Denver Airport Terminals: 1 Terminal, 3 Concourses

Written by Jim Becker Director of Operations and Client Experiences, Arion, LLC

Brand and Client Experience Reviewed by Christal Becker Founder, CEO & President, Arion, LLC

Published: May 21, 2026 Last Updated: May 21, 2026

Quick Answer: DEN has one main terminal (Jeppesen) and three concourses connected by underground train. Concourse B is the largest. Budget 45 minutes minimum for connections. The train runs every 2–3 minutes, the walk between terminal and A takes 8 minutes. Ground transportation is on Level 5.

Who This Article Is For

First-time visitors flying into Denver who want to navigate DEN without guessing
Business travelers connecting through DEN who need to know the real timing
Groups arriving for Colorado ski trips, weddings, or events who need to coordinate meetup points
Anyone who's been confused by DEN's layout and wants a straight answer about how it works

DEN Is Not One Building — It's Four Connected by a Train

Denver International Airport confuses people because it doesn't look like what they expect. You see the iconic white tent roof from the highway, walk in, and assume you're at the gates. You're not. You're in the Jeppesen Terminal — the main building where check-in, security, and baggage claim live. The actual gates are in three separate concourses accessible only by an underground automated train (or, for Concourse A only, a pedestrian bridge).

Here's the layout, simplified:

Jeppesen Terminal: the building you enter. Check-in counters, TSA security (two checkpoints, West and East, both on Level 6), shops and restaurants before security, Level 5 ground transportation and baggage claim, Level 6 for departures drop-off
Concourse A: gates A14 through A84. Handles Frontier, some United, and several smaller carriers. Connected by train and by the walkable A-Bridge on Level 6
Concourse B: gates B7 through B95. The largest concourse. United's main hub, plus American, Delta, JetBlue, and Southwest
Concourse C: gates C23 through C67. Smaller, quieter. United international flights, some Southwest, Alaska, and Spirit

The train station is below each concourse. Escalators or elevators take you up to the gate level after you exit the train. During peak hours, the platforms get crowded, stand right, walk left, and don't stop at the top of the escalator.

The Train: Faster Than You Think, Slower Than You Hope

The underground train runs every 2–3 minutes during regular operations. Here's the real travel time from the terminal platform:

Terminal to Concourse A: ~3 minutes
Terminal to Concourse B: ~4 minutes (one stop past A)
Terminal to Concourse C: ~6 minutes
Concourse A to C (through B): ~5 minutes

Add 2–3 minutes for waiting on the platform plus escalator time on each end, and a terminal-to-gate trip runs 8–12 minutes total. That matters for connections. A "45-minute connection" at DEN is actually about 25 minutes of walking and waiting after you deplane.

The A-Bridge to Concourse A: There is a walkable bridge from Level 6 of the terminal to Concourse A — 1,130 feet, about 5 minutes with the moving walkways, glass-walled with views of the taxiway and the Front Range. It is the only concourse you can reach on foot. During train maintenance or when you want to stretch after a long flight, it's useful. During peak congestion, it can actually be faster than waiting for a packed train.

Concourse-to-Gate Walk Times: What the Signs Don't Tell You

The train ride is the short part. The walk after it is what makes people run. DEN's concourses are long — Concourse B alone is 4,545 feet end to end — and the train drops you in the middle, so your gate number tells you more about your timing than your concourse letter does.

Walk bands are estimated from DEN's published concourse lengths at a normal unhurried pace, plus the train ride and escalators. Gate ranges and concourse lengths per Denver International Airport concourse data; treat the minutes as planning ranges, not gate-by-gate measurements.
Gate range	Concourse	Where it sits	Walk from the train core	Terminal to gate, door to door
A14–A39	A	Left as you come up the escalators (west)	3–10 min	12–18 min
A40–A53	A	Right of the core (east)	3–9 min	12–17 min
A54–A84	A	Level 1, far end of the concourse	10–18 min	18–26 min
B7–B37	B	Left of the core (west), outdoor deck at the far end	3–15 min	13–24 min
B38–B42	B	Center core, directly above the train escalators	0–2 min	9–12 min
B43–B79	B	Right of the core (east)	4–12 min	14–21 min
B80–B95	B	Level 1 far east, via an underground walkway	12–18 min	22–28 min
C23–C39	C	Left of the core; C23 is a dead-end spur	4–11 min	16–23 min
C40–C67	C	Right of the core, outdoor deck at the far east end	4–13 min	16–25 min

The two numbers that actually matter: the full length of Concourse A is 4,000 feet (about 20 minutes), Concourse B is 4,545 feet (about 23 minutes) and Concourse C is 3,335 feet (about 17 minutes). And you cannot walk between concourses at all — active taxiways separate them, so an A-to-C move is always a train ride.

If you are flying out of B80–B95 or A54–A84, add fifteen minutes to whatever your instinct says. Those are the two gate blocks that make people sprint.

Two Security Checkpoints — And They Moved

This is the single most common thing people get wrong about DEN right now, including other guides. All security screening is on Level 6, at two checkpoints: West Security and East Security. The old Level 5 north and south checkpoints are permanently closed — East Security opened in August 2025 as part of the $2.1 billion Great Hall program, and if you are working from a pre-2025 memory or an out-of-date guide you will walk to a wall.

