Where is Denver?

Written and fact-checked by | Last Updated: January 07, 2025, 11:55 AM ET

As shown in the given Denver location map that Denver is located in the Central part of the United States and northern region of state Colorado.

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Denver Location Map

Where is Denver Located?

Denver is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado situated in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains.

Interestingly, the nickname of Denver is the "Mile-High City" because of its elevation i.e. precisely one mile (1.6 km) above sea level. At the time of its foundation, it was little more than a dusty collection of buildings on a long, grassy plain with a few contorted cottonwood and willow trees on riverbanks; but in the passage of time, it is one of the developed cities of the United States. The high-tech infrastructure and high rising building, national parks and mountainous landscapes also fascinate tourists.

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Denver, Colorado Quick Facts

FactDetails
CityDenver
CountyCity and County of Denver
StateColorado
State CapitalDenver
US RegionWest
Latitude39.7392° N
Longitude104.9903° W
Elevation5,280 ft (1,609 m)
Land Area153.0 sq mi
Water Area1.6 sq mi
Total Area154.6 sq mi
Population (2020 Census)715,522
Population DensityApproximately 4,676 per sq mi
ZIP Codes80201-80212, 80214-80239, 80241, 80244, 80246-80252, 80256-80266, 80271-80274, 80281, 80290-80295, 80299
Area Code303, 720, 983
Time Zone StandardMountain Standard Time (MST, UTC-7)
Time Zone DaylightMountain Daylight Time (MDT, UTC-6)
CurrencyUS Dollar (USD)
FIPS Code08-20000
Congressional DistrictColorado 1st Congressional District

Location and Surroundings

Denver is located in the City and County of Denver in north-central Colorado. It lies between the Great Plains to the east and the Rocky Mountains to the west along the Front Range Urban Corridor. The city is known for its outdoor recreation, government institutions, thriving economy, professional sports teams, and access to mountain destinations.

Nearby Cities to Denver, Colorado

  • Lakewood, Colorado - 7 mi West
  • Aurora, Colorado - 10 mi East
  • Glendale, Colorado - 6 mi Southeast
  • Commerce City, Colorado - 8 mi Northeast
  • Englewood, Colorado - 8 mi South
  • Westminster, Colorado - 10 mi Northwest
  • Thornton, Colorado - 11 mi North
  • Arvada, Colorado - 9 mi Northwest
  • Littleton, Colorado - 11 mi South
  • Golden, Colorado - 15 mi West

Denver, Colorado Climate and Weather Overview

MonthAvg High (°F)Avg Low (°F)Avg Rainfall (in)
January48180.4
April62341.7
July89592.2
October66371.0
Annual673814.5
Climate AttributeDetails
Climate Classification (Köppen)Cold Semi-Arid (BSk)
Annual RainfallAbout 14.5 inches
Annual Sunshine DaysApproximately 245 days
Hurricane/Tornado RiskLow hurricane risk, moderate tornado risk
SnowfallApproximately 56 inches annually

Driving Distances from Denver, Colorado

CityStateDistance (mi)Approx. Drive Time
AuroraColorado1015 min
LakewoodColorado715 min
ArvadaColorado920 min
WestminsterColorado1020 min
ThorntonColorado1120 min
LittletonColorado1120 min
GoldenColorado1525 min
BoulderColorado3040 min
Colorado SpringsColorado701 hr 15 min
Fort CollinsColorado651 hr 10 min

Transportation and Connectivity in Denver, Colorado

CategoryDetails
Airport NameDenver International Airport
IATA CodeDEN
PortNot Applicable
Major HighwaysI-25, I-70, I-76, US 6, US 85, US 287
Train/Amtrak ServiceAmtrak California Zephyr
Local Bus/Transit ServiceRegional Transportation District (RTD)
  • Interstate 25 - Major north-south corridor connecting Denver with Colorado Springs and Fort Collins.
  • Interstate 70 - Main east-west route linking Denver with the Rocky Mountains and Kansas.
  • Interstate 76 - Connects Denver with northeastern Colorado and Nebraska.
  • US Highway 6 - Provides regional access through the Denver metropolitan area.
  • US Highway 85 - Connects Denver with southern Colorado communities.
  • US Highway 287 - Links Denver with Fort Collins and northern Colorado.

