Getting Around Denver
As a US city, you might assume Denver is car-dependent; however, GUADEC is centered around the Auraria Campus and Downtown Denver, which are very transit-friendly.
Public Transit: RTD
Public transit around the city is served by RTD (Regional Transportation District). Generally, we recommend sticking to the trains (light rail and commuter trains), but there are bus routes that serve a wider area.
The RTD Next Ride web app covers trip planning, timetables/schedules, alerts, and more. Google Maps and Citymapper both also support transit directions and schedules for Denver.
Tickets can be bought:
- Digitally on the RTD MyRide website or mobile apps
- In person at:
- Any light rail station
- Union Station
- Most Safeway and King Soopers grocery stores
Fares
Youth ages 19 and under ride free.
- 3-hour pass: $2.75
- Day pass: $5.50 (if you're going to ride the train two times or more in a day, just do this!)
- Airport day pass: $10 (includes transit to/from the Denver International Airport)
Stations & Map
The RTD rail system is currently undergoing construction, meaning regular rail maps may be outdated. Please refer to the map below for the current routes.
If you're traveling to the venue from outside of downtown, you'll want to board any train headed to Union Station, get off at the Auraria West or Ball Arena/Elitch Gardens station, then walk to Tivoli Student Union.
In general, you will likely use:
- Union Station A, B, D, E, G, H, W lines
- Access to Lower Downtown (LoDo)
- A-line access to River North (RiNo), Denver International Airport (DIA)
- Note that the light rail platform (B, D, E, G, H, W lines) is a block to the northwest of the iconic Union Station building, while the commuter rail platform (A line) is directly on the northwest side of the building; walk between them at street level or through the underground bus platform
- Auraria West D, E, H, W lines
- Convenient access to the Tivoli Student Union venue
- Ball Arena/Elitch Gardens D, E, H, W lines
- Convenient access to the Tivoli Student Union venue
- Empower Field at Mile High D, E, H, W lines
- Best station for Meow Wolf!
- 38th & Blake A line
- Access to RiNo
Rideshare
Uber and Lyft both operate across Denver with low wait times. If choosing to use a rideshare, try to buddy up to save on costs and carbon emissions! Lyft tends to be less expensive, but it can depend on the time/day and "surge" pricing.
