Rent a Bus to Empower Field at Mile High: The Complete Empower Field at Mile High Transportation Guide

Here is how the typical Broncos game day unfolds from Aurora without a bus: you take I-225 to I-70 West, merge onto I-25 South, and crawl the final mile toward the stadium while 76,000 other fans are doing the exact same thing. You find a spot in one of the on-site lots — if you got there early enough to grab one before they sold out — pay $55 cash-free, tailgate in the single 8-by-10-foot space behind your car, and then make it back to your vehicle after the final whistle in time to sit in the same parking lot for the next 75 minutes. Post-game, your rideshare pickup isn't at the stadium gates — it's at the Ball Arena Rideshare Lot on 5th and Walnut Street, which is a 15-minute walk from where you're standing right now.

One charter bus rental to Empower Field at Mile High changes every single part of that story. Your group loads up in Aurora, rides together, gets dropped at the NE corner near Gate 5, and the bus is staged and ready when the final whistle blows — no walk, no lot hunt, no surge pricing.

Empower Field at Mile High sits at 1701 Mile High Stadium Circle, Denver, CO 80204 — exactly one mile above sea level, and the highest NFL stadium in professional football. It holds 76,125 for Broncos games and commands every approach road from I-25, I-70, and US-6 on game days in ways that make independent driving genuinely painful. This guide breaks down where a charter bus or party bus drops off, where it parks, what the tailgating rules actually say (there is a big one that surprises most first-timers), how the I-225 approach from Aurora plays out in game-day traffic, and everything else your group needs to show up right — using the stadium's own published guidance throughout.

For the full picture of Aurora sporting event group transportation, the Aurora sporting event bus rental page covers the broader calendar.

Why Rent a Charter Bus or Party Bus to Empower Field at Mile High?

The math starts before you even leave Aurora. Lot C — the early tailgating lot — runs $55 per space and sells out within 30 to 60 minutes of opening. If your group is in multiple cars, you're looking at $55 per vehicle, assuming you all arrive in the same window.

The game-day parking that's actually available on the day itself is limited to Lots A and C, and the official stadium site notes that pre-purchased permits routinely sell out before game day entirely. You're coordinating carpools, synchronizing arrival times, and watching Lots A and C fill up in real time from the parking app — and that's before the post-game 15-minute walk to Ball Arena to hail a rideshare home.

An Aurora charter bus rental to Empower Field replaces the whole operation. One vehicle, one flat rate, one pickup in Aurora, and one drop at the stadium's NE corner near Gate 5 — where the bus is staged and waiting when your group comes out. The pregame energy builds on the ride over instead of evaporating in the I-25 queue.

Nobody draws straws for who keeps it sober on the way home. And once you split one bus across 30 or 40 people, the per-head number is usually less than each person's individual parking cost alone. A party bus or charter bus rental to Empower Field through Partybusaurora.net is one of the most common Aurora group requests for a reason — it turns a coordinating headache into a single, predictable arrangement.

Call 303-214-4282 or use the online quote tool to check pricing in under 30 seconds.

Charter Bus and Party Bus Drop-Off at Empower Field at Mile High

Rideshare drop-off at Empower Field is at the NE corner of the stadium near Gate 5 on Mile High Stadium Circle, per the official Broncos gameday parking page. Charter buses and private party buses use the same general approach — drop your group at the NE corner and stage nearby while the game runs. That's steps from the gate, not a remote lot with a shuttle.

The piece most first-timers don't know until after the game: rideshare pickup is nowhere near where rideshare drops you off. Once the final whistle blows, the pickup zone shifts to the Ball Arena Rideshare Lot at 5th and Walnut Street — approximately a 15-minute walk east from the stadium gates. After a three-hour game in thin air at 5,280 feet, that walk goes longer than it looks on a map, and surge pricing is running the moment you open the app.

A private party bus or charter bus doesn't move that pickup point. It's staged and ready at an agreed-upon spot, and your group walks out and boards.

For groups that need bus parking during the game, Lot B — south of the stadium — accommodates oversized vehicles including buses. Lot assignments and access logistics vary by event, so groups with a charter bus should contact the stadium parking team directly at 720-258-3000 or PARKING@BRONCOS.NFL.NET before game day to confirm the approach and staging area for their specific event. That coordination is part of what a charter bus booking handles — so your group isn't discovering a closed gate on arrival.

