Commute Guide
Commute times vary wildly across any metro area. We sorted every community by off-peak drive time to the metro hub so you can find the sweet spot between distance and affordability.
61 communities · 9 regions
Rankings
Community Comparison
| # | Community | Off-Peak | Rush Hour | Walk Score | Bike Score | Transit Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baker Central Denver | 5–10 min | 10–20 min | 78 | 89 (protected Broadway bikeway) | 56 (Alameda Station nearby) |
| 2 | Five Points Central Denver | 5–10 min | 10–20 min | 90 (Walker's Paradise — 2nd most walkable in Denver) | Strong infrastructure, Welton corridor | L Line light rail + RTD bus network |
| 3 | RiNo Central Denver | 5–10 min | 10–20 min | 78–79 (Very Walkable) | 89 (South Platte Trail connectivity) | 56 (A-Line + ART Connector + RTD bus) |
| 4 | The Highlands Central Denver | 5–10 min | 10–20 min | 85–96 (Highland 85, 8th most walkable; LoHi 90+; individual addresses up to 96) | High — Cherry Creek Trail, Platte River Trail, Highland Bridge pedestrian/cyclist crossing | Union Station walkable from LoHi; RTD bus coverage solid |
| 5 | Centennial South Metro | 5–15 min | — | 30 (car-dependent overall) | 40 | 25 (some transit — RTD light rail stations nearby) |
| 6 | Greenwood Village South Metro | 5 min | — | 13 (car-dependent — residential areas are spread out) | 35 | 30 (some transit — 3 RTD light rail stations within city) |
| 7 | Superior Boulder Area | 10–12 min | — | 54 (Somewhat Walkable — some errands on foot, 4 sq mi town) | Moderate — Rock Creek Trail spine, flat terrain for cycling | Low — Flatiron Flyer BRT via nearby Park-n-Ride |
| 8 | Cherry Creek Central Denver | 10–15 min | 20–35 min | 77–82 (Very Walkable) | 73 (Denver metro 5th nationally) | R Line light rail + bus network |
| 9 | Platt Park Central Denver | 10–15 min | 20–30 min | 76–82 | Strong (Broadway bikeway, Pearl corridor) | Two light rail stations (Evans + I-25/Broadway) |
| 10 | Washington Park Central Denver | 10–15 min | 20–35 min | 61–76 (East Wash Park 61, West 76) | 72 (Denver metro 5th nationally, designated bike lanes) | D, H, L lines at University of Denver Station; bus lines 11, 12 |
| 11 | Park Hill Central Denver | 10–15 min | 20–30 min | 64 (Somewhat Walkable — 34th most walkable Denver neighborhood) | Denver citywide: 73 (5th nationally) | RTD bus network on Colfax, Colorado Blvd, 23rd Ave; A Line at Central Park station nearby |
| 12 | Edgewater West Metro | 10–15 min | 20–30 min | High for the metro — most errands walkable along Colfax/20th Ave corridors | — | — |
| 13 | Manitou Springs Colorado Springs | 10–15 min | — | 84 (Very Walkable — Manitou Avenue core); residential hillside areas are car-dependent | — | — |
| 14 | Pueblo West Pueblo | 10–15 min | — | Low — car-dependent suburban community | — | — |
| 15 | Wheat Ridge West Metro | 12–20 min | 25–40 min | 45 (car-dependent overall) | 60 (bikeable — 6th most bikeable city in CO) | 32 (some transit — G Line to Union Station) |
| 16 | Englewood South Metro | 12–18 min | 25–40 min | 61 (somewhat walkable) | 62 (bikeable) | 39 (some transit — RTD light rail + bus) |
| 17 | LoDo Central Denver | 14–20 min | 30–45 min | 95 (Walker's Paradise) | 73+ (Cherry Creek Trail, South Platte Trail, protected lanes) | Highest in Denver — Union Station is THE regional hub |
