Navigating Denver International Airport (DEN) can feel overwhelming due to its massive single-terminal layout and three separate midfield concourses. Whether you're catching a quick connection or arriving for a flight, understanding how the Jeppesen Terminal, security checkpoints, and underground train work together saves you from missed flights and unnecessary stress.
DEN operates out of one central passenger processing hub—the iconic tented Jeppesen Terminal—and three satellite concourses labeled A, B, and C. Because aircraft gates are entirely detached from the main building, you must clear security in the main terminal and take the underground automated guideway transit system to reach your boarding gate.
Jeppesen Terminal Layout and Levels
The main Jeppesen Terminal is divided into East and West sides based on your airline. It uses a vertical layout split across three primary public floors that handle ground transportation, baggage, and check-in.
- Level 4 (Passenger Pick-up): Used exclusively for arrivals and personal vehicle pickups. Even-numbered passenger exit doors are on the West side, and odd-numbered doors are on the East side.
- Level 5 (Baggage Claim and Ground Transportation): Houses baggage carousels 1 through 9 on the East side and 10 through 19 on the West side. This floor also manages app-based rideshares like Uber and Lyft, taxis, and hotel shuttles.
- Level 6 (Airline Ticketing and Security): The departure floor where you check bags, print boarding passes, and access the major security screening checkpoints.
Security Checkpoints and Recent Updates
DEN features security screening checkpoints on Level 6. Following major multi-year renovations through the Great Hall Program, checkpoints have transitioned to centralized locations on Level 6 to increase processing capacity and reduce queue times.
When you arrive at the airport, check your airline's app or airport monitors to see whether the East or West security checkpoint offers shorter lines. Both checkpoints feed directly into the central underground train station located beneath the terminal core.
Concourse A, B, and C Layouts
Once you step off the underground train, you emerge into the central core of your destination concourse. The train runs every two minutes, taking less than ten minutes to travel from the main terminal out to Concourse C.
- Concourse A: Features gates A26 through A87. It handles many international arrivals and a large share of flights operated by carriers like United and Delta. You can also reach Concourse A via a pedestrian skybridge directly from the terminal if you prefer walking.
- Concourse B: The busiest and largest concourse, featuring gates spanning a long linear layout. It serves as the primary hub for United Airlines, featuring extensive dining, local Colorado retailers, and outdoor passenger deck spaces.
- Concourse C: Primarily utilized by Southwest Airlines and other domestic carriers. Gates are arranged in a straight line equipped with moving walkways to speed up end-to-end transit.
Ground Transportation and Parking Options
Getting to and from DEN requires navigating Peña Boulevard, the sole access road connecting the complex to the surrounding metro area.
- Public Transit: The Regional Transportation District (RTD) operates the University of Colorado A Line commuter train, which connects Denver Union Station directly to the DEN Transit Center located right outside the Westin Hotel adjacent to the Jeppesen Terminal.
- Parking Garages: Garage parking (Economy and Garage options) sits directly adjacent to the Jeppesen Terminal within walking distance of the terminal doors. Shuttle-served economy lots sit further out along Peña Boulevard.
- Rideshares and Taxis: Pickup zones are located strictly on Level 5. Follow overhead terminal signs to designated island zones for app-based drivers.
Common Mistakes to Avoid at DEN
Travelers frequently run into trouble at Denver International Airport by underestimating transit times.
- Skipping the terminal side check: Dropping someone off on the West side when their airline operates out of the East side adds unnecessary walking and terminal congestion. Match your curb drop-off to your airline.
- Ignoring security line shifts: Because security layout configurations have evolved significantly during ongoing terminal upgrades, don't rely purely on old habits. Look at real-time wait-time boards before joining a queue.
- Cutting connection times too close: Walking between distant gates on Concourse B or C can take up to ten minutes even after taking the train. Give yourself extra padding for tight domestic-to-international transfers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you walk between concourses at Denver Airport?
You can walk from the Jeppesen Terminal to Concourse A via an elevated pedestrian bridge. However, walking between Concourses A, B, and C is currently restricted to the underground train system, though airport authorities have planned future pedestrian tunnel conversions.
Where do international flights arrive at DEN?
International flights primarily land and clear customs at Concourse A, after which passengers proceed via the underground train to Level 5 baggage claim in the main Jeppesen Terminal.
Which side of the terminal is Southwest Airlines on?
Southwest ticketing and check-in counters are located on Level 6 of the East side of the Jeppesen Terminal, while arriving flights utilize Concourse C gates.
How early should I arrive before a domestic flight?
Due to high passenger volumes and security checkpoint peaks, DEN recommends arriving at least two hours before domestic departures and three hours before international flights.
