Denver Union Station Hotels for the Winter Park Express
Stay near the 7 a.m. Winter Park Express departure rather than trying to make a risky morning transfer from the airport.
Last reviewed November 2026 · Updated for the 2026–27 season · Verify before traveling
Illustrative image
A hotel by Denver Union Station can turn the Winter Park Express into a straightforward day on the slopes. The train has a scheduled early departure on its published 2026–27 operating dates, and staying close means less uncertainty about road traffic or a long morning transfer. But a downtown hotel isn't a ski lodge; you'll still bring your equipment or rent near the resort.
Union Station is also the arrival point for RTD's A Line from Denver Airport. For visitors landing the evening before skiing, downtown lodging can combine a simple airport rail arrival with a morning ski train. Verify actual baggage handling, station access and hotel checkout arrangements, especially if you're returning to Denver the same night.
How we choose hotels: We compare actual locations and access using official hotel and resort sources, not pretend room inspections or fabricated guest ratings. We don't publish live room prices or claim a property is available without checking your dates. The booking map below comes from Stay22, a third-party service.
Inside Union Station
The Crawford Hotel
Near the station
Limelight Denver
Historic LoDo option
The Oxford Hotel
Hotels & places to stay
Compare lodging near Union Station
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Hotels worth comparing
The Crawford Hotel — two property images from the hotel operator's official website. Rights retained by the original owner. Room configuration and appearance may differ from your booking.
Inside Denver Union Station
The Crawford Hotel
Best fit: Travelers who prioritize the shortest walk to the ski-train departure point.
The property's official site identifies it as the hotel within Denver Union Station itself—an exceptionally convenient position for train-oriented stays.
Tradeoff: It's a boutique hotel integrated into a bustling downtown landmark rather than a mountain lodge. Check the room and noise preferences for your group.
Verify before paying: Confirm exact entry and boarding instructions, room category, parking if bringing a car, and luggage storage policy.
Getting to the ski area and official source
Inside the station served by the A Line and the Winter Park Express.
Limelight Denver — property image from the hotel operator's official website. Rights retained by the original owner. Room configuration and appearance may differ from your booking.
1600 Wewatta Street by Union Station
Limelight Denver
Best fit: Visitors who want a contemporary downtown hotel close to rail and restaurants.
Limelight Denver describes itself as about a block from Union Station, with Lower Downtown attractions close by.
Tradeoff: This is a short walk outside rather than lodging inside the station, and the train still leaves early.
Verify before paying: Check current weather/walking route, late checkout or baggage storage, parking and room configuration.
Getting to the ski area and official source
Short walk to Union Station, then scheduled ski train or A Line airport rail.
The Oxford Hotel — two property images from the hotel operator's official website. Rights retained by the original owner. Room configuration and appearance may differ from your booking.
1600 17th Street, Lower Downtown
The Oxford Hotel
Best fit: Guests seeking historic hotel character in a walkable transit-oriented area.
The Oxford's official site places it one block from Union Station, with downtown dining and train access.
Tradeoff: Like Limelight, it is a walk to the station rather than directly on the platform; confirm return train hours and late-night hotel access.
Verify before paying: Check total price, any valet charges, luggage storage and walk to boarding area.
Getting to the ski area and official source
Near Union Station and the A Line; confirm the train platform before departure.
Hotel Indigo Denver Downtown-Union Station — property image from the hotel operator's official website. Rights retained by the original owner. Room configuration and appearance may differ from your booking.
Lower Downtown close to Union Station
Hotel Indigo Denver Downtown-Union Station
Best fit: Travelers seeking a contemporary hotel near the airport A Line and early ski-train boarding.
IHG positions Hotel Indigo within walking distance of Union Station, with a downtown location for arriving the evening before the Winter Park Express.
Tradeoff: It's not within the station itself. An icy early-morning walk and luggage still require a little preparation.
Verify before paying: Check current room layout, overnight parking, luggage storage, pet policy and exact walking route to the Amtrak boarding area.
Getting to the ski area and official source
Near Union Station, but not inside; confirm walk time and train platform before your early departure.
