Navigating the Denver Airport with Kids

Traveling can be fun and exciting, but with kids in tow there is definitely added stress. It’s harder to use a rideshare like Uber, requiring you to drive yourself and park at the airport, you have more luggage, there are more people who need to potty and eat and can potentially have a meltdown… All leaving you with the potential of being the one to have the meltdown! But with the right preparation and mindset, navigating the airport to start your trip can be part of the journey rather than a stress you just have to get through for the fun to start.

Navigating the Denver Airport with Kids

Arrival at the Denver Airport

The first decision to be made when flying out of the Denver International Airport (or, more commonly, DIA) is how you will arrive. Assuming your amount of luggage and number of people preclude you from being able to Uber, or the cost of a driver isn’t worth it to you, you will likely be deciding where to park. DIA has on-site terminal parking as well as several off-site options that shuttle you to the airport. There are pros and cons to both so pick the one that fits your family best.

On-Site Parking

There are several parking lots and parking garages at the terminal. The biggest advantage to these options is proximity to the terminal. Especially if you think you will be crunched for time, it is nice to know you won’t have to wait on a shuttle and be at the mercy of someone else. The biggest disadvantage can be price – you pay a premium for that proximity. There are options, though. There are covered parking garages and uncovered lots for various rates.

Check out this website to compare prices ahead of time and avoid surprises. Not sure whether to choose covered or uncovered? Likely your strongest consideration would be weather – is it hail season? Possible blizzard that will blow through and leave a foot of snow on and around your car? In those situations, it might be worth it to go with covered!

If you choose to park onsite, you will need to research ahead of time which side of the airport your airline operates out of. DIA is divided into Terminal West and Terminal East. Check out this map to see where you should park based on airline.

Off-Site Parking

There are also several off-site parking options which have the biggest advantage of saving money. They have the disadvantage of needing to allow time for unloading, getting your crew to the shuttle stop, waiting for the shuttle and then, of course, the shuttle ride itself to the terminal. Depending on which lot you choose, how long this process will take will vary. The following are some popular off-site parking options.

The Parking Spot

The Parking Spot now has two lots near DIA – South and West. The Parking Spot West has covered and uncovered options while South only has uncovered. The Parking Spot South is what used to be the only Parking Spot if you are familiar with this business. Be sure when grabbing the shuttle from the airport back to your car that you look for the right decal for the right lot! Check out this website for more information on the two lots and rates. Some companies may also provide discount rates or codes.

Wally Park

Close to the airport, Wally Park offers uncovered lots. They have a club rate if you travel often and choose to enroll, or regular guest rates. They are open 24/7 and could potentially have a corporate discount. Their website can tell you more.

Park DIA

This lot is a 5-minute shuttle ride from the airport and provides both covered and uncovered options. The shuttles pick up and drop off as they see guests ready to board or unload so you don’t have a long trek with your stuff to a shuttle stop. Check out their website for more details.

Inside the Airport

Once you’ve parked at your chosen location and made your way to the terminal, you will begin the check-in and security process before taking a train to the gates. No matter which airline you are flying, you will check in at self-service kiosks to get tags for your checked bags before taking them to an agent at a bag drop. There are usually airline staff roaming to help with the kiosks as well, but as you might imagine, there are many more travelers than staff so be sure you packed your patience. It goes a long way to a good day!

There are multiple ways to go through security – TSA Pre-check, Clear and the regular security — but in West and South locations. Typically, West Security has the better reputation of being faster, but in my experience, there are always staff giving recommendations, and they are right! They want happy passengers, so if they give you a tip that a certain line is running faster, I’d listen. Often times, things change from posted line times, and they have the inside scoop. Definitely take their tips!

After security, for better or worse, everyone must take the underground train to the gates. This is one reason to allow plenty of time when departing from DIA. It isn’t terribly common, but there have been days the train has broken down, and it can really put a kink in your plans. Better to have extra time on your hands than to let the train ruin your day!

Nursing Areas

Throughout the airport, there are comfortable nursing rooms for moms to be able to nurse without cramming between their luggage and fellow passengers at the gate. If you have time and would like to be more comfortable, this link has a list of all the nursing room locations.

Terminal A

American, Frontier, and a few airlines who have fewer flights into Denver use Terminal A. Food includes Snarf’s Sandwiches, Brother’s BBQ, Breckenridge Brewery as well as many smaller, typical quick stops like coffee. This list can help you look up a full list by location to be more prepared.

If you want to take your food outside and watch the planes up close, you can relax in comfortable chairs near fire pits on an outside deck near A15. Pet relief area also available.

Terminal B

If you are flying United, you will most likely fly out of B. This is their main hub. If you have time, there is an Elway’s for a nice meal, or there is a food court including a Chick-Fil-A where you can sit and let everyone make their own choice. This and the coffee kiosk nearby can get busy because they are right at the top of the escalator from the train, so if you want smaller crowds, walk a little bit in either direction away from the train or go to the second floor. The above list can also help you make a plan.

At the end of the terminal, near gates B7 and B8, there is a non-smoking outdoor deck if you want to be outside for a bit. There is also a pet relief area if you are traveling with pets.

Terminal C

Southwest and Delta comprise most of C. You can find Great Divide Brewing or Timberline Steaks if you have more time, or a McDonald’s if you need to be fast. They also have a Little Man Ice Cream location if you’re just needing a little pick-me-up.

Less than a year old, Terminal C now has a play area for kids to keep them entertained during layovers. It is space and alien themed near gate C48. If you’re not flying out of C, but you have an ample amount of time to kill, use the train as an extra activity and travel over to C to enjoy the play place! Additionally, Terminal C also has an outdoor deck like A and B. It is located near C67.

International Flights

The departing experience of an international trip is largely the same as domestic. You will go through the same security whether you do regular or TSA Pre-check and then ride the train to your assigned terminal. The main difference is making sure you have your passports. At boarding, your children will be required to hold their own passports even if they are a toddler in a stroller. Have it open to their picture page just so the gate agent sees it. (Passports must be signed, no matter how old the child is.)

The main difference in the airport experience internationally is upon arrival to your destination (which is DIA when coming home). When traveling internationally, upon arrival you do not enter airports in their terminals where restaurants and food are – you are shuffled straight to immigration and customs where you then end up exiting the airport. And food on flights is becoming less and less of a thing. So be prepared if you might be (will be) hungry! To protect against potential hangriness (we all know it’s a real thing!), be prepared with snacks!

The other important factor to consider when arriving at your destination – bathrooms, of course! At your destination as well as back home in Denver, you will wait in an immigration line to have your passport stamped and checked. Some places will also have baggage inspection. No one wants to worry about kids having emergencies once you’re in line! Returning home to DIA, you also take a very long walk to get to immigration, so pack your patience. In DIA, there are bathrooms at the very beginning of the walk but those get long lines quickly, so if you can last, there are more bathrooms a bit farther along. Very helpfully, there are signs for “last chance” bathrooms before the first potential stopping point (depending how busy that day is). Then, if you’re lucky enough not to stop in a first line upstairs, there is one final bathroom before the final immigration line. My motto when traveling is never pass up a potty!

Denver’s airport services a large city and is a hub for Southwest and United which means it handles a lot of flights every day. It’s large size and sheer number of travelers who pass through each day can be overwhelming, but if you are prepared with tips like these, it doesn’t have to stress you out! Arrive early with your plan and enjoy the start of your trip!