Start Here
Denver sits at exactly 5,280 feet above sea level. That is where the nickname comes from.
The Mile High City.
It is a city that faces the Rocky Mountains. You can see them from almost everywhere, this massive wall of peaks running along the western horizon. The combination of a modern, walkable downtown and that mountain backdrop is what makes Denver feel different from other US cities.
For families, Denver works as both a destination and a launching point. The city itself has world class museums, a revitalized downtown around Union Station, and 300 days of sunshine a year. An hour west and you are in the mountains. Ninety minutes south and you are at Garden of the Gods. Two hours and you are in Rocky Mountain National Park.
The altitude is real. Drink water, take it easy the first day, and do not plan a big hike for day one. Your body adjusts fast, but it does need a day.
✈ Denver · Trip at a Glance
• • •
🌎 Region: Front Range, Colorado
📝 Language: English
💰 Currency: US Dollar ($)
☀ Best Months: May through October
⭐ Family Rating: ★★★★★
Getting Around
Denver International Airport (DEN) is about 25 miles northeast of downtown. The A Line commuter rail runs from the airport to Union Station in about 37 minutes for $10.50 each way. Rideshare from the airport runs $35 to $55 depending on traffic.
Inside the city, RTD (Regional Transportation District) runs buses, light rail, and the commuter rail lines. A local bus or light rail fare is $3. A day pass is $6. The free MallRide bus runs up and down the 16th Street Mall, the pedestrian shopping street in the center of downtown.
Denver is walkable in the core. Union Station, LoDo, the 16th Street Mall, the Capitol Hill neighborhood, and the RiNo Art District are all connected by short walks or a quick bus ride. The city is flat, which makes biking easy too. B-cycle bike share stations are everywhere, starting at $2 per ride.
For the mountains, you need a car. I-70 west is the main corridor to the ski areas, Georgetown, and the high country. Rental cars at DEN are plentiful.
A Line from DEN Airport
Airport to Union Station, about 37 minutes. $10.50 adults. Trains run every 15 minutes. Kids 5 and under ride free.
16th Street MallRide — Free bus running the full length of the 16th Street Mall every few minutes. Connects Union Station to Civic Center Park.
Where to Stay
Most families base in LoDo (Lower Downtown) near Union Station or in the Cherry Creek neighborhood south of downtown. LoDo is the walkable core with restaurants, Coors Field, and easy access to everything. Cherry Creek is quieter, with upscale shopping and parks, and a good base if you want a calmer vibe.
The Crawford Hotel
Inside Union Station itself. Gorgeous rooms, the Great Hall lobby downstairs, and you walk out the door into the heart of the city. Hard to beat the location. Around $320 per night.
The Maven Hotel
In the Dairy Block, a pedestrian alley filled with restaurants, a market hall, and shops. Modern rooms, good design, and a walkable location in LoDo. Around $200 per night.
Residence Inn Denver City Center
Suites with kitchens, which makes a real difference for families on a longer stay. Walking distance to the 16th Street Mall and the Capitol. Around $190 per night.
Hampton Inn Denver Downtown
Solid value with free breakfast, near the convention center and the 16th Street Mall. Clean rooms, consistent quality, and a good base for families watching the budget. Around $170 per night.
What to See
Union Station and LoDo
Union Station is the center of the city now. The 1914 Beaux Arts building was renovated into a food hall, hotel, and transit hub that anchors the whole LoDo neighborhood. The Great Hall inside has a cocktail bar, a bookstore, ice cream at Milkbox, and outstanding people watching.
LoDo is the neighborhood around the station. Brick warehouses turned into restaurants, breweries, and galleries. Coors Field (home of the Colorado Rockies) is a few blocks away, and a baseball game here is a top tier family outing. Rooftop seats look straight at the mountains. Tickets start around $15 for the Rockpile section.
The 16th Street Mall is a mile-long pedestrian corridor running from Union Station to Civic Center Park. It was redone in 2024 with wider walkways, more trees, and the free MallRide bus running the length of it.
Museum Campus
Denver’s museum campus in City Park is outstanding for families. The Denver Museum of Nature & Science has dinosaur fossils, a space odyssey wing, a planetarium, and an IMAX theater. $22.95 adults, $16.95 kids 3 to 18. The dinosaur hall alone is worth the visit.
The Denver Art Museum downtown has a family friendly approach that a lot of art museums do not. Interactive galleries, a creation station where kids make art, and rotating exhibits that are designed to engage younger visitors. $15 adults, free for kids 18 and under.
The Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus is right next to the Platte River. It is designed for kids 0 to 8 with a climbing structure, a water play area, a fire truck, and a full outdoor adventure course. $16 general admission. It is a top children’s museum in the western US.
RiNo and Outdoor Denver
RiNo (River North Art District) is the neighborhood north of downtown where the old industrial buildings are covered in murals. Larimer Street is the main strip, with craft breweries, restaurants, and art galleries. The street art alone makes it worth walking through.
Denver is an outdoor city. The Cherry Creek Trail runs 40 miles through the metro area and is flat, paved, and great for family biking. Confluence Park downtown is where Cherry Creek meets the South Platte River, and on a summer afternoon it is full of kids wading in the water.