Always review the official Empower Field parking page before your visit to confirm current lot assignments.

Broncos Game Day Parking at Empower Field at Mile High

Empower Field has approximately 6,500 on-site parking spaces and 15,000 more in nearby independent lots, but the on-site picture is tighter than those numbers suggest. Here is what actually matters on a Broncos game day, straight from the stadium's official parking page:

• Lot C (Early Tailgating): Opens 6 hours before kickoff on the west side of the stadium. A limited number of spaces sell first-come, first-served for $55 per space. Expect the lot to sell out within 30 to 60 minutes of opening. If your group wants a full pregame tailgate in Lot C, plan to arrive several hours early.
• Lot A (Carpool Lot): Opens 4.5 hours before kickoff. Game-day spaces run $45 per space for vehicles carrying four or more passengers — credit card only. Important: tailgating is not permitted in Lot A's carpool section, per the stadium's published fan guide.
• ADA Accessible Lots: Available on a first-come, first-served gameday basis — Lot L at $35 and Lots D or G at $40 — with a valid state-issued ADA placard or registration required.
• Everything is cashless. Bring a credit card; the lots do not accept cash.
• Pre-purchased permits sell out before game day for most Broncos matchups. If you wait until game day, you're limited to Lots A and C, and those go fast too.

Offsite options exist — Ball Arena, the Auraria Campus, the Denver Aquarium lot, and Riverside Church (2401 Alcott Street) all show up on the official offsite parking map — but each one adds a walk or a connection on top of the I-25 drive you've already made. For a group of 40, one bus permit arrangement at Lot B replaces 10 separate car passes, 10 separate parking negotiations, and 10 different post-game exit timelines.

The Tailgating Rule That Surprises Every First-Timer at Empower Field

No open flames. Empower Field at Mile High's official tailgating policy bans open-flame fires, glass bottles, and kegs in the parking lots, per the official Denver Broncos tailgating page. The published policy doesn't spell out charcoal or propane grills by name, so groups planning to grill should call the stadium at 720-258-3000 to confirm before they go.

This still catches fan groups from other markets off guard, since most NFL tailgate scenes assume cooking equipment is a given without a second thought. The rules at Empower Field are among the more restrictive in the league, and the stadium enforces them.

Beyond the open-flame rule, the other key policies are:

• One permit, one space. Tailgating must happen directly behind or in front of your vehicle. You cannot occupy adjacent spaces, hold spots for friends, or block drive lanes. One parking pass, one parking space — period.
• All tailgate setups must break down 45 minutes before kickoff. The lots enforce this, so plan your arrival time and pregame timeline with the cutoff in mind.
• No tailgating in Lot A's carpool section or B-Valet. The carpool section in Lot A is a no-tailgate zone, full stop.
• Violations carry real consequences. The stadium's published policy says violations can result in ejection, citation, arrest, and revocation of parking passes and season tickets without reimbursement.

For groups used to open-fire cooking in stadium lots elsewhere, this is a real planning adjustment at Empower Field. A charter bus from Aurora lets your group tailgate on the way out of town — all the pregame energy, none of the equipment questions — and arrive at Lot C or Gate 5 ready to walk straight in. Check the official Broncos tailgating page before your visit for current rules and any event-specific updates.

Getting Your Group to Empower Field at Mile High from Aurora

From most of Aurora, the standard game-day run is I-225 north to I-70 West, then I-25 South to Exit 210B (17th Avenue) or Exit 211 (Park Avenue West). Those are the two stadium-adjacent exits off I-25, and both funnel directly into the Empower Field parking approach on Mile High Stadium Circle. The off-peak drive from central Aurora to the stadium runs about 20 to 25 minutes.

On a Broncos game day — especially for a noon kickoff, a Sunday night game, or a Thursday night matchup — budget 60 to 90 minutes from Aurora and plan to arrive well before the lots open to their widest capacity.

Groups in south Aurora near Parker Road can alternatively take I-225 south to its I-25 interchange, then north on I-25 to Exit 210B — a shorter interstate hop if you're starting below Hampden Avenue. The other option from central Aurora is the 6th Avenue (SH 30) approach: I-225 to the SH 30 interchange, then 6th Avenue west into Denver toward I-25. That route tends to run cleaner before the I-70/I-25 interchange backs up, but it deposits you at the same I-25 corridor that everyone else is queuing through to Exit 210B.

