From South or Central Boulder, take US 36 southeast to the
Storage Tek Drive/Interlocken Exit (just to the east of the
Flatiron Crossing mall), which is also signed as the eastern
Louisville exit (there are two Louisville exits). At the top
of the off ramp, turn left on to Storage Tek
Drive. Drive north on Storage Tek Drive, which will become 96th Street, and
then become the Northwest Parkway. There are signs along
Storage Tek Drive/96th Street which reassure you the
Northwest Parkway is ahead, and warn you that the road will become a tollway.
You'll go northeast (more north at first, then more east!)
on the Northwest Parkway for about 7 miles until it becomes
E470, as it crosses over I-25. Continue on E470 until 96th Ave (exit 31).
Exit at 96th Ave (exit 31), turn right, then left
on Tower Road to reach USAirport Parking.
Does that sound a little confusing? Well, the same basic road is called
Interlocken Loop south of Hwy. 36, Storage Tek Drive just north of Hwy. 36,
96th Street a little further north of Hwy. 36 and then becomes the
Northwest Parkway. It sounds really complicated, but all you need to know is
this: Take the Storage Tek/Interlocken Exit from the Boulder turnpike,
turn left at the end of the off-ramp and go straight. There's reasonable
signage along the way to reassure and direct you.
A single "mainline" toll plaza with a charge of $2.00 is
located just to the west of I-25. There's a ramp toll plaza at US287
(near the intersection of Dillon Road and Public Road); the
charge to enter or exit at this intersection is $.50, and the Sheridan interchange
is $.50 as well.
Is the Northwest Parkway worth the $4.75 one-way toll from Highway 36 to the
96th Ave. exit which serves
USAirport PARKING? If you are running late and facing rush hour traffic
bad weather, or you know there's an accident or other delays on the freeways,
it's a smart move! The Northwest Parkway and the northern
sections of E470 are very lightly traveled, and you will likely face no
traffic related delays. In constrast, the other routes to DIA from the
greater Boulder area utilize very heavily traveled roads (Hwy 36, I-270, I-70)
where delays are common during poor weather or peak traffic periods. If you
decide to use the NWP and E470 on a
regular basis, GET THE
EXPRESSTOLL PASS!
It really saves time!
The time savings compared with the standard freeway route comes
from avoiding traffic, not from shortening the distance (it's about
28 miles either way (NWP/E470 or Hwy36/I-270/I-70/Peña) The tollways
have higher speed limits, and MUCH less traffic. During light traffic
periods, the time savings are limited. However, the Northwest Parkway and
E470 north of DIA are always a fairly pleasant drive with little traffic.
Will Denver someday have a complete beltway, with the addition of a section
joining C-470, E-470, and the Northwest Parkway into a complete loop?
Probably not for a long time. The local geography and structures in
the Golden area make it difficult to plan a route that won't put major highway
in somebody's backyard. Unlike E470 and the existing NWP, which largely
traversed unpopulated areas when it was conceived, the section just to the
north of the C470 and I-70 area is populated, and it's hard to figure where
the road would go.
USAirport Parking is not affilated with the Northwest Parkway Tollway authority. All
information on this site is unofficial. Northwest Parkway, ExpressToll and all kinds
of other stuff are probably registered trademarks of the Northwest Parkway authority.
We are NOT the Northwest Parkway 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 - there could be construction
or road closures. The driver accepts all navigational responsibility.
Please contact the
Northwest Parkway (Click Here) Authority for official information
You can also contact them at:
Northwest Parkway Public Highway Authority
3701 Northwest Parkway
Broomfield, CO 80020
Ph: 303-466-0567
