Travel to USAFA from Denver airport

[AROTC Parent]

If any of them have their car insurance through USAA since they are military they can rent a car from Avis at 18yo, just a FYI I found that out talking to the clerk over parents weekend.

This is true. It has turned out to be a great perk for a student far from home without a car. Our 19 year old needed to rent for a weekend last semester. Under age driver fee waived for USAA members 18-24 with Hertz, Avis, and Budget. He is listed as a driver on our USAA Auto Policy and has a USAA membership number. Make sure they pay attention to the initial rental contract - the fee was not initially waived and had to be reprinted.

 

[brewmeist]

When my son did USAFA summer seminar a few years ago, he flew into Denver and we arranged for a shuttle to COS airport. There are several services at a reasonable cost. Not sure if that helps with the overall plan.

 

[wildblueyonder]

There are multiple shuttles between the Springs/DIA, as others have mentioned already. Shuttles are not going to be able to get on base, however, so it would be necessary to find a ride on from a current USAFA cadet/visiting USMA cadet with a car. (I believe Ubers are not allowed on base either.)

Another option would be to contact a current cadet at USAFA about hosting. I'm not sure what the deadlines are, but USAFA does host contingents of USMA and USNA students for Army/Navy games which take place at the AFA. This would be the most affordable option if feasible and would allow them to room with current AFA cadets instead of getting a hotel room. They would also be able to ask an AFA cadet (their roommate or someone else) to drive them back to DIA. It's not that far, <90 min if traffic is good, and they could always offer to buy food for their driver.

Edit: I believe USAFA may even provide a bus service to and from DIA for the visiting contingent.

 

[In-the-Know]

DIA is probably the cheapest. Rent a car, but be aware that I-25 is under construction. If there were no construction travel from DIA to USAFA takes about 1 hr 15 minutes. If you go into COS then it is about 45 minutes. There are plenty of hotels, but I recommend staying near USAFA. Check out hotels right outside the South Gate or you can stay north of the Academy. Most contractors who work at USAFA during the week and then fly home stay at the Farifield Inn in Monument. It is right near I-25, close to McDonalds and other fast food places and a Safeway market.

 

[In-the-Know]

I just looked up their website. I think we have a winner. Thanks for the help.

Been there done this scores of times (to include Groome). Again, I recommend renting a car. Groome is about $35 per individual one way from DIA and your are stuck at the drop off point. If you can get rooms at the Academy Hotel that might work if you can thumb a ride to the game. But 5x70=$350. You can rent a pretty nice car for that and have more flexibility to find an inexpensive hotel and have transport to the game. Oh-- don't forget to add a $7 tip each way. I know cadets are cheap (I was one) but you really should teach them etiquette. See you at the game--Go Falcons!

 

[Wishful]

As I recall you can take a non-toll road from DIA to USAFA & back. It's under 10" longer if I recall. I mention this because the rental companies charge $$$ when the electronic pass is used. Set your GPS to avoid toll roads to you don't pay this way overcharge.