Downtown Denver skyline from City Park with the Rocky Mountains behind. Flights from Kansas City to Denver

Route guide

Cheap Flights from Kansas City to Denver

Flights from Kansas City International to Denver International, with Southwest's nonstop pattern, where to enter security at MCI, and the train, taxis and shuttles at DEN.

MCI to DEN · 532 mi · 1h 47m est.

MCI to DEN
532 miles
1h 47m nonstop (estimated)
4 airlines in our fare results

Photo: David Herrera, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Kansas City to Denver flight insights

Average flight time

~1h 47m (estimated)

MCI → DEN

Cheapest cached price

$139

Checking live fares…

Prices shown may not be current. Last checked: Sep 6, 2026.

Planning a trip from Kansas City to Denver? The average flight time on this route is ~1h 47m (estimated). The lowest fare we recorded on this route recently was $139 (last checked Sep 6, 2026); today's live fare for your dates can differ.

Kansas City (MCI) and Denver (DEN) are about 532 miles apart in a straight line. Flight times vary by airline, direction and routing, so check the scheduled time shown with each result.

Kansas City to Denver at a glance

MCI to DEN is about 532 miles in a straight line. The curved line is an illustration; the route your airline flies may differ.

Route Quick Facts

Quick facts for flights from Kansas City to Denver on Eazair
Origin	Kansas City (MCI)
Destination	Denver (DEN)
Average Flight Time	~1h 47m (estimated)
Current Lowest Fare	$139
Fares Last Checked	Sep 6, 2026
Distance	532 miles (MCI to DEN)
Time in Denver	1 hour behind Kansas City
Airlines in our fare results	4

Local time in Denver is 1 hour behind Kansas City. Kansas City is on Central Time, Denver on Mountain Time.

Flight deals from Kansas City to Denver

Kansas City International (MCI), whose new single terminal opened in 2023 according to the City of Kansas City, is where these flights start, not Kansas City Downtown Airport, Wheeler Field (MKC). They land at Denver International (DEN). Southwest's Kansas City to Denver route page, checked 22 Oct 2026, says yes to nonstop service: 7 a day Monday through Friday, 5 on Saturdays and 7 on Sundays, and schedules change. Southwest, Delta, United and American have appeared in EazAir's partner search results for this route.

The City of Kansas City said on 10 Apr 2026 that most MCI travelers now enter security at one point near the middle of the check-in hall; CLEAR members use lanes at either end, the city says. Southwest lists gates B54, B56, B58, B60, B62 to B66 and B68, and says its counter opens 90 minutes before the first departure. American lists Concourse A and curbside check-in. RideKC lists Route 229 from East Village Transit Center, first weekday trip 5:49 a.m., last 9:47 p.m.

DEN lists Southwest and American at Concourse C, Delta at A and United at A and B, and says the train ride from Jeppesen Terminal to the C Gates takes less than 10 minutes. Taxis wait at Level 5, Island 1, and DEN says they are available 24 hours a day. DEN says the A Line stops at 61st & Peña, 40th & Airport and 38th & Blake before Union Station, and RTD requires an Airport Fare.

EazAir had no fare checks for Kansas City to Denver when this page was checked on 22 Oct 2026, so it cannot describe price movement. Delta, Southwest and American allow a carry-on on their lowest fares; United Basic Economy does not, except for some MileagePlus members and cardholders. DEN says the final phase of its Great Hall Program, due by the end of 2027, includes renovating airline check-in at the south end of Level 6. Search your own dates, and check the final price, bags and fare rules on the partner site before you pay.

Airports for Kansas City to Denver flights

Departure · Kansas City

Kansas City International (MCI)

Central Time

Arrival · Denver

Denver International (DEN)

Mountain Time

About Denver

Areas to know in Denver

LoDo (Lower Downtown)
RiNo Art District
Capitol Hill

Weather in Denver

A semi-arid climate with over 300 sunny days a year; the high altitude keeps evenings cool even in summer, and winter brings snow to the nearby mountains.

Kansas City to Denver: airport and fare guide

Airport details were checked on 17 Oct 2026 and route details on 22 Oct 2026, against the airport, airline and transit pages listed under Sources. Airports and airlines change these details, so confirm them with your airline before you fly.

Kansas City Downtown Airport, Wheeler Field (MKC) is a separate airport. The City of Kansas City says new facilities there are designed to serve business, government and general aviation users.

