The big picture: Jeppesen Terminal + three concourses
DEN uses a hub-and-spoke design. Everyone enters through Jeppesen Terminal (the iconic white tent-roofed building). From there, security screening leads you to an underground train — the AGTS — that shuttles travelers to three island concourses floating in the middle of the runway field. You cannot drive to a concourse; only Jeppesen has curbside access.
- Jeppesen Terminal — Check-in, bag drop, security, rental cars, ground transportation, and the main parking structures. Level 5 (top level) is Departures; Level 4 is Baggage Claim; Levels 1–4 connect to the parking garage.
- Concourse A — International carriers plus Alaska, JetBlue, Southwest overflow. Reachable via train or a covered pedestrian bridge.
- Concourse B — United Airlines hub. Largest concourse. Train access only.
- Concourse C — Southwest, American, Delta, Spirit, Frontier. Train access only.
Parking lots, mapped by distance to terminal
The closer the lot, the higher the price — that is the rule at DEN. Here is where every major lot sits relative to Jeppesen Terminal.
| Lot | Approx. distance | Access | Rate/day |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIA Covered Garage | Attached | Walk | $35 |
| DIA Valet | Attached | Drop at curb | $45+ |
| Pikes Peak Shuttle Lot | ~1.5 mi | Free shuttle 7–10 min | $10 |
| Longs Peak Shuttle Lot | ~1.5 mi | Free shuttle 7–10 min | $10 |
| Mt. Elbert Premium | ~1.0 mi | Free shuttle | $20 |
| WallyPark DEN | ~2 mi | Free shuttle ~5 min | From $15 |
| ParkDIA | ~3 mi | Free shuttle 24hr | From $11 |
| Canopy Airport Parking | ~3 mi | Free shuttle 10–15 min | From $9 |
| Park2Jet | ~3 mi | Free shuttle every 10 min | From $9.99 |
| Fine Airport Parking | ~3 mi | Free shuttle 24hr | From $10 |
| 61st & Pena Lot | ~4 mi | A Line rail ~5 min | $8 |
Getting from car to gate
From a covered garage spot, expect a 5–10 minute walk to check-in, then 15–30 minutes for security, then a 3–5 minute train ride to Concourse B or C. From an off-airport lot, add 10–20 minutes for the shuttle ride. From the 61st & Pena lot, the A Line rail drops you directly at the south end of Jeppesen — a short walk to security.
A full guide to the terminal itself lives at Denver Airport Terminal Map, and you can see the same information with DIA-specific framing at DIA Map.
Ground transportation zones
Rideshare (Uber/Lyft), taxis, hotel shuttles, and off-airport parking shuttles all use Level 5 — Island 1 through Island 5. Signs overhead tell you which island your service uses. RTD public buses and the A Line train use the underground station on Level 1.
Quick reference
- Cheapest parking with shortest shuttle: Off-airport lots near Tower Road (Canopy, Park2Jet, ParkDIA)
- Closest to the terminal, walk-in only: DIA Covered Garage
- Cheapest on-airport: 61st & Pena via A Line rail
- Concourse A: bridge or train
- Concourses B & C: train only