Transportation

There are many ways to get around Denver. Whether you live on campus or thirty minutes away, below are some helpful links and information about transportation in the Denver Metro area.

Public Transportation

All MSU Denver students receive a pass for public transit. Your student fees cover the cost of your ECO Pass. You can pick up your RTD pass on campus in Tivoli Station (Bookstore), located on the second floor of the Tivoli Student Union. The pass will remain valid every semester you are enrolled in classes. Learn how to pay and active your CollegePass here.

You can utilize RTD’s Trip Planner to find the quickest route to your destination. There is also an app available for smartphones on the Google Play Store and the App Store.

Whether you live on campus or 30 minutes away, use the links and information below to navigate transportation in the Denver metro area:

🚆RTD Lightrail System

The RTD rail system operates 365 days a year. Eight rail lines service 53 stations along the Denver's North, East, Southeast, Southwest, and West rail corridors. There are two convenient lightrail stations on the edges of campus for easy access.

🚍RTD Bus System

The RTD bus system operates 365 days a year, offering service at more than 10,000 bus stops across eight counties in the Denver metro area. There are multiple bus lines that run near or through campus for easy access.

Driving & Parking on Campus

There are over 15 parking lots and garages on the Auraria Campus. There are options to pay by the hour or purchase a parking pass. 

Click the image below to locate specific parking lots or download the Parking Map of Auraria Campus.

To learn more about pricing of each lot, visit AHEC Parking and Transportation.

Ride Sharing & Car Services

Denver locals utilize these ride- and car-sharing services: 

• Lyft
• Uber
• Car2Go
• Zipcar

Biking

Denver and the surrounding suburbs are bicycle-friendly. Explore the Denver Bike Map. Combining bikes with transit makes it even easier to get around! RTD's bus and rail system serves commuters, avid cyclists, and city cruisers alike. You can take advantage of RTD bike and ride by bringing your bike on the light rail or buses. 

Bicycle Registration

Everyone is encouraged to register their bike with the Auraria Campus Police Department.

Auraria Sustainable Campus Program (ASCP)

The ASCP provides information for bicyclists on their including a Bike Aware Guide, and a Biking on the Auraria Campus Guide.

Covered Bike Parking

There are three covered bike parking options on campus:

• Tivoli Parking Garage (first floor)
• Two bike shelter locations: the 10th St Plaza (by the Arts Building) and on Larimer St. (next to the North Classroom Building)

Learn more about how to get your card encoded for covered bike parking >

🚴 Bicycle Safety Tips

• Register your bike
• Park at designated bike parking
• Always use a u-lock to secure your bike
• Be aware of your surroundings
• Wear a helmet Ride your bike as you would drive a car
• Always obey traffic signals and signs
• Be conscious of pedestrians, and give audibles like "On your left!" to announce your presence
• Avoid wearing headphones
• Use front and rear bike lights
• Use hand signals to indicate turns

Filter Off-Campus Apartments by Commute and Transit Access

Looking for a place near public transportation? Whether you plan to walk, bike, take the bus or light rail, or simply want an easy commute to campus, our off-campus housing search tools make it simple. Use the transit map filters to find apartments close to Denver bus and light rail routes, so you can get to class, work, or campus activities quickly and conveniently.

#1: Plan Your Commute Tool

Once you find a property you like, use the integrated Google Maps tool on the listing to explore your potential commute by car, walking, biking, or public transit. You can also choose specific points of interest on campus, such as classroom buildings, labs, or the student center, as well as local spots like restaurants, grocery stores, gyms, and more to see directions from your potential future home.

Use the instructions below to start planning your commute:

1. While viewing a property's listing page, scroll down to the Google map found under Amenities, called "Map of [property name]."

2. Select your campus (e.g., MSU Denver)

   

3. If you have a specific building or location on campus you'd like to map to, select it from under the Points of Interest For MSU Denver dropdown options:

   

4. Choose transportation method (Car, Walk, Bike, or Transit):

   

5. You can also view other nearby stops along your route by selecting one or more options at the bottom of the map:

   

#2: Public Transportation Map Tool

Adding this map overlay to the housing search map can provide a general visual of Light Rail routes and station locations while you browse available apartments near campus.

Here's how you can use this tool:

💻 Desktop

1. Go to the Housing section from the top toolbar
2. Click Map Tools in the top-left corner of the map

3. Select Public Transit to see bus and light rail lines

   

4. Click Map Tools again to close the pop-up menu and view your search results

   

📱 Mobile

1. Open the Housing section
2. Make sure you're in Map View (instead of 'List View') in the top-left corner so the map is visible
3. Tap Map Tools in the top-right corner
4. Select Public Transit

5. Tap Done to close Map Tools and view your search results:

   

#3: Search Filters

Filter properties on the housing search page under More (located on the top-right toolbar) and make your selection, or select from these prefiltered search options:

Have Questions?

We're here to help! If you have any questions about using the search filters or tools, please send us an email or call (877) 895-1234 anytime.