Plan Your Visit

Visiting Boulder

Streamline your trip to Boulder with these simple travel tips.

Getting to Boulder is easy thanks to its convenient location.

Start making your travel plans and exploring things to do in the place we call home.

Travel Options

Whether you’re a Colorado resident making your first visit to Boulder or you’re flying in from out of state, we’ve got you covered.

  By Car

Boulder is:

  • 35 minutes from downtown Denver
  • 1 hour from Fort Collins and Greeley
  • 1 hour and 45 minutes from Colorado Springs
  • 5 hours from Grand Junction

  Find Parking Options

Use our campus map to help you identify where to park. If you’ve registered for a campus visit, review your confirmation email for your experience's specific parking locations and instructions.

Campus Map

  By Plane

Flying in? Visitors should plan to arrive at Denver International Airport. From there, CU Boulder is 45 minutes from the airport by car.

  • New York to Denver: 4 hours, 30 minutes
  • Orlando to Denver: 3 hours, 55 minutes
  • Chicago to Denver: 2 hours, 52 minutes
  • Los Angeles to Denver: 2 hours, 20 minutes
  • Dallas to Denver: 2 hours, 8 minutes

  By Bus or Shuttle

CU Boulder is an hour away from Denver International Airport via the SkyRide Bus service or a 45-minute bus ride from Denver’s Union Station, which connects to Denver Light Rail trains.

Lodging & Dining

There’s a reason Boulder is known as one of the top college towns in the U.S., and that includes a dynamic dining scene and many lodging options. Check out the for recommendations.

Discover What's Here

While you’re in town, we recommend checking out some nearby attractions.  

In Boulder:

Hike a trail at Chautauqua Park

Grab a bite to eat on The Hill

Find a local souvenir at Pearl Street Mall

Catch a show at Fiske Planetarium

Take an e-bike tour of Boulder

Near Boulder:

Attend a concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre
(27.7 miles from Boulder)

Explore LoDo Dining & Shopping in Downtown Denver
(26.7 miles from Boulder)

Wander through Rocky Mountain National Park
(45 miles from Boulder)

Hit the Eldora ski slopes
(22 miles from Boulder)

Accommodations

If you, or a member of your party, need mobility or communication accommodations for your visit, please email us at cuvisits@colorado.edu. We ask that you please give us at least a one-week notice to work on your reasonable accommodations.

Connect With Us

CU Boulder counselors are here to help you apply to CU Boulder through the application and answer any questions that may come up during the admission process.  

Undergraduate Information
Graduate Information

Excuse/Visit Verification

Excuse/visit verification forms are issued only when a student attends a formal experience hosted by the Office of Admissions. This includes in-person formalized experiences as well as virtual experiences run by Admissions. An excuse/verification form may also be issued if a student officially meets with our counselor on duty or Admissions personnel who are able to log the interaction on the student record.

The University of Colorado does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, pregnancy, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, political affiliation, or political philosophy. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply. You may view the list of ADA and Title IX coordinators and .

As a student or prospective student at CU Boulder, you have a right to certain information pertaining to financial aid programs, the Clery Act, crime and safety, graduation rates, athletics and other general information such as the costs associated with attending CU Boulder. To view this information visit colorado.edu/your-right-know.