Denver International Airport is one of the largest airports in the country by land area, which sounds like a bad thing when your flight gets delayed. In practice it works in your favor. There’s enough going on, both inside security and out, that a few extra hours doesn’t have to mean sitting at the gate watching the departure board.
Figure out how much time you actually have
This sounds obvious, but it’s the step people skip. If your delay is under 90 minutes, stay near your gate. DEN’s concourses are spread out and gate changes happen often, so wandering too far can backfire fast. Once you’re looking at two hours or more, it makes sense to think about what’s realistic, whether that’s exploring the terminal further or leaving the secure area entirely.
If you’re staying near your gate
Concourse A has a golf simulator called Golf DEN on the mezzanine level, open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with sessions in 15, 30, or 60 minute blocks. It’s a strange thing to find in an airport, but it’s a real way to burn an hour. Gates A, B, and C also have outdoor patios with fire pits, and a couple of them have a designated pet area, which is handy if you’re traveling with a dog and both of you need a break from recycled air.
If you can leave and have a few hours
The A Line train connects the airport directly to Union Station downtown, and the ride takes under 40 minutes. Union Station has been renovated into a mix of restaurants, bars, and a hotel, so it’s a reasonable place to get an actual meal instead of an airport one. Build in extra time for the return trip, since getting back through security at DEN during busy periods can take longer than people expect.
The giant blue horse
If you’ve driven into DEN, you’ve seen it. A huge blue mustang with glowing red eyes stands near the airport entrance, and most people who fly through here eventually ask someone what the deal is with it. It’s officially titled Mustang, made by artist Luis Jiménez, and it has a darker backstory than most airport art. Jiménez was killed in 2006 when part of the sculpture fell on him during construction, and his family and studio finished the piece, which was installed in 2008.
A long delay at DEN is never the plan, but it’s one of the more comfortable airports to get stuck at if it has to happen. Whether that means an hour with a golf club on Concourse A or a quick run into the city, there’s usually a better option than just waiting at the gate.