To E470 or not to E-470? Your REALLY detailed, but highly unofficial guide to using E470 to access DIA or drive around Denver. Note that the tollway is E470; the freeway portion is C470.

Click Here for DIA via E-470 from the south or C470.

Click Here for DIA via I-25 and E-470 from the north.

Click Here for DIA via US85 and E470 from the north.

Click Here for DIA via I-76 and E-470 from the north.

Click here for E470 Toll Charges to DIA from all interchanges.

Click here for info about using E-470 to circle all of Metro Denver

Click here for info about the brand new Northwest Parkway, which meets E470 north of Metro Denver.

E-470 from the South (I-25 or C-470):

From I-25 and C-470, E470 currently costs a toll charge each way. Is it worth it? If it's 4:30 PM on a snowy Friday afternoon, Tech Center traffic will be slow, and, in my opinion, toll is cheap to make your flight on time and reduce stress during the drive. If you plan on making E470 a habit, GET THE EXPRESS TOLL PASS! Express Toll Pass holders receive a discount off the toll rates! You don't stop at the toll plazas: It really saves time, and doesn't cost extra. You'll probably save some gas and wear and tear on your vehicle by avoiding the stop and go traffic as well

At 4AM on Saturday morning, E470 may not save that much time. I-25 traffic won't be that bad, you'll have to stop three times to pay tolls on E470 (unless you've got the ExpressToll Pass), whereas you won't have to stop on I-25 to I-225 to I-70 at all. It's actually about 10% further from the intersection of E-470 and I-25 in South Metro Denver to USAirport Parking via E470 than it is via I-25 to I-225 to I-70 to Peña.

However, if you have an Express Toll pass, E470 is always FASTER, because the speed limit averages about 20% higher, and E470 is MUCH FASTER if traffic delays impact the freeways (significant delays are common during rush hours (6AM-9:30AM; 3:30PM-7PM); some delays are possible at other most other times, with the length of the typical delay dependent on traffic volume). Without an ExpressToll pass, the travel time is roughly equal, assuming NO traffic delays on I-25 or I-225.

If you live in the Parker area, E470 saves distance and time from there - it's your best bet. Parker Road continues to track to the west (away from the airport) north of E-470, which makes the toll-free route longer than E470.

What do I choose? I live near C470, and face this choice when I go to the airport? I almost always take E470 if I'm flying, or have a specific time appointment at the parking lot. Even if I-25 and I-225 traffic is running smoothly, I find myself worrying about potential delays the whole way to the airport. For me, a toll charge is usually worth the peace of mind. E-470 is also generally more relaxing - you can use cruise control more, and generally focus more on your radio program or music than the drive.

If I'm going to USAirport Parking for projects that don't require me to be there at a specific time, I'll take E470 at rush hours (6-9:30A; 3:30-7P), and I-25 to I-225 to I-70 at other times. But, again, if I'm flying, I hate worrying about construction surprises, or other delays that are very common on I-25 and I-225. The only time I've taken the toll-free route to catch a flight, or for an appointment, is if it's at a really odd hour (like 4AM to catch a 6AM flight).

Some airport travelers will take E470 to the airport, and then go the toll-free route home: On the route home time isn't generally so critical, and delays don't mean a missed flight. It's not a bad strategy, but, after many years in the airport parking business, I've noticed that returning travelers are often tired and REALLY want to get home without hassles - and the "70 MPH optimism" that E470 advertises might be better than the stop-and-go, bumper to bumper merge traffic on I-225 south. ready to be home NOW.

If you decide to go home a different route than you came to USAirport Parking, ask our cashier for directions (with maps!) as you leave, and we'd be happy to give you one.

If I'm driving home at rush hour (Note: I'm a cheapskate!), sometimes I will take Tower Road south to I-70, then turn left and go east on I-70 to E470. This way, I avoid the  toll plaza south of 56th Ave., but still use E470 to avoid the congestion on I-225 (almost always slow in the long unimproved section south of 6th Ave. and north of Parker. I figure it takes about 5-7 minutes longer than getting on E470 at Peña, but, I save a little in tolls, and usually stop at the big, new King Soopers shopping center at 48th and Tower for a snack and/or some of the cheapest gasoline around.

TREX construction in the Tech center is completed, so the big delays that occurred there occasionally during construction are over. The portion of I-225 widened by TREX (between Parker Road and I-25) is also fundamentally complete so that section of road is faster. However, these big new roads feed traffic really fast into the antiquated, two-lanes-each-way section of I-225 between Parker and around 6th Ave. Delays in this section are common during peak traffic periods.