The post-game exit is where game-day traffic is most brutal. The stadium's parking lots take 45 to 75 minutes to clear after the final whistle, with the heaviest backup hitting the 17th Avenue and Park Avenue West ramps. Fans who drove in have no choice but to wait it out — a charter bus from Aurora exits when the traffic pattern cooperates, not when you're done hunting for your car in Lot C.

For groups coming from the Gaylord Rockies or DIA corridor — east Aurora and the I-70/Pena area — the approach is I-70 West the whole way to I-25, then south to Exit 210B. That run is roughly 20 to 25 miles off-peak. On a sold-out Broncos game, game-day traffic builds on I-70 starting at Pena Boulevard, so an earlier departure helps.

The Gaylord Rockies bus rental guide covers that side of Aurora if your group is staying or hosting out there.

Public Transit to Empower Field from Aurora

RTD's E and W light rail lines serve the stadium directly — the Empower Field at Mile High Station sits adjacent to the venue at Fourth and Walnut Streets, and the trip from Union Station downtown takes about four minutes, per the RTD website. The stadium also has the Decatur-Federal Station to the south, served by the W line. For individual fans coming from downtown Denver, this is the cleanest non-driving option.

Note that Auraria West Station often closes during major events for crowd management, so check RTD schedules before you go.

From Aurora specifically, the RTD picture is more complicated. The R line runs through central Aurora (University of Colorado Hospital area and east Aurora) but does not go directly to Empower Field — you'd need to transfer to the A line at Peoria Station, ride to Union Station, then connect to the E or W line for the final four minutes to the stadium. That's multiple transfers and a trip that can take 45 to 60 minutes from Aurora's R line stations, subject to train frequency and transfer timing.

RTD's BroncosRide gameday express service — which once provided direct connections from suburban park-and-ride lots — was permanently cancelled in 2021 due to an operator shortage, per Greater Denver Transit, and has not been reinstated.

For an individual fan, the transfer chain on RTD works. For a group of 20 or 30 people trying to stay together, light rail becomes a coordination problem — everyone needs their own fare, trains fill up fast on game days, and there's no guarantee the group arrives in the same car, let alone at the same time. A 30-passenger party bus from Aurora solves the transit puzzle in one step: everyone boards together in Aurora, everyone arrives at Gate 5 together, and everyone heads home together when the game is over.

For group travel, the Aurora airport transportation page has additional context if your group is connecting from DEN.

Transportation to Empower Field at Mile High: Every Option Compared

This is a bus comparison site, but let's be straight with you: a private bus is not the right call for every group. Here is an honest look at all the ways a group gets to Empower Field on Broncos game day, scored on what actually matters:

For one or two people coming from Aurora, RTD light rail with a transfer or a single rideshare is usually the simpler, cheaper call. But the moment your group grows past a few cars' worth of people — scattered pickups, separate lot passes, the post-game Ball Arena walk, and the 75-minute lot-clearing crawl back to Aurora — the case for one bus gets hard to argue against. The rest of this guide is written for that group.

What Size Charter Bus or Party Bus Does Your Group Need?

No two Broncos fan groups are the same size, which is why Partybusaurora.net connects you to a wide range of vehicle types so your group rides comfortable without paying for seats you don't need. Here's how the lineup breaks down for an Empower Field run:

For fan groups wanting the rolling pregame experience — music, LED lighting, and room to stand — a 25- to 50-passenger party bus is the right pick. For groups with a lot of people that just need comfortable, efficient transport from Aurora to the NE corner of Empower Field and back, a minibus or full charter bus gets everyone there in reclining seats with overhead storage. ADA-accessible vehicles are available through the network — note it in your quote request at least 48 hours before your departure date.

Charter Bus and Party Bus Rental Prices for Empower Field at Mile High

Partybusaurora.net shows quotes in under 30 seconds online — you see pricing before you ever commit to anything. There's no single sticker rate for an Empower Field run because a few factors shape every quote:

• Vehicle size — a 56-passenger charter bus and a 14-passenger Sprinter limo are different rates.
• Total hours — how long the vehicle is dedicated to your group, including time in the parking lot and the post-game wait.
• Date and event — a regular-season Sunday afternoon prices differently than a Sunday Night Football or Christmas Day game, when Aurora-to-Denver demand runs higher.
• Mileage and route — pickups from east Aurora near Southlands are a longer run than pickups from central Aurora near I-225 and Colfax.

