Denver International to Los Angeles International
861 miles great-circle distance, typically flown in 2h 08m with 6 airlines operating direct service from Denver International (DEN) to Los Angeles International (LAX). Cheapest fares are usually in Jun (around $90 return), with peak prices in Jun (around $90). Departures on a Tuesday tend to undercut weekend prices on this corridor.
Flying from Denver International
Denver International sits 25 miles northeast of downtown Denver — a deliberately remote site that allows for six runways and almost unlimited expansion. The A Line commuter train runs every 15 minutes from the airport directly to Union Station downtown in 37 minutes for $10.50. United dominates the schedule with its largest non-Newark hub; Southwest and Frontier add heavy domestic capacity. Snow disruption is common between November and March, but the airport's ground-stop policy is faster than ORD's.
Arriving in Los Angeles
Los Angeles International serves the broader LA basin from its central position near El Segundo, 18 miles southwest of downtown LA. Ground transfers depend on Metro K Line shuttle to Crenshaw, FlyAway buses to Union Station ($9.75) or rideshare via the LAX-it lot. Fares to LAX from US East Coast bases run cheapest in January–February and September–October; June through August see Pacific-summer demand peaks tied to Asia connection traffic.
Who flies DEN to LAX?
| Airline | IATA | Flight time | Cabin |
| United Airlines | UA | 2h 08m | Economy |
| Southwest Airlines | WN | 2h 08m | Economy |
| Frontier Airlines | F9 | 2h 08m | Economy |
| Spirit Airlines | NK | 2h 08m | Economy |
| American Airlines | AA | 2h 08m | Economy |
| Delta Air Lines | DL | 2h 08m | Economy |
6 carriers fly direct on this corridor. Frequencies vary by season — summer and winter holiday peaks see additional flights.
Best time to fly DEN→LAX
Synthesised from 12-month price aggregates. Cheapest months in green, peak in red.
Estimated baseline. Prices update on a 30-day cadence as Travelpayouts data refreshes. Cheapest day-of-week typically Tuesday.
Denver to Los Angeles FAQs
Direct flights from Denver International (DEN) to Los Angeles International (LAX) take approximately 2h 08m for the 861-mile journey, plus 30–60 minutes of taxi, climb and descent. Total airport-to-airport time depends on cruise winds and air-traffic queueing on approach.
Jun is typically the cheapest month on this route, with one-way fares from $68. Jun is the peak — expect prices 2–3× higher. Book 4–8 weeks ahead for best fares; last-minute prices on this corridor rise sharply inside two weeks of departure.
6 carriers operate direct service from Denver International (DEN) to Los Angeles International (LAX): United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Spirit Airlines, American Airlines and 1 more. Frequencies vary by season and carrier — United Airlines typically operates the highest weekly count on this corridor.
No — United States is domestic travel for US citizens. A US passport is not required for the 50 states, DC or US territories (Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands), though Real ID-compliant ID is required at TSA from May 2025.
Los Angeles International (LAX) is the primary international airport for Los Angeles. Allow 30–60 minutes for the ground transfer by train, express bus, taxi or rideshare depending on traffic and time of day. See the airport's official website for current train and shuttle timetables.