Recommendations for a GA airport in Denver

[hubcap]

I have to go to Denver in January for a trade show. The show's location is actually near KDEN. I would prefer a good alternative. 

I am unfamiliar with KCFO, is that a decent option? Need some recommendations from the brain trust.

[FoxMike]

CFO is less busy than the other airports around Denver mostly training traffic not much jet traffic.  Coming from the east watch for the tall towers.  Call an inquire about hangar space as January can be a snowy, frosty month.  CFO is close to Den but a closed road causes a big detour. Perpendicular runways often helpful on windy days.

[midlifeflyer]

My information is old - I moved away from there 13 years ago.

In terms of distance, if your location is near DEN, like the hotel parks just southwest of the airport, KCFO is closest, but I'm not sure of the availability of services like car rental or Uber. It's also the most rural so January weather could be a consideration.

Next closest is probably KAPA where I was based for 20 years. If I was flying there, it would still be my first choice.  Definitely busy (one of the 25 or so busiest airports in the US), but that also means plenty of options for services.

[hubcap]

36 minutes ago, midlifeflyer said:

My information is old - I moved away from there 13 years ago.

In terms of distance, if your location is near DEN, like the hotel parks just southwest of the airport, KCFO is closest, but I'm not sure of the availability of services like car rental or Uber. It's also the most rural so January weather could be a consideration.

Next closest is probably KAPA where I was based for 20 years. If I was flying there, it would still be my first choice.  Definitely busy (one of the 25 or so busiest airports in the US), but that also means plenty of options for services.

Which FBO would be your choice at KAPA?

[midlifeflyer]

1 hour ago, hubcap said:

Which FBO would be your choice at KAPA?

Hard to say. There have been changes since I left. TAC Air would have been my recommendation, but they were bought up by Signature bought them.  Signature is Signature - great service, but costly. Jet Center has been there forever and they are good people. Modern Aviation wasn't there at all and I don't know anything about them.  You might want to look at the roads; access to the south ramp (south of the crosswind runway) is very different than from the north side of the airport. North side has ore local options. 

Just because of personal familiarity, I'd choose JetCenter. And with a lot of GA jet traffic, I'd avoid Signature. But Id also be checking services and reviews, especially they new folks if the south side works for you.

Edited September 26 by midlifeflyer

[N201MKTurbo]

I did Jet Center a few years ago. They were very reasonable.

[Bartman]

We flew into Centennial in June and I think we used Signature.  Believe it or not, they had the cheapest fuel on the field, but honestly I've never wasted my time fretting about fuel prices at a destination airport.  We saw a concert at the Red Rocks and it exceeded my expectation, and had a great experience in Golden, Morrison, Colorodo Springs, and Pikes Peak. 

I would use APA and Signature again.

[N201MKTurbo]

15 minutes ago, Bartman said:

We flew into Centennial in June and I think we used Signature.  Believe it or not, they had the cheapest fuel on the field, but honestly I've never wasted my time fretting about fuel prices at a destination airport.  We saw a concert at the Red Rocks and it exceeded my expectation, and had a great experience in Golden, Morrison, Colorodo Springs, and Pikes Peak. 

I would use APA and Signature again.

Why didn’t you go to metro or Boulder?

 

[Bartman]

1 minute ago, N201MKTurbo said:

Why didn’t you go to metro or Boulder?

 

We wanted to go to Centennial.  It's a bigger airport, and yes, it's more expensive and stressful, but I enjoy the experience.

Reminded me of flying into Midway.  Making memories.

[Flash]

I flew into APA a month ago. Didn't use any services, as I was just handing off a passenger for the next leg of an AngelFlight, so I can't provide any feedback on FBOs. I can say it was busy, which meant a wait for takeoff. OTOH, landing was straight-in without a delay. Controllers were good. 

[N201MKTurbo]

Here is some serious thread creep. I landed at Boulder once and there were low clouds when I wanted to leave. They wouldn’t give me a clearance because they said they had to have VFR conditions at Metro before they could give me a clearance. Anyway, I did a scud run to the south and the sky’s opened up about 20 miles south like I expected. 
 

So It got me wondering if class D or E airspace goes down to the surface of the airport, or to the surface of the terrain around the airport. Metro is on a hill. If you fly below the elevation of the airport, are you in the airspace? 

[PeteMc]

Last time we were in the DEN area we went into Rocky Mountain Metro (BJC).  Don't remember the fuel prices, but the people were friendly and helpful.

 

[exM20K]

We used KCFO last month. It was quite satisfactory. Easy in and easy out, but be prepared for a long taxi.  I flew in five or six years ago for an event at the Gaylord, back when the airport was called front range, and if that is the area to which you are headed, it is probably the best choice. The FBO handles enterprise rental cars without any stress, and the self service fuel is cheap relative to Jeffco and Centennial.

-dan

[Hank]

2 hours ago, Bartman said:

I would use APA and Signature again.

Check the prices, and join the Signature group for fuel discount. I just stayed at Signature in NC--overnight was $50 last December, now it's $100/night "due to the size of your airplane." Since when is an M20-C big?????

[Pinecone]

On 9/27/2025 at 12:04 AM, Hank said:

Check the prices, and join the Signature group for fuel discount. 

What Signature group for fuel discounts?   I only see for Jet A burners.

[Pinecone]

I went into KBJC and used Signature.  Service was great, charges were reasonable.

It was closest to my friend's place.  I got a great tour of downtown at a pretty low altitude coming up from Mineral Wells, TX.

[Hank]

19 minutes ago, Pinecone said:

What Signature group for fuel discounts?   I only see for Jet A burners.

This one. Saved me over $70 on fuel from KTPA to KFAY, ~ 30 gallons or so.

https://www.signatureaviation.com/programs/signature-tailwins/

No idea why overnight fees are $100! At least we got my mother in law moved out of there, so only going back to clean out the house. Already looking into alternative fields . . . .

[Pinecone]

Thanks.  Did you go this through loyalty points?

[Niko182]

I currently live in denver. I fly out of platte valley slightly up north but in your case would probably use APA or BJC. biggest factor on that would be where you plan on staying. Traffic during rush hour is pretty nasty coming up from APA, so I think when and where you plan on going plays a pretty big factor. You can also fly into DIA. when I flew into KDEN, it was cheaper than I expected.

[Hank]

7 hours ago, Pinecone said:

Thanks.  Did you go this through loyalty points?

The girl at the desk asked if I was a member when saying for fuel heading to Tampa, so I made sure to join before going back afterwards. No discount on parking, though.