| 18 | Westminster North Metro | 15–20 min | 35–55 min | 35 (car-dependent) | 60 (bikeable) | 32 (some transit — B Line, Flatiron Flyer BRT) |
| 19 | Thornton North Metro | 15–20 min | 30–50 min | 53–78 (varies by neighborhood) | 46 (bikeable in some areas) | Improved with N Line commuter rail |
| 20 | Commerce City North Metro | 15–20 min | 30–45 min | 30 (car-dependent) | 35 (minimal bike infrastructure) | Minimal — RTD bus routes, no light rail (but near 40th/Colorado and Peoria stations) |
| 21 | Federal Heights North Metro | 15–20 min | 25–40 min | 42 (car-dependent) | 40 (some bike infrastructure) | 28 (RTD bus routes along Federal Blvd) |
| 22 | Northglenn North Metro | 15–20 min | 30–45 min | 47 (car-dependent) | 44 (some bike infrastructure) | 28 (RTD bus routes; N Line nearby at 124th/Eastlake station) |
| 23 | Lakewood West Metro | 15–20 min | 30–45 min | 68 city-wide (Belmar area 74+, south Lakewood 31) | Moderate — PeopleForBikes city rating improving | — |
| 24 | Watkins East Metro | 15–20 min | — | 12 (car-dependent — almost all errands require a car) | N/A — no bike infrastructure; gravel roads | 0 — no public transit of any kind |
| 25 | Littleton South Metro | 15–20 min | 25–40 min | 40 (car-dependent overall; downtown walkable) | 45 | 33 (some transit — RTD D Line) |
| 26 | Castle Pines South Metro | 15–20 min | — | 8 (car-dependent — almost all errands require a car) | Minimal infrastructure | Minimal (no fixed-route transit; car-dependent) |
| 27 | Fountain Colorado Springs | 15–20 min | 25–35 min | 19 (car-dependent; some commercial corridors score 47–63) | — | — |
| 28 | Arvada North Metro | 18–25 min | 40–60 min | 35 (car-dependent) | 54 (bikeable) | 26 (some transit — G Line commuter rail) |
| 29 | Longmont Boulder Area | 20–25 min | — | 39 (Car-Dependent — most errands require a car) | 58 (Bikeable — #7 most bikeable city in CO) | Low — RTD BOLT bus to Boulder, limited local routes |
| 30 | Broomfield North Metro | 20–25 min | 40–60 min | 33 (car-dependent overall; Broomfield Gardens area scores 77) | 56 (bikeable — 8th most bikeable city in Colorado) | 24 (some transit — Flatiron Flyer BRT on US-36) |
| 31 | Golden West Metro | 20–30 min | 35–55 min | 42 (car-dependent overall) | 38 | 14 |
| 32 | Aurora East Metro | 20–25 min | 35–55 min | 43 (car-dependent city-wide; Del Mar Parkway area 85+) | 34 (PeopleForBikes City Rating) | — |
| 33 | Monument Colorado Springs | 20–25 min | 30–40 min | Low — car-dependent, though downtown is walkable | — | — |
| 34 | Highlands Ranch South Metro | 24–30 min | — | 28 (car-dependent) | 38 | 7 (minimal transit) |
| 35 | Louisville Boulder Area | 25–30 min | 45–65 min | Downtown highly walkable; residential areas moderate | — | — |
| 36 | Lafayette Boulder Area | 25–30 min | 45–60 min | 42 (Car-Dependent — most errands require a car) | Moderate — trail connectivity good, on-street infrastructure developing | — |
| 37 | Nederland Boulder Area | 25–30 min | — | Low — mountain town, car essential for most errands | Low — mountain terrain, recreation-focused riding | Minimal — RTD N Route bus to Boulder on limited schedule |
| 38 | Morrison West Metro | 25–30 min | 40–55 min | — | — | — |
| 39 | Palmer Lake Colorado Springs | 25–30 min | — | Very low — car-dependent small mountain town; no commercial core for errands | Limited — no dedicated bike infrastructure | — |