Key Landmarks and Places to Visit in Denver, Colorado

Landmark NameType
Denver Art MuseumMuseum
Denver Botanic GardensBotanical Garden
Union StationHistoric Landmark
Colorado State CapitolGovernment Building
Denver ZooZoo
Coors FieldSports Venue
Empower Field at Mile HighSports Venue
Red Rocks Park and AmphitheatreNatural Attraction
Museum of Nature & ScienceMuseum
Civic Center ParkUrban Park

Top Places to Visit in Denver:

Denver Botanic GardensColorado State CapitolClyfford Still MuseumCherry Creek State ParkMount Falcon Park
Denver Art MuseumMolly Brown House MuseumWings Over the Rockies Air & SpaceLakeside Amusement ParkBarr Lake State Park
Red Rocks Park and AmphitheatreDowntown AquariumHistory Colorado CenterLarimer SquareConfluence Park
Denver ZooWater WorldClear CreekChatfield State ParkPirates Cove Water Park
Elitch Gardens16th Street MallRocky Mountain Arsenal NationalDenver Botanic Gardens ChatfieldCherry Creek Reservoir
Downtown DenverCoors FieldSloan LakeDinosaur RidgeRobert F. Clement Park
Denver Museum of Nature & ScienceChildren's Museum of Denver at MarsicoMuseum of Contemporary ArtCherry CreekMile High Flea Market

Waterbodies in Denver, Colorado

South Platte River, Cherry Creek, Sloan's Lake, Smith Lake, Ferril Lake, Berkeley Lake, Rocky Mountain Lake, Marston Reservoir, Chatfield Reservoir, Bear Creek

Golf Courses in Denver, Colorado

City Park Golf Course, Wellshire Golf Course, Overland Golf Course, Willis Case Golf Course, Kennedy Golf Course, CommonGround Golf Course, Cherry Hills Country Club, Green Valley Ranch Golf Club, Broken Tee Golf Course, Fossil Trace Golf Club

Economy and Major Employers in Denver, Colorado

SectorMajor Employer or IndustryNotes
GovernmentState of ColoradoDenver serves as Colorado's capital city.
AerospaceLockheed Martin and Ball AerospaceMajor aerospace operations are located in the region.
HealthcareUCHealth and Denver HealthLarge healthcare systems support regional employment.
FinanceBanking and Financial ServicesDenver is a regional financial center.
TechnologySoftware and Telecommunications FirmsGrowing technology sector throughout the metro area.
TourismHospitality and Convention IndustryVisitors are attracted by nearby mountain recreation.
EducationUniversity and School SystemsEducation remains a major employment sector.
TransportationDenver International AirportOne of the world's busiest airports supports thousands of jobs.

Colleges and Universities in Denver, Colorado

Institution NameTypeLevelNotable For
University of DenverPrivateUniversityResearch, law, and business programs
University of Colorado DenverPublicUniversityUrban research university and health sciences
Metropolitan State University of DenverPublicUniversityLarge public university serving the Denver metro area
Community College of DenverPublicCommunity CollegeWorkforce training and transfer programs
Johnson & Wales University - DenverPrivateUniversityCulinary arts and hospitality education
Rocky Mountain College of Art + DesignPrivateCollegeArt, design, and creative studies
Colorado Christian University (Denver Center)PrivateUniversityAdult and graduate education programs
Arapahoe Community CollegePublicCommunity CollegeComprehensive two-year degree programs

Denver, Colorado - Key Historical Facts

  • Denver was founded in 1858 during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush and quickly became a center for mining activity.
  • The city was named after James W. Denver, who served as governor of the Kansas Territory.
  • Denver became the capital of Colorado when the state joined the Union in 1876.
  • The arrival of the railroad in the nineteenth century helped transform Denver into a major transportation hub.
  • Its elevation of 5,280 feet earned it the nickname "Mile High City."
  • Denver grew rapidly throughout the twentieth century as a center for government, business, transportation, and tourism.

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