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Car Rentals in Denver

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United States
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Denver skyline with Mount Evans and the Rocky Mountains in the background

Car Rentals in Denver

Live rental rates from major suppliers.

Whether you need a rental car in Denver depends almost entirely on whether your trip stays in the city or heads into the mountains.

Downtown Denver Does Not Need a Car

LoDo, Union Station, Coors Field, and the 16th Street Mall are all walkable, and the A-Line train handles the airport connection. RTD light rail covers a fair amount of the rest of the metro area if your trip stays urban.

The Mountains Are a Different Story

Rocky Mountain National Park sits about 90 minutes from downtown, and ski resorts like Breckenridge, Vail, and Winter Park all require a drive along the I-70 mountain corridor. If any of this is on your itinerary, a rental car (ideally with all-wheel drive in winter) is close to essential, and public transit will not get you there practically.

Plan Around I-70 Traffic and Weather

The I-70 corridor sees heavy weekend congestion during ski season and can close temporarily during storms. If you’re driving to the mountains, weekday travel and checking Colorado road conditions before you leave will save real time.

Compare rental rates above if the mountains are part of your Denver trip, or check flight and hotel options if you’re keeping things downtown.

Travel guides

Denver travel guides

All guides
Denver: Should You Rent a Car or Rely on Public Transit?

Whether to rent a car in Denver or rely on RTD’s trains and buses: how the city is laid out, how the A Line, light rail and fares work, what driving here and on I-70 is really like (tolls, the traction law, altitude, winter storms), the ski train and mountain buses, when a car is worth it, and a decision table by trip type.

Best Time to Fly to Denver: Seasons, Weather & Prices

Month-by-month guide to flying to Denver: a sunny, changeable mile-high climate, the ski and summer seasons that drive fares, the Stock Show, Red Rocks and other events that move prices, the cheapest windows, and how to get downtown from DEN.

Things to Do in Denver: A First-Timer’s Guide

A first-timer’s guide to Denver: Union Station, LoDo and Larimer Square, the Capitol and the Golden Triangle museums, City Park and the river trails, RiNo and the Highlands, Red Rocks, four pro teams, green chile and craft beer, the altitude, day trips to Boulder and Rocky Mountain National Park, and two sample itineraries.

FAQ

Denver car rentals, answered

When's the best time to visit Denver?

Month-by-month guide to flying to Denver: a sunny, changeable mile-high climate, the ski and summer seasons that drive fares, the Stock Show, Red Rocks and other events that move prices, the cheapest windows, and how to get downtown from DEN.

Do I need a rental car in Denver?

Whether to rent a car in Denver or rely on RTD’s trains and buses: how the city is laid out, how the A Line, light rail and fares work, what driving here and on I-70 is really like (tolls, the traction law, altitude, winter storms), the ski train and mountain buses, when a car is worth it, and a decision table by trip type.

Can I do a one-way road trip from Denver?

Yes. Popular one-way drives from Denver include Salt Lake City (521 mi). One-way rentals can carry a drop-off fee, so compare one-way and round-trip rates before you book.

Can I also compare flights to Denver and hotels in Denver?

Yes. Our flights and hotels pages for Denver each have a live search, so you can plan the whole trip in one place.