Denver Broncos

Admin

Mar 22

4 min read

Denver Broncos Travel Guide: Empower Field at Mile High

How to Get There

The main airport in town is Denver International Airport (DEN), which sits on the far eastern edge of the city roughly 26 miles from the stadium. It serves as a massive hub for United and Southwest Airlines, with Frontier Airlines also maintaining a huge market share.

Because the airport is on the outskirts, driving into the city center takes about 30 to 40 minutes depending on traffic. Renting a car is popular for exploring the mountains, but if you are sticking purely to downtown Denver, you can easily get by using rideshares or taking the RTD A-Line commuter train straight from the airport terminal into Union Station.

Where to Stay

Empower Field at Mile High sits just west of I-25, right across the highway from downtown Denver. You can stay right in the neighborhood for an easy walk, or stay near Union Station for a highly accessible, central city experience.

Budget Options

Courtyard by Marriott Denver Downtown West: This is the absolute best option for pure stadium proximity. Located just 0.3 miles from Empower Field at Mile High, you can walk to the gates in under ten minutes and completely bypass game-day traffic. It offers comfortable, modern rooms and standard Marriott amenities right next to the stadium footprint.
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Denver Downtown: Located less than a mile away in the trendy Highland neighborhood, this is a fantastic, highly reliable budget option. It features modern, exceptionally clean rooms, beautiful views of the downtown skyline, and includes a complimentary hot breakfast daily to fuel your game day.

Higher-End Options

The Crawford Hotel: Located inside the historic, beautifully fully renovated Denver Union Station, this luxury boutique hotel offers an unforgettable urban experience. It features high-end custom rooms, top-tier dining down in the station hall, and sits directly on the light rail line for a seamless, minutes-long commute straight to the stadium gates.
Four Seasons Hotel Denver: Located in the heart of downtown, this premier 5-star hotel offers unmatched luxury. It features sophisticated, large rooms, a full-service day spa, a heated rooftop pool terrace, and world-class fine dining. It is roughly a mile from the stadium, making it a quick rideshare or light rail trip away.

Nearby Activities

Denver's Downtown Aquarium: Located within a 15-minute walk of the stadium grounds, this massive complex features an interactive marine exhibit, a restaurant centered around a giant tank, and flash flood exhibits.
Elitch Gardens Theme and Water Park: This historic theme park sits right across the river from the stadium complex. It features massive roller coasters and a water park, making it a great weekend stop for families before winter weather rolls in.

Pregame Food and Drink

The Sports Legends Mall & Ring of Fame Plaza: You must check out the massive fan areas on the south side of the stadium footprint. It features a grand lawn area with interactive fan games, live music, steel monuments dedicated to Broncos legends, and a massive outdoor beer garden.
The Local Breweries: Denver is a premier craft beer capital, and several incredible breweries sit within a brief walk of the stadium gates. Hit up Little Machine Beer right next to the North lots for great local brews and rotating food trucks, or walk over to Raices Brewing Co, a highly popular, Latino-owned craft brewery known for its incredible atmosphere, community events, and outdoor patio.
Neighborhood Pubs: Briar Common Brewery + Eatery in Jefferson Park offers fantastic elevated pub food and house-brewed beers on a dual-level patio. Jefferson Park Pub is another excellent local go-to spot for a high-energy pregame crowd, cheap drinks, and quick bites.

Getting to the Event

Public Transit (Light Rail): The absolute best way to avoid traffic bottlenecks is the RTD Light Rail. The E and W lines drop off directly at the Empower Field at Mile High Station, which connects straight to the stadium parking lots via a short pedestrian walkway.
Walking: If you are staying downtown or near Union Station, you can easily walk to the stadium by following the South Platte River Trail and the pedestrian bridges crossing over the rail lines and the highway.
Driving: If you drive, the stadium is surrounded by massive surface parking lots. Ensure you buy your parking pass well in advance, as official lots do not accept cash on game days, and navigating the Colfax Avenue or I-25 exits near kickoff can be heavily congested.

Where to Sit

Because of Denver's high elevation and clear mountain air, the seating bowl offers spectacular sightlines, though the upper decks can get incredibly windy.

Visiting Fans: The best lower-level seats for away fans are in Sections 121-125 directly behind the visitor's sideline. Sticking to rows 28-38 ensures you have a perfectly elevated viewpoint to see cleanly over the players and sideline gear.
The Club Experience: The entire 300-level sideline is club seating. These premium seats offer excellent, mid-tier sightlines and exclusive access to the enclosed United Club lounges, which feature custom stone fireplaces, stone-fired pizza ovens, craft coffee bars, and upscale dining.
The Rowdy Fan Atmosphere: If you want an intense, high-energy fan experience, look for seats in the South end zone Sections 130-133. This is where the loudest local fans sit, and the acoustics are designed to amplify crowd noise.
The Budget Move: Look for tickets in Sections 505-508 in the upper bowl. Aiming for rows 1-8 keeps you close to the concourse entry tunnels and gives you a fantastic, unobstructed panoramic view of the action. For a reliable middle-ground option that balances price with clear midfield angles, look at sections 322-324.