Flying to Denver to Watch the Nuggets vs. Lakers Game

Ultimate Guide to Flying to Denver to Watch the Nuggets vs. Lakers Game

Denver, Denver Nuggets, things to do in Denver, Uncategorized Michelle@SquareState
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Are you thinking about heading to The Mile High City to watch the Los Angeles Lakers play the Denver Nuggets in their season opener? Is it your first time visiting Denver and you’re not sure where to go, what to do and where you should stay? Denver is a great town-but, it’s significantly smaller and needs to be visited with that in mind. In fact, I’ve often given the tip that “You Experience Denver and Visit Philly” (listen to the short podcast episode) Both are great towns but you have to approach them differently.

We look forward to having you visit Denver. Don’t just come for the game, Denver has a lot to offer. Keep reading for the best places to stay, things to do and more.

* In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog. Please read my disclosure here.*

Cowtown Denver

Get Your Ticket

I’m convinced that this show is going to sell out. Make sure to get your ticket as soon as you can so that you can get the best seats in the building for the price you want to pay.

Book Your Flight to Denver

You’ll be flying into Denver International Airport which is apparently the third busiest airport in the world! I’ve flown out of Denver airports since I was a kid.

Here are some tips:

  • Don’t fly into town on Game Day-Murphy’s Law will kick in and you will have a flight delay or some weird issue and end up arriving late. Instead, if at all possible, arrive a couple of days earlier.
  • Head’s up! Right now the airport is being remodeled-There will be construction in some parts of the building. Painful, but I can say that I love what I’ve seen so far as the completed sections are put into use.
  • Take the train from the airport to downtown Denver’s Union Station (the heart of Denver) it costs $10.50 and then you can take the free mall shuttle or a quick Lyft/Uber ride to one of the hotels that I’m going to suggest staying at. There is security on the train and runs about every 15 minutes.
  • It is possible to travel car-free in Denver. Check out the following guide on how to approach car-free travel in Denver while in town.
  • If you’re a beer enthusiast who wants to check out some of the many breweries and other beer experiences in town check the following post.

For women looking to book a solo trip to Denver, here’s a guide to doing that as well.

Where to Stay in Denver

Ball Arena is basically in downtown Denver. Depending on the hotel that you’re staying at, you could literally walk over to the venue. There are also pedicabs, the light rail or you could grab a Lyft/Uber which will cost around $5 dollars depending on where your hotel is located.

Here are a few hotels located near and around downtown that would be good places to stay during your time in Denver.

Click on the map and play around with it to get a feel of the distance from your hotel to Ball Arena.

How to Get Around Denver

If you’re sticking to Downtown Denver, you won’t need to rent a car and could instead walk around, use a Lyft or Uber or public transit. In fact, you can take the train from Denver International Airport directly to downtown Denver’s Union Station (the last stop) and easily make your way to hotels in Denver’s Downtown area. I’m not sure if the scooters will be out at that time, I think that they will be. One thing about the scooters-they are not supposed to be ridden on sidewalks.

I’m not a fan of the scooters.

We also have the Bustang system that expands transit access throughout the mountains and other parts of the state. If you’re traveling with a larger group then, it’s likely that you’ll need to rent a car.

What is Denver’s Weather Like in October?

I love this time of year in Denver because we’re emerging out of the deep summer season and the winter ski season is just around the corner. The days are getting consistently cooler and it’s a great time to head into the mountains to see the tale end of leaf peepin’ season.

  • Be prepared for snow-It begins snowing in Denver sometimes in September, but more often than not, it will snow in October. Don’t freak out-the snow melts fast.
  • It’s very sunny throughout the year-make sure to bring your sunglasses.
  • The average temperature is around 68 degrees during the daytime in October.

Pro Tip

Start checking Denver’s weather 10 days before your trip every single day! So that you pack the right clothing when you’re in town.

Assume nothing.

What to Do in Denver

There’s so much to do while in town and I thought I would share what you could do during your visit to Denver.