To give you an idea of what planning ranges look like: a 30-passenger party bus typically runs $325 to $425 per hour on weekends; a 40-56 passenger charter bus runs $200 to $350 per hour on both weekdays and weekends. A 7-hour Broncos game day rental — pickup at 10 AM, at the stadium by noon, post-game wrap around 5 PM — on a 40-passenger party bus might run roughly $2,300 to $3,500 total. Split across 40 people, that's $58 to $87 per person.

A Lot C parking pass alone is $55 per car — for a car with four people, that's $14 per person just for parking, plus gas, plus the designated-driver problem, plus 75 minutes stuck in the post-game I-25 backup. The per-person math on the bus often surprises groups when they do it out loud. These are planning ranges to give you an idea — the real price moves with your date, vehicle, and hours.

Fill out the quick quote form or call 303-214-4282 and you could have your specific pricing in under a minute. For more context, see the Aurora party bus prices page.

Gate Hours, Clear Bags, and Stadium Policies at Empower Field

A few things every group should know before arriving at Empower Field on game day, straight from the official fan guide:

• General gates open two hours before kickoff. The stadium recommends arriving at gates no later than one hour before the event start time, so security screening doesn't create a time crunch.
• Clear bag policy: Each ticketholder may bring one clear plastic bag no larger than 12" × 6" × 12" (or a one-gallon ziplock) plus one small clutch or wristlet no larger than 4.5" × 6.5". Fanny packs and backpacks are not permitted unless they are fully clear. Non-clear bags larger than 4.5" × 6.5" are turned away at the gate.
• No stainless steel water bottles, glass bottles, or cans. No outside coolers, no outside alcohol. Factory-sealed plastic water bottles are allowed.
• Metal detectors at all gates. Build in extra time for security lines, especially for a sold-out Sunday game or primetime matchup.
• Altitude is real. At 5,280 feet, the air is noticeably thinner than sea level — out-of-town groups and visitors from lower elevations often feel it more than they expect, especially later in the season when cold air compounds the effect. Dress in layers; the stadium is open air.

Big Games at Empower Field at Mile High in 2026

The 2026 Broncos home slate features several games that will hit Aurora-to-stadium transportation hard — these are the dates worth locking in early. The schedule includes a Sunday Night Football matchup with the Los Angeles Rams in Week 3, a Thursday Night Football game against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 6, a Week 8 game against the Kansas City Chiefs, and a Christmas Day home game, per the Broncos' 2026 home slate announcement. Primetime games and holiday matchups push Aurora bus rental demand up sharply — the right-size vehicles for a Chiefs game or a Christmas Day game go first.

The same one or two weeks' lead time that works for a mid-October regular game won't cut it for any of those dates.

Beyond the NFL schedule, Empower Field hosts major concerts at a capacity that can exceed 85,000 — the stadium's record is 85,233, set at an Ed Sheeran concert in 2023. Stadium-scale concert traffic on I-225 and I-25 rivals Broncos game day, sometimes more so because the outbound exodus from a concert hits the highway all at once. A party bus or charter bus rental to Empower Field for a concert locks in your return as a coordinated pickup, not a surge-priced scramble.

For Aurora concert transportation more broadly, the Aurora concert bus rental page covers the full event range.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly does a charter bus drop off at Empower Field at Mile High?

The official rideshare and charter bus drop-off zone is at the NE corner of the stadium near Gate 5 on Mile High Stadium Circle, per the stadium's published gameday parking page. That puts your group steps from the main entrance — not at a remote lot. Groups with a charter bus should contact the stadium at 720-258-3000 or PARKING@BRONCOS.NFL.NET before game day to confirm the current approach and staging area for their specific event, since lot assignments can shift by game.

Can we grill at a Broncos tailgate at Empower Field?

The official policy bans open-flame fires, glass bottles, and kegs in the parking lots, per the official Broncos tailgating page, but doesn't specifically address charcoal or propane grills — call the stadium at 720-258-3000 to confirm before you go. Either way, the open-flame rule is stricter than what most first-timers expect from other NFL venues. All tailgate setups must also break down 45 minutes before kickoff.

