Boulder Area Directions and Transportation Information

NIST Boulder Visitor Check-In & Parking

Transportation

Boulder is located about 40 miles northwest of Denver International Airport (DIA). Transportation to and from Boulder is available by rental car, shuttle, limousine, or bus. Most rental car companies have facilities at DIA. A listing of ground transportation options is available by visiting http://www.flydenver.com/gt/index.asp and choosing Boulder as your destination.

A regional bus service, the RTD, provides transportation between DIA and Boulder. Buses leave every half-hour to an hour depending on the time of day. The buses run between 6:15 a.m. and 11:15 p.m. Trip time is about 90 minutes, with a final stop at the Boulder bus station. The one-way fare is $10.

Several hotels/motels are located near the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Local Boulder taxi service is also available.

Visitors are required to show photo identification upon arrival and must wear a visitor badge at all times while on the NIST campus.

Directions from Denver International Airport via tollway (E-470/Northwest Parkway)

The entire toll from the airport to Boulder is $6.00. For your convenience, you may want to have the entire amount available in quarters. The toll map is located at http://www.northwestparkway.org/maps/ExpressTollmap.pdf.

Exit the airport via Peña Boulevard to E-470 and turn right. E-470 will become the Northwest Parkway, which then becomes StorageTek Dr./S. 96th St. Merge onto U.S. Hwy. 36 West to Boulder. Stay on US-36 into Boulder and take the Baseline Rd. exit. Stay left on the exit ramp and turn left (west) on Baseline Rd. Travel under the US-36 overpass, to the first stop light, at 27th Way. Get in the left turn lane and follow 27th Way up the hill to Broadway. Turn left at the stop light at Broadway for approximately 2 blocks to the next light. Turn right onto the Dept. of Commerce site.

Visitors are required to show photo identification upon arrival and must wear a visitor badge at all times while on the NIST campus.

Driving Directions from Denver International Airport via I-225/I-70

Upon leaving the terminal or the rental car area, look for signs marked "Airport Exit" and "To I-70 & I-225 via Peña Blvd." Stay on Peña Blvd until it merges with I-70 westbound.

Stay in the left or center lanes to avoid exiting onto I-225 and other cross streets, and continue westbound on I-70 for about 4 miles. Watch for the I-270 exit on the right, labeled "Westminster/Ft. Collins," that comes at about 14 miles from DIA. It is also labeled Exit 279, "US-36 Boulder."

Take I-270 past Quebec, Vasquez, and York Streets, and past I-76 at 18 miles from DIA. Stay in the left lanes, until you pass under a "US-36 West/Boulder" sign at about 20 miles from DIA. (Do not exit to the right, towards Ft. Collins or Broadway.)

Stay on US-36 into Boulder, past the Foothills Parkway/Table Mesa/South Boulder Rd exit, and take the Baseline Rd exit to the right, at about 39 miles from DIA.

Stay to the left on the exit ramp, and turn left (west) on Baseline Rd. Travel under the US-36 overpass, to the first stoplight, at 27th Way. Get in the left turn lane and follow 27th Way up the hill to Broadway.

Turn left at the stop light at Broadway for approximately 2 blocks to the next light. Turn right onto the Dept. of Commerce site.

Visitors are required to show photo identification upon arrival and must wear a visitor badge at all times while on the NIST campus.

Created: July 6, 2000
Last updated: 10/16/07
Comments: inquiries@nist.gov