Case Study: How Much Can Families Save by Renting a Car Downtown Instead of at Denver Airport?

As a Denver resident, I’ve always known renting a car downtown saves money compared to Denver International Airport’s high fees, but I wanted to see exactly how much a family of four (two adults, two kids) could save. I compared costs at the airport versus downtown Denver at Hertz and SIXT to find out.

How I Crunched the Numbers

• Pricing: I used RentalCars.com for quotes from Hertz (2255 Arapahoe St., 6-minute walk from Union Station) and SIXT (2040 Arapahoe St., 5-minute walk) at DIA and downtown for August 15–17 (weekend) and August 10–17, 2025 (week-long). Prices include Colorado’s 8.81% sales tax and DIA’s $6/day facility charge and 10–12% concession fee.
• Getting Downtown: The A Line train costs $10 per adult, free for kids 19 and under—$20 total for the family. It’s a 37-minute ride to Union Station, then a quick walk to either spot. An Uber runs $35–$50 and takes 25–35 minutes.
• My Setup: I assumed the family needs a car for city and mountain trips, skipped extras like GPS or insurance (assuming they use their phone and credit card coverage), and used summer rates. Savings are calculated after transport costs.

Case 1: Weekend Rental (3 Days, Economy Car)

The Plan: A family is in Denver for a weekend (August 15–17, 2025), needing an economy car (like a Toyota Corolla) for LoDo sightseeing and a day trip, like Estes Park.

Hertz Comparison

DIA Pickup

• Cost: $210 total ($70/day).
• What’s Included: $18 facility charge, 10% concession fee, taxes.
• The Good: 24/7 access, Gold Plus Rewards skips lines.
• The Catch: Fees make it pricier.

Downtown Pickup (Hertz, 2255 Arapahoe St.)

• Cost: $141 total ($47/day).
• What’s Included: Just taxes, no airport fees.
• The Good: Solid savings, 6-minute walk from Union Station.
• The Catch: Shorter hours (Mon–Fri 8 AM–5 PM, Sat 9 AM–12 PM, Sun closed).

Getting There:

• A Line Train: $20 ($10 × 2 adults + $0 for 10-year-old + $0 for 4-year-old), 37 minutes, 6-minute walk.
• Uber: $35–$50 to Hertz, 25–35 minutes.

The Savings:

• Total Savings: $210 – $141 = $69 (33% less).
• With Train: $69 – $20 = $49 saved.
• With Uber: $69 – $35 = $34 or $69 – $50 = $19.
• Bottom Line: The train saves $49—great for a light lunch in LoDo. Uber’s solid for convenience.

SIXT Comparison

DIA Pickup

• Cost: $204 total ($68/day).
• What’s Included: $18 facility charge, 10% concession fee, and taxes.
• The Good: 24/7 counters, no hassle right off the plane.
• The Catch: Airport fees drive up the price.

Downtown Pickup (SIXT, 2040 Arapahoe St.)

• Cost: $138 total ($46/day).
• What’s Included: Just standard taxes, no airport fees.
• The Good: Cheaper rates, 5-minute walk from Union Station.
• The Catch: Requires getting downtown, hours are 8 AM–6 PM.

Getting There:

• A Line Train: $20, 37 minutes, 5-minute walk.
• Uber: $35–$50 to SIXT, 25–35 minutes.

The Savings:

• Total Savings: $204 – $138 = $66 (32% less).
• With Train: $66 – $20 = $46 saved.
• With Uber: $66 – $35 = $31 or $66 – $50 = $16.
• Bottom Line: The train saves $46—enough to cover morning coffee and a late night ice cream. Uber saves less but is handy.

Case 2: Week-Long Rental (7 Days, Compact SUV)

The Plan: The family rents a compact SUV (like a Jeep Compass) for a week (August 10–17, 2025) to hit Rocky Mountain National Park (1.5 hours away) and Colorado Springs (1.5 hours).

Hertz Comparison

DIA Pickup

• Cost: $490 total ($70/day).
• What’s Included: $42 facility charge, 10% concession fee, taxes.
• The Good: Lots of SUVs, 24/7 counters.
• The Catch: Airport fees hit hard.

Downtown Pickup (Hertz, 2255 Arapahoe St.)

• Cost: $350 total ($50/day).
• What’s Included: No airport fees, cheaper rate.
• The Good: Nice savings, close to Union Station.
• The Catch: Limited hours, smaller lot than SIXT.

Getting There:

• A Line Train: $20.
• Uber: $35–$50.

The Savings:

• Total Savings: $490 – $350 = $140 (29% less).
• With Train: $140 – $20 = $120 saved.
• With Uber: $140 – $35 = $105 or $140 – $50 = $90.
• Bottom Line: The train saves $120, plenty for Garden of the Gods tickets. Uber’s $90–$105 is solid but less than SIXT.

SIXT Comparison

DIA Pickup

• Cost: $483 total ($69/day).
• What’s Included: $42 facility charge, 10% concession fee, taxes.
• The Good: Plenty of SUVs for mountain trips, open 24/7.
• The Catch: High demand means higher rates.

Downtown Pickup (SIXT, 2040 Arapahoe St.)

• Cost: $336 total ($48/day).
• What’s Included: No airport fees, lower rate.
• The Good: Big savings, super close to Union Station.
• The Catch: Plan around 8 AM–6 PM hours.

Getting There:

• A Line Train: $20.
• Uber: $35–$50.

The Savings:

• Total Savings: $483 – $336 = $147 (30% less).
• With Train: $147 – $20 = $127 saved.
• With Uber: $147 – $35 = $112 or $147 – $50 = $97.
• Bottom Line: The train saves $127—enough for a family dinner. Uber saves up to $112, great for lugging gear.

What I Learned

• Big Savings Downtown: Downtown rentals save $66–$69 for a weekend (32–33% less) and $140–$147 for a week (29–30% less). SIXT’s better for SUVs ($147 savings), while Hertz wins slightly for economy cars ($69). The train ($20, free for kids 19 and under) maximizes savings, netting $46–$127. Uber ($35–$50) saves $16–$112 and suits families with luggage or tired kids.
• Is It Worth It?: The train’s awesome for budget travelers—37 minutes and a short walk to Hertz or SIXT. Both are close to Union Station (SIXT’s a smidge closer). Uber’s great for convenience, especially with a 4-year-old. DIA’s 24/7 counters work for late flights, but downtown’s hours (Hertz: Mon–Fri 8 AM–5 PM, Sat 9 AM–12 PM, Sun closed; SIXT: 8 AM–6 PM) need planning.
• Heads-Up: Hertz’s smaller downtown lot means availability can be iffy—confirm early. SIXT’s bigger fleet feels safer. Hertz’s limited weekend hours are a bummer.
• Extra Tips: Book 2–3 months early on RentalCars.com for 20–30% lower rates. Skip GPS ($10–$15/day) and use your phone. Check if insurance or a credit card covers rentals to avoid extra fees. One-way rentals (downtown to DIA) have low fees with both companies.

Wrapping It Up

Downtown rentals at Hertz or SIXT save families $66–$69 for a weekend or $140–$147 for a week. The A Line train ($20) nets $46–$127, while Uber saves $16–$112. Book early and smartly for a Denver adventure!