Where do rideshares pick up after the Broncos game?

Post-game rideshare pickup moves to the Ball Arena Rideshare Lot at the corner of 5th and Walnut Street — approximately a 15-minute walk east of Empower Field's gates. On a cold October night after a three-hour game, that walk is longer than it sounds. A private bus stages near the stadium and is ready when your group walks out — no post-game walk required.

How much does parking cost at Empower Field at Mile High?

Game-day on-site parking runs $55 per space in Lot C (early tailgating, first-come first-served) and $45 in Lot A's carpool section for vehicles with four or more passengers. ADA lots run $35 (Lot L) or $40 (Lots D or G). Everything is cashless.

Pre-purchased permits sell out before game day for most Broncos matchups. Offsite independent lots near the stadium area run $15 to $25 in some garages.

How early do Empower Field parking lots open?

Lot C opens six hours before kickoff and typically sells out within 30 to 60 minutes of opening — meaning fans arrive five to six hours early to secure a tailgate space. All other lots open 4.5 hours before kickoff. Stadium gates open two hours before kickoff.

What's the bag policy at Empower Field at Mile High?

Each ticketholder may carry one clear bag up to 12" × 6" × 12" plus one non-clear clutch no larger than 4.5" × 6.5". Backpacks, fanny packs, and non-clear bags larger than the clutch size are prohibited unless they are fully clear. The policy applies to all ticketholders including children.

Contact the stadium at least two business days before the event if you have a question about a specific item.

Can the bus wait during the game and pick us up afterward?

Yes. Charter bus and party bus rentals are booked as a block of hours, so the vehicle can stage nearby during the game and be ready at an agreed pickup spot when the game ends. You set that pickup window and location in advance so there's no post-game coordination scramble.

This is what eliminates the Ball Arena rideshare walk and the 75-minute lot-clearing wait.

What is the best route from Aurora to Empower Field on game day?

From most of Aurora: I-225 north to I-70 West, then I-25 South to Exit 210B (17th Avenue) or Exit 211 (Park Avenue West). From south Aurora near Parker Road, I-225 south to I-25 and then north to Exit 210B is also efficient. Allow 60 to 90 minutes from Aurora on game days — I-25 southbound backs up starting 90 minutes before kickoff for large games, and the post-game exit from the lots takes 45 to 75 minutes.

On a bus, the approach and exit timing are handled without your group behind the wheel.

How far in advance should a group book a bus from Aurora to Empower Field?

For regular-season Sunday afternoon games, two to four weeks of lead time is workable — but the right-size vehicles go fast. For primetime games (Sunday Night Football, Thursday Night Football), divisional matchups against the Chiefs, and the Christmas Day game on the 2026 schedule, book as early as your date is confirmed. Waiting a week out for an SNF or holiday game is a reliable way to find the vehicle you want already booked.

Call 303-214-4282 right now to lock in your date.

Is there a public bus to Empower Field from Aurora?

RTD's R line runs through Aurora but requires two transfers (to the A line at Peoria, then to the E or W line at Union Station) to reach the Empower Field at Mile High Station. The trip can take 45 to 60 minutes from Aurora's R line stops. The BroncosRide dedicated gameday express was permanently cancelled in 2021.

For individual fans, the transfer chain works. For a group trying to stay together, it's complicated and impractical — a single charter bus or party bus from Aurora is easier.

Book Your Charter Bus or Party Bus to Empower Field at Mile High Today

The right bus for your Broncos game day is a quick form or a single call away. Whether it's a 14-passenger Sprinter limo for a suite group heading up from central Aurora, a 40-passenger party bus for a fan group that wants the full pregame experience from I-225 to Gate 5, or a 56-passenger charter bus for a company outing that needs undercarriage bays and an onboard restroom for the long ride back — Partybusaurora.net makes it easy to compare options and find what fits your group and your date. No account required, no obligation, pricing in under 30 seconds online or over the phone.

Primetime games and the Christmas Day matchup on the 2026 schedule will go fast — the vehicles that fit a 40-person Broncos group don't sit available through the week of the game. Lock in your date before the lot does. Call 303-214-4282 any time for a free price quote, or use the online tool to see availability right now.

Also heading to a Nuggets or Avalanche game downtown? The Ball Arena bus rental guide covers that trip in the same detail — same I-225 approach, different drop-off.