West Security (Level 6): behind and north of the United ticketing counters. 17 lanes.
East Security (Level 6): northeast corner of the terminal, beside Southwest ticketing. 17 lanes.

Both feed the same secure area and the same train, so neither one locks you into a concourse — if one is backed up you can walk to the other. During peak morning rushes (roughly 5:00–9:00 AM) and Sunday afternoons, one line is often 10–15 minutes shorter than the other. DEN publishes a live wait-time page — check it on your phone while you are still in the car, not after you have committed to a queue.

TSA PreCheck and CLEAR lanes are available at both checkpoints. If you fly through DEN more than twice a year and don't have PreCheck, fix that. The regular line at DEN during ski season mornings can push 35 minutes.

Concourse A: Frontier's Hub, and the Only Walkable Concourse

Concourse A is Frontier's main base. If you're flying budget, this is where you'll spend your time. It's also home to some United regional flights and a handful of other carriers.

Food highlights on A:

Timberline Steaks & Grille — sit-down option, better than expected for an airport
Que Bueno Mexican Grille — quick, solid, consistent
Colorado Crafted, local snacks and packaged goods for the flight

Know this: Concourse A is the only one reachable on foot, via the A-Bridge off Level 6. The walk is flat, climate-controlled and has moving walkways — 1,130 feet, about 5 minutes. If you take the train instead, the tunnel between the terminal and A holds the kinetic light installation, which is worth seeing once.

Concourse B: Where Most Flights Live

Concourse B is DEN's largest and busiest. United operates the majority of its Denver hub flights from here, and American, Delta, JetBlue, and Southwest each have gates on B as well.

If your DEN connection involves a concourse change, there's a good chance B is one of them. Gates run from B7 to B95. It is 4,545 feet from end to end — roughly a 23-minute walk — and gates B80 to B95 sit on Level 1 at the far east end, reached by an underground walkway.

Food highlights on B:

Root Down DIA — the airport outpost of one of Denver's most popular restaurants. Real food, full bar, worth a sit if you have time
Modern Market, grain bowls, salads, sandwiches. Fast and solid for a healthy option
Tivoli Brewing — Colorado craft beer with bar seating and a view of the tarmac
Denver Central Market, food hall–style stalls with multiple options in one spot

Know this: The B gates in the center core, roughly B38 to B42, sit directly above the train escalators. If you land on B85+ and need to catch the train, start walking immediately, it's a hike. Also, the Centurion Lounge (for AmEx Platinum holders) is on Concourse B near gate B32.

Concourse C: The Quiet One

Concourse C is the smallest of the three. United's international flights operate from here, along with Southwest, Alaska, and Spirit. Gates C23 through C67.

Food highlights on C:

Elway's, steakhouse named after the Broncos legend. Good burger, better people-watching
New Belgium Hub, Belgian-style ales and pub food from the Fort Collins brewery
Que Bueno — same solid Mexican as on Concourse A

Know this: Concourse C is where DEN feels most relaxed. Fewer passengers, less noise, more open seating. If you have a long layover and just want to sit somewhere quiet with food and wifi, C is your concourse, even if your gate is elsewhere. Just leave time to train back.

Baggage Claim to Ground Transportation — The Route That Matters

After landing, you'll take the train from your concourse back to the Jeppesen Terminal. Baggage claim is on Level 5, divided into east and west sides. Your carousel assignment shows on the screens above the train platform and throughout the terminal — check before you ride the escalator.

Ground transportation at Denver International is also on Level 5:

Private car service (Arion, etc.) — your driver will text you specific instructions. Island 2 on Level 5, east or west side depending on your baggage carousel location. This is why communication matters, a good car service tracks your flight in real time and is already positioned.
Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) — pickup is on Level 5, Island 5, on both east and west sides. During peak hours, the rideshare wait at DEN averages 8–15 minutes after you request.
Taxi — Level 5, Island 1. Metered. Flat rate to downtown Denver is around $65.
RTD A Line train — follow signs to the Transit Center from Level 1. The commuter rail runs to Union Station (downtown Denver) in 37 minutes. Fare is $10.50.
Rental cars — all rental agencies are at the Rental Car Center, reachable by a dedicated shuttle bus from Level 5, Island 4. The shuttle runs every 5–10 minutes. Budget 20–30 minutes from baggage claim to pulling out of the lot.

The single biggest mistake first-timers make: walking out to Level 5 without checking which side (east or west) their pickup is on. Level 5 is long. Walking from the wrong end to the right end adds 8–10 minutes with luggage. This is the whole argument for a DEN meet-and-greet pickup, where the chauffeur texts you the door number before you land.