| 40 | Peyton Colorado Springs | 25–35 min | — | 2–4 (almost all errands require a car; rural/exurban community) | 24 — minimal bike infrastructure | 0 — no public transit |
| 41 | Woodland Park Colorado Springs | 25–30 min | 35–45 min | 70 (Very Walkable — US-24 commercial core); outlying residential areas are car-dependent | — | — |
| 42 | Beulah Pueblo | 25–30 min | — | Very low — unincorporated mountain community with no commercial core; car required for all errands | Not applicable — rural mountain roads without bike infrastructure | — |
| 43 | Boulder Boulder Area | 30–35 min | 55–90 min | 56 (Somewhat Walkable — some errands on foot) | 86 (Very Bikeable — #1 in Colorado) | 37 (Some Transit — Flatiron Flyer BRT, 14 bus lines) |
| 44 | Brighton North Metro | 30–35 min | 45–65 min | 36 (car-dependent) | 31 (minimal bike infrastructure) | Minimal — primarily car-dependent, limited RTD bus service |
| 45 | Parker South Metro | 30–45 min | — | 21 (car-dependent) | 36 | 5 (minimal transit) |
| 46 | Bennett East Metro | 35–40 min | 50–70 min | 0–4 (almost all errands require a car) | N/A — no bike infrastructure | 0 — no public transit |
| 47 | Strasburg East Metro | 35–40 min | 50–70 min | 0 (car-dependent — almost all errands require a car) | N/A — no bike infrastructure | 0 — no public transit |
| 48 | Castle Rock South Metro | 35–45 min | 45–75 min | 10 (car-dependent) | 35 | Minimal (no fixed-route transit) |
| 49 | Evergreen West Metro | 37–45 min | 55–75 min | Low — car-dependent mountain community | — | — |
| 50 | Pueblo Pueblo | 39–45 min | 45–60 min | Downtown 68–81 ('Very Walkable'); city-wide average car-dependent (30s–40s) | Limited infrastructure; 30+ mi Pueblo River Trail System for recreational cycling | Low — limited public transit coverage |
| 51 | Erie Boulder Area | 40–45 min | 50–65 min | Low — car-dependent suburban community | Moderate — 40+ miles of trails for recreation, errands require driving | — |
| 52 | Conifer West Metro | 40–50 min | 55–75 min | Very low — rural, car-dependent | — | — |
| 53 | Berthoud Northern Colorado | 45–55 min | 60–80 min | 30 (car-dependent) | 35 | — |
| 54 | Johnstown Northern Colorado | 45–55 min | 60–80 min | 20 (car-dependent) | 25 | — |
| 55 | Loveland Northern Colorado | 50–60 min | 65–90 min | 35 (car-dependent) | 50 | — |
| 56 | Fort Collins Northern Colorado | 55–65 min | 75–100 min | 40 (car-dependent overall) | 72 (Platinum Bicycle Friendly Community) | 25 |
| 57 | Greeley Northern Colorado | 55–65 min | 70–95 min | 38 (car-dependent) | 45 | 15 |
| 58 | Windsor Northern Colorado | 55–65 min | 70–90 min | 25 (car-dependent) | 40 | — |
| 59 | Timnath Northern Colorado | 55–65 min | 70–90 min | 15 (car-dependent) | 30 | — |
| 60 | Severance Northern Colorado | 55–65 min | 70–90 min | 10 (car-dependent) | 20 | — |
| 61 | Wellington Northern Colorado | 65–80 min | 85–110 min | 20 (car-dependent) | 25 | — |
Common Questions
FAQ — Denver communities
What is a Walk Score?
Walk Score measures the walkability of an address on a 0–100 scale based on proximity to amenities. Scores above 70 are “very walkable,” 50–70 is “somewhat walkable,” and below 50 is car-dependent.
How does traffic affect commute times?
Rush hour on major highways can add 50–100% to drive times. Off-peak times shown are the best-case scenario.