How to: Avoid getting lost in Denver

Danver can often be difficult to navigate. (CU Independent file/Cameron Naish)

If you’re making the trek to Denver for an Avalanche game or a concert, it can be easy to end up wandering around aimlessly. Thankfully, the CU Independent has some easy tips to make sure you don’t end up lost in the backwoods of Colfax.

Tip 1: Maps
Before leaving the house or apartment, make sure to go to a site like MapQuest or Google Maps and print out directions to your destination. A general map of Denver would be helpful as well. Denver streets are based on a grid system, so missed turns are easy to fix. There are a lot of one-way streets that may take some getting used to for those unfamiliar with how they’re organized.

Tip 2: Best Exits
Going from Boulder to Denver, the easiest exit to take to get to north downtown Denver is 20th Street, near Coors Field.  For south Denver, the best exit to take is Colfax Avenue.

Be careful when picking an exit, because it’s easy to get lost trying to find which one to take.

“About two years ago, I was following my friends on the highway and I missed an exit and ended up in like a warehouse district,” said Grant Chandler, a 21-year-old freshman pre-journalism major.

Tip 3: Key Streets
There are some key roads that one needs to know when heading to Denver. These are: Broadway, Colfax Avenue, Lincoln Street, Speer Boulevard and Blake Street. There are many attractions on these streets, including clubs, museums, the Pepsi Center and Coors Field, where the Avalanche, Nuggets and Rockies play.

Some students say they sometimes find it troubling to find the major roads in Denver.

“When I first moved here I got lost because I didn’t know where the roads were,” said Sarah Stoeck, an 18-year-old sophomore chemical and biological engineer major. “I thought all of the roads would connect to Colfax and so I kept driving and I ended up by the airport.”

Tip 4: Landmarks
Landmarks are essential to prevent getting lost. Some of the landmarks in Denver are: the Capitol, Coors Field, the Denver Art Museum, the Convention Center and the Pepsi Center. All of these buildings are near streets that lead to the interstate.

Tip 5: Bring someone who knows the area
If you know someone who is familiar with Denver, take them along. It’s always a good idea to be with someone who knows what they’re doing.

Tip 6: Parking
It can be difficult to find parking in downtown Denver. Parking for major venues or clubs may be far away from the actual location, so be prepared to park a couple streets over and walk but more importantly, remember to bring plenty of cash!

“Park somewhere where you won’t get towed,” Stoeck said.

Tip 7: Use the bus system
An easy way to avoid getting lost and having to drive in Denver is to take advantage of the bus system. According to downtowndenver.com, there are almost 60 bus routes downtown. Many of them drop passengers off near the hub of activity at the 16th Street Mall, including Union Station, Market Street Station and Civic Center Station.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writers Brigid Igoe and Lynda Hutchinson at Brigid.igoe@colorado.edu and Lynda.hutchinson@colorado.edu.