Click here for complete directions from South Metro Denver and Southern Colorado.

E-470 From the North (I-25):

E470 is now complete from I-25 (south of the Hwy.7 exit) to DIA. In my opinion, E470 is the best choice from I-25 southbound to DIA - it costs a bit each way if you get off at 96th Ave., and it saves a lot of stop and go and complex navigation - you'll probably save a little in wear and tear on your car. The cost is nominal from I-25 to 96th Ave. (the recommended exit for USAirport Parking), or a bit more from I-25 to Peña (not recommended for USAirport Parking - it's longer, slower and costs extra - it's a lot smarter to get off at 96th and pay a smaller fee than to continue south and pay a full plaza charge at the E470 toll plaza just south of 96th).

On January 4th, 2003 I measured (using my car odometer - not precise) the E470 route versus the best toll-free route. I drove at prevailing traffic speeds. Here's what I concluded:

From the Intersection of I-25 and Hwy. 7, the E470 route to USAirport Parking (using the 96th Ave. exit) was approximately 20.4 miles. Elapsed time was 18 minutes - I have an ExpressToll in my car, so you can add about two minutes to this time if you don't have an ExpressToll.

The Hwy. 7 to US85 to Bromley to 4th Avenue/Sable to 136th to Buckley to 120th to Tower route was about 22.5 miles. Elapsed time was 25 minutes.

E470 saved about two miles and 7 minutes - probably about 5 minutes if I'd stopped to pay tolls manually. However, traffic was very light (I'm probably the only person who in Colorado who thought investigating the exact mileage of E470 to DIA via various routes was an exciting Saturday night activity!), and the time savings are be significantly higher during peak traffic periods.

Another advantage of the E470 route for infrequent airport travelers is that it's simple and safe. You won't get lost. Just take E470 (huge signs, giant exit, can't miss it!) to 96th Ave (75 cents exact change), turn right on 96th, and left on Tower to USAirport Parking. For the DIA terminal, take E470 to Peña Boulevard Eastbound. As of this writing, there's very little traffic on E470 north of Peña, so it's a really pleasant drive. The toll-free routes to DIA from I-25 southbound tend to have a lot of turns, confusing elements, and/or the possibility for delays or heavy traffic (which is increasing frequent as this area has a lot of residential development).

I've been told by many Northern Colorado frequent fliers that E470 is simply the best route from I-25 southbound. They've experimented and timed, and tell me that they'd never go any other way, to the airport or from the airport, at any time of day.

The only time I would recommend not using E470 going to and from I-25 north of Denver is if you need gas, want to get a snack, etc. Currently, there are no services right off the Tollway between the airport and I-25 (There's a business opportunity! Only gas between here and there!). However, the toll-free routes will take you right by restaurants, convenience stores, gas stations, etc.

Click here for complete directions from Northern Colorado and Wyoming.

E-470 via I-76 From the North (I-76):

E-470 costs to exit at the 96th Ave. exit. If you go all the way to Peña (not recommended to access USAirport Parking!), it costs a full plaza charge just south of 96th Ave.

From the Intersection of 136th and I-76, on August 14, 2002, it took me 13 minutes and 11.3 miles to reach USAirport Parking via E470, using the 96th Avenue exit. This route costs 75 cents, and would take about 30 seconds longer without an ExpressToll pass. In contrast, the toll free route, using the 136th Ave. to Buckley to 120th to Tower Road route, took about 12 minutes and was about 8.3 miles.

The route back to I-76 via E470 was faster (via the 96th Avenue on-ramp), than the toll-free route, taking only about ten minutes and 9.3 miles.

Why is this true? The exit for I-76 from E470 northbound is well before the highway reaches I-76, and, therefore, you don't go too far to the west. In contrast, driving further west a mile or two to the large cloverleaf-style loop for the entrance to E470 from I-76 takes the traveler far further west of the airport, compared with the 136th Avenue exit. Therefore, the 136th Avenue exit route is much shorter than E-470 on the way to the airport, whereas E-470 is slightly faster on the way back to I-76 eastbound.

Going back to I-76 eastbound, the time savings is about two minutes (assuming no traffic delays), and it costs one ramp fee.

It's worth noting that with really rapid residential development in the area around Tower Road (the 12,000 home Reunion development being the largest), traffic delays at rush hour are becoming more common, and the relative time advantage of E470 is increasing.

If you aren't parking with USAirport Parking, and want to go to the terminal via E470 from I-76 westbound, the time savings are a little greater, since you are on the tollway longer - I'd guess you'd save about 4 minutes with light traffic on E470 from I-76 to Peña Boulevard, for the full charge at the toll plaza just south of 96th Avenue. The time savings would be greater if traffic was heavy.