  • Meow Wolf– There are 4 Meow Wolf locations in the West and the largest location is here in Denver. It’s an immersive, interactive art experience. It’s a lot of fun and I’ve seen both adults and children absolutely love it. I went with my mom for context. I do think that it’s best suited for anyone over the age of 8 years old. It may be too much for kids younger than that.
  • Check Out Dairy Block–Enjoy some good food and any events that are hosted the week that you’re there. Dairy Block is beautifully redeveloped mixed use space two blocks from Union Station and two blocks from Coors Field. Make sure to check out the pastry shop, wine and whiskey bars located in the Dairy Block Ally.

Head’s Up

There is a massive construction project happening in downtown Denver. Several blocks of the iconic 16th Street Mall have been torn up and are being remodeled. From the Daniels and Fisher clocktower heading west (towards the mountains) there’s a lot going on. Heading east (away from the mountains) Denver is reemerging from a challenging COVID reopening. Please support those local businesses.

Book a Tour

Sometimes it’s nice to let someone else do the driving and plan all of the logistics. I’ve included a few fun tours that would be a great addition to your Denver visit.

Dairy Block Alley

More Things to Do In Denver

I often tell people that you “Experience Denver and Visit Philly” what I mean by this is that a trip to Denver is best experienced when you come for an experience and then build out the rest of your trip vs. just roaming around town randomly.

  • Head over to the Fritzler Corn Maze (the scary section is awesome)
    • You’ll need a car to get to the Maze. Click here to book one.
  • Museum for Black Girls ExhibitI’m so happy that this exhibit that originated in Denver has returned from recent showings in different parts of the United States.
  • SZA-October 18, 2023 (Ball Arena)
  • Ludacris-October 20, 2023 (Fillmore Auditorium)
  • Marc Rebillet-October 26, 2023 (Red Rocks)Do you have your bathrobe ready?

Happy Hour

These are a wide variety of Happy Hour experiences.

Where to Eat in Denver

There’s a ton of great food in town and even though Denver isn’t known as a food city-you will be able to eat well while you’re here. I’ve shared some restaurant suggestions to get you started.

  • Denver Biscuit CO
    • Stanley Marketplace is a cool venue too. Lots of different restaurant concepts and some shopping as well.
  • BRUTO
    • Chef Michael Diaz de Leon was the only Colorado Chef that has been nominated for a James Beard award for 2023. Highly recommend.

Food Halls to Visit

Food halls are very popular in town. Eat at a food hall is great way to keep a group of people happy because they can pick what they’d like to eat from a variety of different local food concepts.

  • Milk Market-Visit the Dairy Block where it’s located.
  • The Grange Food Hall-Has one of the best views of the entire Front Range and the Mountains (Greenwood Village area)
  • Denver Central Market–Located in the RINO/Five Points area and a cool area to explore with tons of murals, breweries and restaurants.

What is Ball Arena Like

I’ve attended numerous events at Ball Arena ranging from Denver Nuggets basketball games to concerts. I like that it’s easy to get to and very accessible as it’s literally in downtown Denver. I think the acoustics are pretty solid and that’s why artists continue to perform there. You can walk to Ball Arena or take the light rail from Denver’s Union Station.

Make sure to go to where the light rail trains depart which is the equivalent of two blocks directly behind Union Station. The light rail trains are painted white-if you’re not sure ask for assistance inside Union Station. You must purchase a ticket before boarding the train and there are kiosks located by the train that take cash or card. You can also download the RTD Denver app and pay for your ticket that way.

Some additional details

  • You will go through a security check point.
  • There is a ride share spot for getting picked up and dropped off before and after the concert.
  • You’ll like see Pedicabs before and after the concert. Ask if they take cash or card before hoping on for a ride.
  • There is a light rail stop that is one stop from Union Station
    • Pro tip: Check the schedule and the ALERTS to make sure you know if a train is running at the time the game ends. Because Ball Arena is walking distance from the downtown Denver’s city center-don’t stress if you miss the train. Just grab a pedicab or ride share to your hotel. If you’re with a group of folks you can also walk too.
  • There’s food and drink inside the venue as well as a few restaurants directly outside of Ball Arena.
    • Best practice: Eat a great meal before arrival and then snack at the venue.

Enjoy Your Visit to Denver

Denver is a great town to visit any time of year. While we hope you enjoy your time in town I do have to end this post with the following-LET’S GO NUGGETS!!

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