The Rally Hotel — property image from the hotel operator's official website. Rights retained by the original owner. Room configuration and appearance may differ from your booking.
McGregor Square near Coors Field and Union Station
The Rally Hotel
Best fit: Visitors who want restaurants, baseball-district atmosphere and train access.
The hotel's official FAQ states it is about two blocks from Denver Union Station, placing it within a short downtown walk for ski-train trips.
Tradeoff: McGregor Square is a busy event area, and this is not inside Union Station; assess noise, walking and return luggage logistics.
Verify before paying: Check room location, game or event dates, overnight parking, luggage handling and the walk to the boarding platform.
Getting to the ski area and official source
Downtown by McGregor Square, an approximately two-block walk from Union Station according to the hotel's FAQ.
This is a curated editorial shortlist, not an exhaustive inventory or a ranking by review scores. Property-specific images are referenced from official hotel websites for editorial identification and are credited with their sources; photo copyrights remain with their original owners. Room styles, amenities, rates and availability may vary by booking. No hotel paid for placement.
Where in Union Station should you stay?
The hotel name is only half the booking decision. First decide which ski lifts or transport you intend to use, then compare the address, room arrangement, parking, cancellation terms and how many additional connections you'll need with your gear. The right location often changes between a one-day ski train trip, a family lesson weekend, and several days of expert skiing.
Inside Union Station
Maximum convenience for a very early train, with the hotel integrated into the station building. Check room price and availability.
Adjacent LoDo blocks
A reasonable alternative if you want contemporary or historic lodging near rail without staying in the station itself.
Elsewhere in Denver
May offer other lodging choices, but you introduce another transfer at 6–7 a.m. and risk delays. Compare that inconvenience against any rate savings.
Historical destination photograph, 2018, by Chandler Heydon, CC BY-SA 4.0. The image may be cropped. It shows the area—not any hotel's current rooms, amenities, snow conditions or inventory.
A simple ski-trip lodging checklist
1
Lift or transit entrance
Find your actual hotel-to-lift or hotel-to-station route before booking.
2
Parking and overnight fees
Confirm the complete checkout price, resort fees and whether car storage is included.
3
Room configuration
Check bed counts, kitchens, accessibility, pet rules and whether rooms are individually managed.
4
Arrival and return
Match check-in, luggage storage and checkout to train, bus, shuttle or flight departure times.
Sample itinerary: how this lodging base works
This is a planning framework, not a promise of any specific transit or lift operating time. Check official schedules for your dates before paying a nonrefundable rate.
Evening arrival: take RTD's A Line from DEN to Union Station or use an appropriate city transfer.
Before bed: confirm the Winter Park Express ticket, departure and ski equipment arrangements.
Early morning: allow time to reach the correct platform and board with gear.
Return: confirm your hotel checkout and luggage arrangements if the train arrives after you have checked out.
Booking reminder: A short walk shown on a dry summer map can be different with boots, luggage, icy sidewalks and fresh snow. A room near a gondola may not be near your ski school; a room near a regional bus may not have a usable early departure. Use the map as a starting point, then verify the actual journey.
Frequently asked lodging questions
Can I stay near Denver Union Station and ski Winter Park in a day?
Yes on operating ski-train dates, if you book the Winter Park Express and valid lift access separately. The hotel and train do not automatically include each other.
Is The Crawford Hotel inside Union Station?
Yes, the hotel identifies itself as part of the Union Station building. Check hotel entrance and train-boarding access rather than assuming every platform entrance is through the lobby.
Is there a direct ski train from Denver Airport?
No. Take RTD's airport A Line to Union Station, then board the separately booked Winter Park Express on its operating days.
Primary sources and editorial standards
Hotel descriptions above are based on the properties' own information and official area transportation resources reviewed in November 2026. We haven't stayed in or inspected all these hotels. We do not use invented traveler reviews, hotel star ratings, or unverified seasonal room rates. The bookable inventory displayed by Stay22 providers is controlled by those providers, not Denver Ski Guide.
Some booking searches and the embedded map use affiliate tracking. We may earn a commission if a reservation qualifies, but we do not accept payment for positive hotel coverage. See our affiliate disclosure and privacy policy.
