Red Rocks Amphitheatre is at 18300 W. Alameda Pkwy, Morrison, CO 80465 — about 17 miles (a 25-30 minute drive in light traffic) west of downtown Denver via I-70 to Exit 259. Parking is free with your event ticket and lots open two hours before doors; on show nights allow extra time and arrive around 90 minutes early. Live drive times are below.
Last refreshed August 17, 2026
| Coverage scope | All driving, parking, and transit options for reaching Red Rocks Amphitheatre | Answer family | Getting there |
|---|
Red Rocks is 16.9 miles from downtown Denver, currently a 27-minute drive. On show nights, expect 40-54 minutes (1.5-2x normal). From DEN airport: 53 minutes now, 80-106 minutes on show nights. Parking is free. Best option: drive and arrive 90 minutes before doors for upper lot parking. Alternative: a private round-trip shuttle (RRX, Red Rocks Shuttle or Mountain Shuttle) — there is no RTD bus to concerts. Uber/Lyft works getting there but expect $30-50+ surge pricing leaving.
| From | Distance | Current drive time | Conditions | Show night estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown Denver | 16.9 mi | 27 min | Light traffic | 40-54 min |
| DEN Airport | 41.6 mi | 53 min | Light traffic | 80-106 min |
| Boulder | 28.2 mi | 44 min | Light traffic | 66-88 min |
| Colorado Springs | 78.0 mi | 72 min | Light traffic | 108-144 min |
Show night multiplier: 1.5-2x normal drive times. Traffic peaks 60-30 minutes before doors open. The worst traffic is on the park roads and I-70 west of C-470, not the highway itself. After shows, expect 45-60 minutes just to exit the venue parking area.
On any show night: doors typically open about 90 minutes before showtime, and the parking lots open 2 hours before doors. Show traffic builds 60-30 minutes before doors and peaks on the park roads and on I-70 west of C-470 (not the highway itself). If you drive from Denver, leave roughly 2 hours before doors for stress-free upper-lot parking. Sold-out shows and multi-night runs — common in summer — mean peak traffic every night, so leave early or take a shuttle. Check the live drive times below before you go.
18300 W. Alameda Pkwy, Morrison, CO 80465. Phone: 720-865-2494. Search "Red Rocks Amphitheatre" in Google Maps or Waze for best real-time routing.
Parking is free with your event ticket. Lots open 2 hours before door time. No overnight parking. Red Rocks is a cash-free venue, but parking itself is free.
| Arrive | Lot | Walk to entrance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90+ min before doors | Upper lots (closest) | 5-10 min | Best option. Park near the top, shortest walk to the venue. |
| 60 min before doors | Lower North lot | 10-15 min | Still good. Moderate walk or free internal shuttle. |
| 30 min before doors | Lower South lot | 15-20 min walk or shuttle | Free internal shuttle runs between lower lots and entrance. |
| After doors open | Overflow / whatever is available | Varies | Sold-out shows may have very limited parking. Consider shuttle. |
| Option | From | Price range | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| RRX Shuttles | Multiple Denver pickup points | $30-60 round trip | Guaranteed seat both ways, party-bus atmosphere; book at rrxshuttles.com |
| Red Rocks Shuttle / Mountain Shuttle | Denver-area pickups | ~$40-70 round trip | Private round-trip concert shuttles; book online in advance |
| Uber / Lyft | Anywhere | $25-40 to venue, $30-50+ surge leaving | Flexible; expect surge and slow pickups after the show (Jurassic Lot) |
| RTD / public transit | -- | -- | No RTD bus serves Red Rocks concerts; the free 'Westracks' pilot is daytime/weekends only |
| Time relative to doors | Traffic level | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| 3+ hours before | Normal | Drive times match TomTom current estimates above. |
| 2 hours before | Building | I-70 westbound slowing. Park roads starting to queue. |
| 1 hour before | Heavy | 1.5x normal. Slowdowns on I-70, C-470, and park roads. |
| 30 min before | Peak | 2x normal. Park road queues can extend to I-70 exits. |
| Show ends | Gridlock | All 9,525 people leave at once. 45-60 min to exit the park. |
| 30 min after show | Heavy | I-70 eastbound congested. C-470 moderate. |
| 60+ min after show | Clearing | Most traffic dissipated. Close to normal drive times. |
Hang out at the venue after the show. The Trading Post gift shop and stairs area are open. Let the first wave of traffic clear (20-30 min). Your drive home will be significantly faster.
| Weather | Typical conditions | Driving impact |
|---|---|---|
| Clear / dry (most summer nights) | 70s-80s day, cooling to 60s after sunset | Normal show-night traffic; roads dry and visibility good. |
| Afternoon thunderstorms | Brief, fast-moving PM storms (common May-Aug) | A cell can briefly wet I-70 and the park roads; slow down. Storms usually pass quickly. |
| Steady rain at showtime | Cooler, wet roads | Shows still go on (only lightning stops a show). Allow extra time; walks from lower lots get slick. |
| Winter / snow (off-season shows) | Cold, possible ice on park roads | Park roads can be icy and slow; leave much earlier and consider a shuttle. |
Live drive times; the traffic provider refreshes the primary origin on show days.
Companion guides for planning your Red Rocks show.
How far is Red Rocks from Denver?
Red Rocks Amphitheatre is 16.9 miles from downtown Denver — typically about a 27-30 minute drive in light traffic. On show nights, expect 40-54 minutes because of I-70 and park-road congestion. From Denver International Airport (DEN) it is 41.6 miles: about 53 minutes normally, or 80-106 minutes on show nights. See the live drive times on this page for the current number.
Is there a shuttle to Red Rocks?
There is no RTD or public-transit bus that reaches Red Rocks for concerts. Private operators such as RRX Shuttles (rrxshuttles.com), Red Rocks Shuttle and Mountain Shuttle run round-trip concert shuttles from Denver-area pickup points (roughly $30-70 round trip). Red Rocks also runs free internal shuttles between its parking lots and the entrance. A free RTD-funded 'Westracks' pilot shuttle serves Red Rocks on summer weekends in the daytime only — not for evening concerts.
Is parking free at Red Rocks?
Yes. Parking is free with your event ticket. Lots open 2 hours before door time. No overnight parking. Upper lots are closest to the entrance and fill first. Arrive 90 minutes before doors for upper lot parking. Free internal shuttles run between lots.
How long does it take to leave Red Rocks after a show?
Plan for 45-60 minutes to exit the parking area after a show. All 9,525 attendees leave at once. Upper lots (closest to venue) exit last because they are farthest from the road. Pro tip: hang out at the venue for 20-30 minutes after the show to let the first wave of traffic clear.
What is the address for Red Rocks Amphitheatre?
18300 W. Alameda Pkwy, Morrison, CO 80465. Phone: 720-865-2494. For GPS, search 'Red Rocks Amphitheatre' in Google Maps or Waze. From Denver, take I-70 West to Exit 259 (Morrison / Red Rocks).