DIA at a glance
DIA is the biggest airport in the U.S. by land area (33,500 acres) and the third-busiest by passenger traffic. Despite the sprawl, the layout is simple: one terminal building feeds three concourses via an underground train. Everything else — parking, hotels, rental cars, roads — radiates outward from that core.
- Jeppesen Terminal (the tent-roofed building) — check-in, security, baggage claim, ground transport.
- Concourse A — international + Alaska, JetBlue. Accessible by train or pedestrian bridge.
- Concourse B — United hub. Largest concourse. Train only.
- Concourse C — Southwest, American, Delta, Frontier, Spirit. Train only.
The DIA parking map
Every DIA parking lot falls into one of three bands on the map:
- Terminal (0 miles) — Covered Garage and Valet. Walk right in.
- On-airport shuttle (1–4 miles) — Pikes Peak, Longs Peak, Mt. Elbert, 61st & Pena. Operated by DEN.
- Off-airport (2–5 miles) — Canopy, ParkDIA, Park2Jet, WallyPark, Fine. Privately operated with free shuttles.
| Zone | Who operates it | Typical rate/day | How you reach terminal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terminal | DEN Airport | $35–45 | Walk / valet |
| On-airport shuttle | DEN Airport | $8–20 | DEN shuttle or A Line |
| Off-airport | Private operators | $9–15 | Operator free shuttle |
Ground transportation islands
Walk out of baggage claim on Level 5 and you will see five covered islands across the street. These are the pick-up zones:
- Island 1 — Taxis, courtesy vehicles.
- Island 2 — Hotel shuttles, off-airport parking shuttles.
- Island 3 — Uber, Lyft (rideshare pickup zone).
- Island 4 — Regional buses, charters.
- Island 5 — Mountain Carriers (to Vail, Breckenridge, etc.).
A Line train station
The RTD A Line stops underneath the south end of Jeppesen Terminal. It runs every 15 minutes to Union Station downtown in 37 minutes. If you are parking at the 61st & Pena lot, you will board the A Line for the last two stops to the airport.
Putting it all together
If you remember one thing about the DIA map: everything routes through Jeppesen Terminal. Whether you park at the covered garage next door, shuttle in from Canopy 3 miles away, or take the A Line from Union Station, you will walk into the same big tent-roofed building. From there, check your boarding pass for the concourse letter and follow signs to the train.