Car Rental in Denver

• Rocky Mountain National Park, the ski resorts and mountain towns need a car.
• Red Rocks Amphitheatre and Boulder are easy drives from Downtown.
• Colorado's scenic byways are among the best road trips in the country.

See all rental types

• Ski season weekends and holidays.
• Summer national-park season.
• SUV and AWD demand in winter.
• Car class and rental length — weekly rates often cost less per day
• Driver age — drivers under 25 usually pay a daily surcharge
• Optional extras such as damage waivers, toll programs and child seats

• A valid driver's license, held for at least a year at most companies. Visitors can usually rent on their home license; if it isn't in English, carry an International Driving Permit or official translation alongside it.
• Minimum age is 21 at most major companies, and drivers under 25 pay a daily young-driver surcharge. New York and Michigan require companies to rent to drivers from 18, with surcharges.
• A credit card in the main driver's name. Some locations accept debit cards with extra checks — often a return travel itinerary at airports, a larger deposit or a credit check.
• International renters should also bring a passport.

More detail: What Documents Do You Need to Rent a Car? · What Is the Minimum Age to Rent a Car in the USA? · Can You Rent a Car With a Debit Card? Rules & Tips · International Driving Permit (IDP) — Do You Need One and How to Get It

• Collision and loss damage waivers (CDW/LDW) are optional. Before you accept one at the counter, check whether your own auto policy or a credit card benefit already covers rental cars — many do, with conditions.
• Liability cover varies by state and company. Supplemental liability (SLI) raises the limit and is worth considering if you don't have a personal auto policy, including as an international visitor.
• A security deposit is held on your card at pickup and released after the car is returned and checked. It can take several business days to disappear from your statement, and holds are larger on debit cards and premium cars.

More detail: Do You Need Insurance to Rent a Car? · What Is a Collision Damage Waiver (CDW)? · How Much Is a Rental Car Deposit? How Holds Work

• E-470, the toll road around the east side of the metro, is cashless and connects to the airport. You can reach Downtown on Peña Boulevard and I-70 without it, but navigation apps may route onto it. Tolls are billed through the rental company's toll program.
• Downtown parking is paid. Some trailheads and parks charge entry or need a timed reservation.
• Full-to-full is usually the cheapest fuel policy: you collect the car full and return it full. Prepaid fuel only saves money if you return the tank nearly empty, and refueling charges on a car returned short are well above pump prices.
• Airport rentals include airport concession recovery fees and facility charges on top of the rate. State and local rental taxes apply everywhere.
• Other common extras: additional-driver fees, young-driver surcharges, toll-program charges, one-way drop fees, child seats and late-return charges. Read the rental terms before you pay so you know which charges are included and which are added at the counter.

More detail: Car Rental Fuel Policies Explained — Which One Should You Choose? · Hidden Car Rental Fees — The Complete Guide to What to Watch Out For · How are tolls and traffic fines handled? · Can someone else drive the car?

Colorado Traction Law

From September 1 to May 31, the Traction Law can be put into effect on I-70 and other mountain highways. Cars must then have AWD/4WD or tires rated for snow, with adequate tread. Check the vehicle before heading up.

I-70 weekend traffic

Ski-season and summer weekends bring heavy traffic heading into the mountains in the morning and back in the afternoon. Start early.

Altitude

Denver is at 5,280 ft and mountain passes top 11,000 ft. Drink water, and take it easy on day one.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Timed-entry reservations are required in the busy season. Book before you go.

• Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre

  ~15 mi · ~30 min

  Concerts and red sandstone trails in the foothills.

• Boulder

  ~30 mi · ~40 min

  The Flatirons, Pearl Street and university-town energy.

• Colorado Springs (Garden of the Gods)

  ~70 mi · ~1.25 hr

  Red rock formations and Pikes Peak.

• Rocky Mountain National Park (Estes Park)

  ~70 mi · ~1.5–2 hr

  Trail Ridge Road, elk and alpine lakes.

• Breckenridge

  ~80 mi · ~2 hr

  Skiing in winter, hiking and a historic main street in summer.

Distances are one-way and approximate; drive times assume normal traffic.

• Denver Airport Car Rental (DEN)
• SUV Rental
• 7-Seater Car Rental
• Car Rental Insurance Explained — CDW, LDW, SLI and What You Actually Need