Your Flight is Delayed for 5 Hours at Denver International Airport: Here’s What to Do
I’ve experienced flight delays, the occasional re-route and the temptation of giving up my seat for some cash. Whatever the reason, spending additional hours in an airport without a plan can be very boring, stressful and unintentionally expensive if you end up spending your way out of boredom. If you’re flying in and out of Denver International Airport, it’s possible that you may experience a flight delay. It’s in the top 3 for busiest airports in the world with hundreds of flights flying in and out daily. It also happens to be my home airport. If your flight is delayed for 5 hours at Denver International Airport here’s what to do and the mistake you need to avoid making.
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Cowtown Denver
Your Flight Was Delayed at DIA/DEN
I often joke that I would never fly in or out of DIA/DEN the day before Thanksgiving, a few days before Christmas or New Year’s Eve. Because even though the weather will be mild, sunny and snow free inevitably on one of those days a freak snow storm will blow through Denver or one of the many major airports across the US and the World that it serves.
That storm, or storms, will wreck havoc with your travel plans and likely delay your flight. If you’re lucky, it’s just a 5 hour delay. In order to help you fight boredom and enjoy your time at the airport before heading to your destination.
Avoid Making This Huge Mistake!
You may be tempted to make your way to downtown Denver and explore. I would strongly advice that you do not do this. I’m going to break down the logistics of heading to downtown Denver whether it’s via train or Lyft/Uber.
- It could take up to an hour to reach downtown Denver by car. If it’s a good traffic day possibly 30 minutes. That would be a miracle. It makes more sense to take the train from the airport to downtown Denver that will take 37 minutes.
- Then you would need to factor in returning to the airport and then make your way back through security.
Stay within the Denver International Airport complex. There is plenty to entertain yourself while you’re there.
Check Your Travel Rewards
(Do You Have Lounge Access?)
I’m a huge fan of a free tool created here in Denver called “TravelFreely.” It helps travelers better optimize their travel rewards points better and learn strategies to help them earn more. What I love about “TravelFreely” is that you do not have to input any personal information into the platform to use it, it helps you better understand travel rewards points programs.
In fact, at the time that I’m working on this post people are a little pissed because several programs have made it harder to enjoy lounges when traveling. Want to find out how to get your lounge access back? Sign up for “TravelFreely” today.
What You Should Always Travel With
Always be as prepared as you can be for those moments when travel doesn’t go as planned. Here are a couple of items I wished I had on me the last time I stayed for several hours over night at Denver International Airport.
- Sleeping bag liner-Not quite a sleeping bag but you can sleep inside it and avoid being directly on the airport carpet.
- Eye mask (airports are so dang bright)
- A jacket and sweatshirt (airports get cold)
Exploring Jeppsen Terminal
If your flight has been delayed at Denver International Airport for 5 hours you may want to head over to Jeppsen Terminal. There are a few things that you must do before considering doing this.
- Triple-check all details related to your flight and how your airline is communicating with you. If your airline is texting you but your phone is about to die-make sure you’re keeping your phone charged up.
- Review security line times-If you head to Jeppsen Terminal you will have to go back through security in order to return to your flight’s gate. You do not want to underestimate the amount of time that it will take to get back into the airport.
- Head to the Plaza-There is an outdoor plaza located just outside Jeppsen Terminal. It hosts different activities throughout the year such as:
- Live music during the summer
- Movies during the summer
- Ice skating during the cold weather months
I would actually plan on enjoying the outdoor plaza first so that you can make your way back into the airport earlier and avoiding having to rush through security and avoid stressing yourself out.
Check Out the Art
There’s a lot of art at DIA. Ranging from the conspiracy theorists’ favorite works that you can Google so that you can find them. One of my personal favorites is the mural dedicated to African-American life in Colorado.
- Upcoming installation by Detour303 “It’s Not What You Take-It’s What You Bring Back” installation date is sometime in 2025
- “Mile High and Rising” This is the mural showing Black Coloradans during different moments of Colorado history.
- “Children of Light” and “The Examination”
There are other iconic pieces of art throughout the airport internal and external footprint including the infamous “Blucifer” the giant blue horse with red glowing eyes that travelers pass when making their way to or from the airport via train or the highway.
Where to Eat at Denver International Airport
There are some great restaurant concepts at the airport. Here are a few that I think you’ll enjoy. Check which gate they are in and bon appetit. By the way, these are all Colorado local companies.
- Snooze an A.M. Eatery
- Modern Market
- Half-Moon Empanadas
- Elways
- Root Down
- Mercantile Dining and Provision (restaurant space)
- Smashburger
Grab a great cup of coffee
Denverites love their coffee and I’m excited to see some great local coffee concepts at the airport (plus a few national chains).
- Novo Coffee (Colorado Company)
- Dazbog Coffee (Colorado Company)
- Kabod Coffee (Colorado Company)
- Mercantile Dining and Provision (coffee concept) (Colorado Company)
- They have really good food too!
- Lavazza (National Chain)
- Caribou Coffee (my favorite out of the national chains)
- Starbucks
Relax at One of the 3 Outdoors Patios
Gates A-C each have cute patios that were completed in the past year or so. I believe that all three also have fire pits as well as a spot for your dog to do its business. If you’re going stir crazy inside and need some fresh air-I highly recommend spending some time on one of the patios. Please note: these gates are NOT for smoking. There’s no smoking at the airport.
- Gate A-You’ll have to ask for directions. I’m still searching for the exact gate details
- Gate B-Located near gate B7
- Gate C-Has an East facing. Terrace (no mountain view)
Ride the Train Between Gates
I was one of those kids who loved trains. I still love trains and taking the train that connects between the A, B and C gates is a great opportunity to explore what is available at the other gates. You can check out the different food offerings, vibes and shopping that might not be available to you because of the gate you’re at. Do not accidentally take the train to Jeppsen Terminal after you’ve already made your way back through the security checkpoint.
Flight Delays Can Happen at DIA
Your Flight is Delayed for 5 hours at Denver International Airport
Hopefully this post has given you some ideas on what to do when your flight is delayed for 5 hours at Denver International Airport. Sometimes things are out of your control and having an idea of how to approach the situation will help manage what can be a stressful situation. Denver International Airport is a great airport with a lot to do. I’m crossing my fingers and hoping that even though you needed this post today you won’t be needing this post again!