GDT > RTD Rider’s Guide > Fares
Your guide to RTD’s fares…
Often criticized as ‘too complicated’, this page explains RTD’s current fare structure which was introduced as a result of a fare study carried out in 2022.
An RTD fare is made up of the three parts; the destination, the type and the rate.
Fare Destinations
RTD
- Rail travel to / from any station except Denver Airport.
- All bus routes except travel to / from Denver Airport on SkyRide routes AB and AT.
- FlexRide service (MyRide cards not accepted).
Airport
- Rail travel to / from Denver Airport.
- Bus travel to / from Denver Airport on SkyRide routes AB and AT.
Fare Types
3 Hour Pass
- Sold instead of a single ticket and transfer.
- Unlimited trips that must start within a 3 hour window.
- 3 hour passes require an upgrade for trips to Denver Airport.
Day Pass
- Sold instead of a return ticket and transfer.
- Unlimited trips that must start within a day up to 2:59am the next morning.
- Day passes require an upgrade for trips to Denver Airport.
Monthly Pass
- Unlimited trips within a calendar month. For example, January.
- Must be bought in advance from the RTD MyRide app, online store or by visiting any RTD sales outlet or participating King Soopers or Safeway stores.
10 Ride Ticket Book
- 10 physical 3 hour ride tickets.
- Must be bought in advance from the RTD online store or by visiting any RTD sales outlet or participating King Soopers or Safeway stores.
- Tickets require an upgrade for trips to Denver Airport.
Fare Rates
Full Fare
- Regular adult fare.
Discount
- 50% discount off full fare.
- Seniors 65+.
- Individuals with disabilities.
- Medicare recipients.
- LiVe (income-based fare discount program) recipients. See if you qualify here.
- Proof of eligibility is required.
Youth
- Free fares until Aug 31st, 2024.
- Youth ages 6-19.
- Proof of eligibility is required.
Fare Prices
| Fare Type | Full Fare | Discount | Youth |
| 3 Hour Pass | $2.75 | $1.35 | Free |
| Day Pass | $5.50 | $2.70 | Free |
| Monthly Pass | $88.00 | $27.00 | Free |
| 10 Ride Ticket Book | $27.50 | $13.50 | Free |
| Airport Day Pass | $10.00 | – | Free |
Denver Airport
- All full fare trips to / from Denver Airport require an Airport Day Pass.
- All discount fares are valid to / from Denver Airport.
- If you hold a full fare 3 Hour Pass or a ticket from a 10 ride book, an ‘airport upgrade’ may be purchased from ticket vending machines for $7.25.
- If you hold a day pass, an ‘airport upgrade’ may be purchased from ticket vending machines for $4.50.
Free Youth Fares
- Ages 19 and under ride for free with a current school ID, valid government-issued ID, alien registration / permanent resident card, Military ID / dependent card with DOB, RTD-issued youth special discount card.
Children
- Up to three children (aged 0-5) can ride for free with a fare paying adult.
Active Military
- Active duty members of the U.S. military ride for free.
RTD’s New MyRide Fare Payment System
RTD is introduced a new fare payment system in September 2022. The system has replaced the MyRide cards issued before July 2022, which are now useless. Fares of all types can be bought in two ways:
- Using MyRide ‘Tap & Ride’. The balance can be topped up via the MyRide Website or the RTD MyRide app.
- Mobile tickets purchased with a credit / debit card using the MyRide Website or the RTD MyRide, Transit, Uber and Lyft apps.
MyRide tickets can be used in three ways:
- Using MyRide ‘Tap & Ride’ by scanning the account QR code in the RTD MyRide app on the ticket readers installed on buses and at train stations.
- Using MyRide ‘Tap & Ride’ by tapping a MyRide card on the ticket readers installed on buses and at train stations.
- Scanning a mobile ticket QR code in the RTD MyRide app on the ticket readers installed on buses and at train stations.
Fare Capping
Fare capping takes away the need for a rider to have to choose whether to buy a day or monthly pass up front as it always ensures they pay the lowest fares for a day or month’s travel. For example, a rider pays a $3 for a local 3 hour pass fare in the morning. If that rider pays another $3 to make a trip in the afternoon (at least 3 hours after the morning trip), the MyRide system will consider that a local day pass earned, worth $6. Any trips taken in the evening (at least 3 hours after the afternoon trip), would be free.
Additionally the MyRide system keeps a monthly running total. After 38 local trips, a monthly pass is earned meaning all local trips for the rest of the month would be free.
Finally, the MyRide system keeps regional fare daily & monthly running totals meaning that once $10.50 or $200 is spent on fares, a regional day or monthly pass is earned respectively.
To utilize fare capping, a rider must always use the same ‘token’, either a MyRide card or account QR code to pay for the trips each time they tap or scan.
Setting Up Your New RTD MyRide Ticketing Account
1. Have your existing MyRide account details handy.
2. If you haven’t already, download the RTD MyRide (formerly RTD Mobile Tickets) app and create an account. This will be your new MyRide account.
3. If you have a balance on your existing MyRide card, fill in the Transition Form to get it transferred to your new MyRide account.
2022 RTD Fare Study
Despite the last fare study being conducted in 2016, RTD continued to receive feedback that its fares are expensive and difficult to understand. Because of this, the agency carried out another fare study in 2022, this time from an equity standpoint with a much bigger emphasis on how fares affect disadvantaged and minority groups.