The old I-76 to Sable to 120th route is considerably less efficient than either of the routes described above, wasting more time and distance by traveling further west of the airport, at about 11 miles and 15 minutes from the intersection of 136th and I-76. Although it was once the best route to the airport, the completion of E470 and the Buckley bridge over E470 mean that the Sable/120th Ave. route is an outdated and inefficient way to get to the airport from I-76.

Click here for complete directions from Northeastern Colorado and Nebraska

E-470 from Highway 85:

From the Intersection of Bromley and US 85 on August 14, 2002, it took me 15.5 miles and 17 minutes to reach USAirport Parking from the intersection of Bromely and US85 in Brighton via E470 using the 96th Avenue exit. Add another minute or two if you don't have ExpressToll. It will cost tolls each way.

In contrast, the toll-free route taking Bromley to 4th Avenue/Sable to 120th to Tower is a little under 12 miles, and took about 18 minutes.

From my one-time experiment, E470 wasn't particularly faster (US85 takes you west, away from the airport, south of Bromley, and the huge cloverleaf loop to the west to get on E470 from US85 tend to offset the higher speeds on the Tollway). However, heavier traffic might make it beneficial to use E470 - my experiment was conducted during light traffic. The E470 route involves slightly less complex and better signed navigation.

Taking Highway 85 all the way south to 104th is longer and slower than either of the routes described above.

Click here for complete directions from Greeley and the Hwy 85 corridor.

E470 from 104th Avenue:

To reach USAirport Parking, E470 is not faster from 104th Ave. eastbound. USAirport Parking is only 2.9 miles south of 104th on Tower. The fastest route (and the least expensive) is just to turn right on Tower from 104th.

If you aren't parking at USAirport, but are heading into the terminal, E470 can save a little time compared with Tower Road from 104th Ave. It'll cost you a full fee at the toll plaza just south of 96th Ave. During low traffic periods, I'd guess it's about 3 minutes faster with ExpressToll, or 2 minutes faster without, but the time savings could be a higher if Tower Road is really busy. If you aren't pressed for time, you can avoid the toll by turning south on Tower, then left on Peña in about 4 miles.

Click here for complete directions from North Metro Denver.

Circling Denver on 470 to go all the way around Denver and miss Denver traffic???

It's longer to use E470 - it's about 34 miles on I-25 and it's about 47 miles on E470 (from the north and south intersections of E470 and I-25), and you'll stop to pay tolls five times unless you have the ExpressToll, possibly once at the stoplight at I-70 (Good news: The I-70/E-470 Interchange improvements have begun, and the fly-by is scheduled to open in late 2006, according to the E470 Public Highway Authority. The flyover will allow E-470 drivers to by pass the traffic light if continuing on E-470. Your toll dollars at work!) It's a bunch of toll fees one way on E470 from one end to the other. However, speed limits average about 15-20% higher on E470.

At midnight, E470 is probably not good "shortcut" around Metro Denver - it would generally take longer, with the 38% greater distance outweighing the 20% (approx) higher speed limit, and costs more. However, at the start of rush hour, if there are accidents, particularly in bad weather, it will be considerably faster is actual E470 speeds could be as much as 100 or 200% higher - If it was 4:30PM on a snowy Friday, I'd do it: It could easily be an hour (or more) faster, and a lot less stress.

USAirport Parking is not a representative of the E470 Tollway Authority. All information on this site is very unofficial, and more like a long-winded blog about Denver driving than an official site, something you probably deduced by now. E470, ExpressToll and all kinds of other stuff are probably registered trademarks of the E470 authority. We are NOT the E470 Authority - we just have this page to help guide folks to USAirport Parking at the Denver Airport in the best way. We've tried to get all of the info right, but there could be errors and unnoted changes. I don't update this page everyday (or even every month or year!) - there could be construction or road closures. The driver accepts all navigational responsibility, understands that driving a car is an inherently dangerous, uncertain, and expensive undertaking, and should realize that driving with your eyes closed is a bad idea. Going to the airport should only be attempted by professionals on a closed course; costs and directions on this site are for illustrative purposes only, we actually recommend that you stay home where it's safe. Note that all costs are for two axle vehicles. Please contact E470 (Click Here) for official information. You can call them at 303.537.3470 or 1.888.946.3470

A civil engineer, Matthew E. Salek, has put together another really good independent guide to E-470. It doesn't appear that he's got any commercial motivation, and just likes putting together great websites about highways. I really appreciate the info on his site - it's well done!

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