Red Rocks Amphitheatre is about 15 miles west of downtown. Even if there is no concert happening, you can walk the amphitheater, do the stairs workout, and see the red rock formations up close. Free to visit outside of events. The Trading Post trail nearby is an easy 1.4 mile loop.
What to Eat
Denver’s food scene has come a long way from the steakhouse era. The city has one of the fastest growing restaurant scenes in the country, with RiNo and the Dairy Block leading the way. But the local specialties are still the ones worth seeking out. Green chile is the signature flavor of Colorado, and it goes on everything.
Green Chile
Colorado’s signature condiment. Roasted Hatch green chiles smothered over burritos, eggs, burgers, everything. Santiago’s is the local chain families swear by. A smothered breakfast burrito runs $8 to $12. Order it “Christmas style” for both red and green.
Rocky Mountain Oysters
They are not oysters. They are deep fried bull testicles. It is a Colorado tradition and yes, people order them with a straight face. Buckhorn Exchange, Denver’s oldest restaurant (since 1893), serves them as an appetizer. About $16. Kids either think it is hilarious or refuse entirely. Both reactions are correct.
Craft Beer
Denver has more breweries per capita than almost any US city. Many are family friendly during the day with outdoor patios and food trucks. Great Divide, Ratio Beerworks in RiNo, and Denver Beer Co. all welcome families. Flights run $10 to $14.
Elitch Gardens Eats
If you take the kids to Elitch Gardens theme park downtown, the food inside is decent by theme park standards. But the better move is eating at one of the Dairy Block restaurants before or after. A meal at Kachina Cantina runs $14 to $22 per plate.
Nicole’s Perspective
Denver surprises families. They expect mountains and skiing, and they get that. But they also get a walkable, sunny city with a museum scene that rivals places three times its size.
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is in my top tier of family museums in the country. The dinosaur exhibits, the space wing, the gems and minerals hall. Kids do not want to leave. The Denver Art Museum being free for anyone under 18 is the kind of thing more cities should do.
I always tell families to take the altitude seriously on day one. 5,280 feet does not sound that high, but it hits you. Headaches, tiredness, shorter patience in the kids. Drink water, keep the first day easy, and plan the mountain stuff for day two or three.
The day trip options from Denver are where the trip gets special. Garden of the Gods is 70 minutes south and completely free. Rocky Mountain National Park is 90 minutes northwest. Georgetown and Idaho Springs are an hour into the mountains for a small town mountain day. You get the city and the Rockies from one hotel room.
A Rockies game at Coors Field on a summer evening with the mountains in the background is a family outing that is hard to top anywhere in the US. Tickets are cheap and the atmosphere is relaxed.
Day Trips
Rocky Mountain National Park
About 90 minutes northwest. Trail Ridge Road climbs above 12,000 feet with views that go on for 100 miles. Elk herds, alpine meadows, and easy trails at Bear Lake. Entry is $30 per vehicle. Timed entry reservations are required in summer.
Garden of the Gods
Seventy minutes south in Colorado Springs. Massive red rock formations, paved trails, and completely free to enter. The Junior Ranger program is excellent. The Balanced Rock and Cathedral Spires are the postcard shots.
Georgetown & Idaho Springs
About an hour west on I-70. Georgetown is a restored mining town with the Georgetown Loop Railroad, a narrow gauge train that crosses a bridge 100 feet above the valley. Tickets are $35 to $60. Idaho Springs has the Indian Hot Springs pool.
Boulder
Thirty minutes northwest. Pearl Street Mall is a pedestrian shopping district with street performers, toy shops, and ice cream. The Flatirons trail starts right at the edge of town. A good half day trip or lunch stop on the way to Rocky Mountain National Park.
Practical Tips
Altitude
Denver is at 5,280 feet and the mountains go much higher. Drink extra water from the moment you arrive. Go easy on alcohol the first night. Keep day one low key. Most people adjust within 24 to 48 hours.
Sun Protection
At this elevation, UV exposure is 25 percent stronger than at sea level. Sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses for everyone, every day, even when it does not feel that hot. Kids burn faster than they expect up here.
Weather
Denver gets 300 days of sunshine a year. Summer highs are in the mid 80s to low 90s, but the dry air makes it feel cooler. Afternoon thunderstorms roll in almost daily in July and August. They are fast and dramatic. Plan outdoor activities for the morning.
Driving to the Mountains
I-70 west is the only corridor into the mountains and it gets very congested on weekends. Leave before 7am on a Saturday or wait until after 10am to avoid the worst traffic. Coming back, Sunday afternoons are brutal. Consider a weekday trip.
How Many Days
Four days covers the museums, Union Station and LoDo, Red Rocks, and one day trip to either Garden of the Gods or Rocky Mountain National Park. Six days gives you time for both mountain day trips, a Rockies game, and a slower day exploring RiNo and the Cherry Creek neighborhood.
Common Questions
Will the altitude affect my kids?
When should we visit Denver with kids?
Do we need a car in Denver?
Is Denver expensive for families?
Can we ski and see the city on the same trip?
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