The Timing Mistakes Everyone Makes

DEN is the third-largest airport in the US by land area. The distances between points are real. Here are the timing errors we see most often:

"My connection is 40 minutes, I'll be fine" — After deplaning, walking to the train, riding to the next concourse, and walking to your gate, 40 minutes is tight. If both gates are on different ends of their concourses, it's a sprint.
"I'll grab food after security": Yes, but if your gate is on Concourse C and you stop for food in the terminal, you're adding 15 minutes of train time to your meal break.
"I'll just meet my group at baggage claim": Specify east or west. Level 5 has 12+ carousels split across two sides of the building. "Meet at baggage claim" is like saying "meet at the parking lot."
"The app says my driver is 3 minutes away" — Your rideshare driver might be 3 minutes from the pickup island. You might be 8 minutes from the pickup island. Factor in your own walking time, not just the driver's ETA.

The Local's Playbook

These are the things frequent DEN travelers know that guides don't usually mention:

The 5:30 AM rush is real. DEN's busiest security window is early morning, ski flights, business travelers, and red-eyes all funnel through security between 5:00 and 6:30 AM during ski season. If you're catching a 7:00 AM flight, arrive at 5:15.
Concourse B's center section has the best power outlets. The B40–B55 area was recently renovated with charging stations at nearly every seat.
DEN's wifi is free and decent. Connect to "DEN Free WiFi." Speed is usable for video calls in most areas, though it slows down during peak afternoon hours.
The Great Hall renovation is ongoing. Jeppesen Terminal's main hall has been under renovation. Temporary walls and rerouted walkways can add 3–5 minutes to your pre-security navigation. Check DEN's site for current detour maps.
Cell phone lot is free. If someone's picking you up, have them wait in the cell phone lot (Pena Boulevard) instead of circling. You call when you're at the curb. No circling charges, no airport police, no stress.

What This Looks Like with Arion

What this looks like with Arion:

Your chauffeur tracks your flight — no need to text landing updates

You get a message before you land: which exit, which side, exactly where to walk

The vehicle is staged and waiting when you reach the curb. No app refreshing, no surge pricing, no waiting in a rideshare queue

If your flight is delayed, your pickup time adjusts automatically

For groups arriving on multiple flights, we coordinate all pickups and consolidate when timing allows

Frequently Asked Questions

Which security checkpoint should I use at Denver airport?

DEN has two checkpoints, West Security and East Security, and both are on Level 6 of the Jeppesen Terminal. West sits behind the United ticketing counters and East is in the northeast corner beside Southwest; each has 17 lanes with TSA PreCheck and CLEAR. The old Level 5 north and south checkpoints are permanently closed. Both feed the same secure area and the same train to the concourses, so use whichever line is shorter.

What terminal is Concourse A at DEN?

Denver International has only one terminal — the Jeppesen Terminal — so Concourse A is not in a separate terminal. It is the first of three airside concourses, gates A14 through A84, reached either by the underground train or on foot across the A-Bridge from Level 6. Frontier is the main carrier there, along with some United regional flights.

How do I get from Concourse B to Concourse C at DEN?

By the underground train only — there is no walkway between concourses. Take the escalators down to the train platform below Concourse B, ride one stop east to Concourse C, then go back up. The ride itself is two to three minutes, but budget 15 to 20 minutes gate to gate once you add the walk to the core, the platform wait and the walk out to your new gate.

Can you walk between concourses at Denver airport?

No. Concourses A, B and C are separated by active aircraft taxiways, so the train is the only connection between them. The one walkable stretch is the terminal to Concourse A across the A-Bridge on Level 6 — 1,130 feet, about five minutes with the moving walkways.

How many terminals and concourses does Denver airport have?

One terminal and three concourses. The Jeppesen Terminal holds check-in, both security checkpoints, baggage claim and ground transportation; Concourse A runs A14–A84, Concourse B runs B7–B95 and Concourse C runs C23–C67. Every gate is in one of those three concourses.

Where does my chauffeur meet me at Denver International Airport?

For commercial arrivals your chauffeur meets you curbside on Level 5 — Island 2, near door 506 on the west side or door 511 on the east, depending on your baggage claim — and texts you the exact spot before you land. An inside meet-and-greet with a name sign is available for an additional $75, arranged at booking. Private-aviation clients are met planeside or in the FBO lobby.

How long does it take to get from the gate to the curb at DEN?

Concourse B and C arrivals add a train ride to the terminal. Allow 20 to 30 minutes from wheels down to the curb without checked bags, and 40 to 50 minutes with them.

What happens if my flight is delayed?

Dispatch tracks the flight and moves the pickup to the new arrival time. Arion does not cancel a reservation because an airline slipped; the only cancellation triggers are your instruction, or no answer to phone, text and email an hour after the flight has gated.

How much complimentary wait time is included at the airport?

Thirty minutes at the airport, measured from the actual arrival time rather than the time you booked.

Arriving at DEN

Have someone waiting instead of navigating

You have the terminal map. The other option is not needing it: your chauffeur tracks the inbound flight, adjusts for a delay without being asked, and is at the Level 5 curb when you clear the train.

Curbside on Level 5

Standard meet, no parking garage, no rideshare lot walk.

Inside meet available

Baggage-claim greet with a name board at DEN for $75.

Flight tracked

Early or three hours late, the pickup moves with the flight.

Book Now Call (970) 703-4995 Quotes returned the same day.

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