offers a variety of experiences from entertainment options to outdoor activities and shopping excursions. From delightful dining experiences in the downtown area to revisiting the history of the automotive industry, there’s always something available for every traveler in your group.

Just a short drive from Detroit Metro, The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village welcome visitors with an indoor museum covering the advancement of cars, farm vehicles and trains through the years along with architecture and furniture design. Greenfield Village is home to relocated and reconstructed buildings from Detroit’s rich history, from Edison’s laboratory to a real English cottage. To fully experience everything the museum and grounds have to offer, plan on spending a full day or two.

Head in to downtown Detroit for incredible dining and entertainment experiences, such as a romantic dinner for two at the Whitney—once home to Detroit’s richest man and now a gourmet eatery—or a spectacular show at the stunning Fox Theater. Visit one of the city’s three casinos, and try your luck at the slots or card tables. Sports fanatics can get their game on at Comerica Park, which is home to the Detroit Tigers or Ford Field, home to the NFL’s longest storied teams: the Detroit Lions.

Take the family up I-94 for a visit to Frankenmuth, a Bavarian settlement located about two hours north, and tuck into one of the Zehnder family’s world famous chicken dinners before browsing the many quaint shops or strolling across the authentic wooden covered bridge.

Tips for your stay in Denver

• The Colorado State Capitol has murals depicting the history of water in the state on the walls of the first-floor rotunda. On the first floor, the west lobby hosts revolving temporary exhibits. When you stand on the 18th step of the State Capitol, you are 5,280 feet (one mile) above sea level.
• Two museums of interest are Museo de las Americas, showing the artistic and cultural achievements of Latinos in the Americas, and the Colorado History Museum, with exhibits including Ancient Voices, a look at Colorado’s ancient peoples through artifacts and film, and Soldiers on Skis, the story of WWII soldiers who trained for battle in the Colorado Rockies.
• One of the top five U.S. botanical gardens is here. The Denver Botanic Gardensare 23 acres of local, Australian, African, and Himalayan flora.
• There are 80 different beers brewed in the Denver area. Coors Brewing Company offers free tours, with stops in the sampling areas. The tours are limited and conducted on a first-come first-served basis, so you may want to get there early. The brewery is in Golden, about 30 minutes from Denver.
• When you ask for directions, people usually instruct you to “turn west off of” or “then go south” and so on. Just remember that everything is Denver is relative to the mountains, and that the mountains are west of the city.
• For gifts to take back home, take a look at fossils. Fossils tend to cost less in Denver because they are more abundant here than in other places. 

Finding Flights from Denver

Few people want to leave Denver once they arrive, but when you must, it’s easy to find available and affordable flights, hotel and rental cars when you use Cheapflights “find deals” tool. For example:

Cheapflights from Denver to London 

Cheapflights from Denver to Anchorage, AK

Cheapflights from Denver to New York City

Getting to and from the airport is quite easy. If you are staying in the downtown area, a dedicated light rail at Union Station takes visitors from and to DIA on a regular schedule for $9 one way.

The Regional Transportation District (RTD) runs shuttles to and from the airport on a regular basis with pick-up and departure available at most neighborhood Park ‘N Ride sites, so no matter where in the city you stay, your options are great. Lyft, Uber, private shuttles and taxis also take travelers to and from the airport.