About this route

Southwest's route pages, checked 22 Oct 2026, list nonstop flights from Kansas City to Denver and from Denver to Kansas City.

Southwest's route pages, checked 22 Oct 2026, answer yes to nonstop flights from Kansas City to Denver and from Denver to Kansas City.
At Kansas City International, Southwest lists gates B54, B56, B58, B60, B62 to B66 and B68.
Southwest says its Kansas City ticket counter opens 90 minutes before the first departing flight.
At Denver, Southwest lists Concourse C, gates C23 to C37, C40 to C47, C49 and C51.
DEN's train to the gates links Concourse C with Jeppesen Terminal, and DEN says the ride to the C Gates takes less than 10 minutes.
For Concourse C, DEN says to take the main escalators or elevators down to the Level 4 train platform after security.
Colorado's State Capitol says Denver's official elevation is measured on its west steps, where the fifteenth step is marked One Mile Above Sea Level, at 5,280 feet.
Colorado's health department says altitude sickness symptoms usually appear within 6 to 24 hours of arrival, and suggests limiting alcohol and strenuous activity for the first 24 to 48 hours.
The City of Kansas City said on 10 Apr 2026 that MCI's reworked security line centralizes the entry point for most travelers, including TSA PreCheck, near the midpoint of the check-in hall.
These flights use Kansas City International (MCI), whose new terminal opened in 2023; Kansas City Downtown Airport, Wheeler Field (MKC) is a different airport with its own code.
Southwest says all bags at Denver must be checked 45 minutes before scheduled departure, and its Denver ticket counter opens 120 minutes before the first departing flight.
DEN says the final phase of its Great Hall Program includes renovating airline check-in on the south end of Level 6, with the program due to finish by the end of 2027.

Leaving from Kansas City International (MCI)

Airline	MCI concourse
American	Concourse A, according to American
Southwest	Gates B54, B56, B58, B60, B62 to B66 and B68, according to Southwest
Other airlines	Check your boarding pass or airline app.

RideKC Route 229 runs to the airport from East Village Transit Center and Boardwalk Square Transit Center. On weekdays, RideKC lists the first trip from East Village at 5:49 a.m. and the last at 9:47 p.m.
Rideshare drop-off at MCI is not covered here. Follow the airport signs.
The City of Kansas City said on 10 Apr 2026 that general boarding, TSA PreCheck, touchless ID and one of two ADA lanes now share one security entrance near the midpoint of the check-in hall.
CLEAR members enter at lanes on either end of the security queuing area, the city says.
TSA says travelers 18 and older need a REAL ID-compliant license or another accepted ID, such as a passport, to fly within the United States.

Arriving at Denver International (DEN)

Airline	DEN concourse
Delta	Concourse A
United	Concourses A and B
Southwest	Concourse C
American	Concourse C
Other airlines	Check your boarding pass or airline app.

DEN's airline page shows no update date, so confirm your concourse on your boarding pass.

DEN has three concourses, A, B and C, beyond security. The train to the gates links them with Jeppesen Terminal.
The train leaves from a platform on Level 4. DEN says the ride from the terminal to the C Gates takes less than 10 minutes.
With an A gate boarding pass you can walk the A-Bridge, directly north of the security checkpoints, instead of taking the train.
In Jeppesen Terminal, even-numbered doors are on the west side and odd-numbered doors are on the east side.

Getting from DEN	Where to board	Where it goes
RTD A Line	Transit Center on Level 1, beneath the Westin Denver International Hotel. DEN says trains run every 15 minutes. RTD says trips to or from the airport need an Airport Fare.	Union Station in downtown Denver, 37 minutes according to DEN, with stops at 61st & Peña, 40th & Airport and 38th & Blake.
Rideshare	Level 5, Island 5, on the East or West side of the terminal. DEN says to order your ride after collecting your luggage.	Wherever you booked.
Taxis	Level 5, Island 1. DEN says taxis are available 24 hours a day and you can go straight to the stands after baggage claim.	Your destination.
Mountain carriers	Level 5, Island 4.	The carrier's own routes.
Hotel and rental car shuttles	Hotel shuttles pick up on Level 5. A free rental car shuttle runs from the Jeppesen Terminal pickup area.	Hotels and the off-site rental car counters.

What the lowest fares include

Fare	Carry-on	Checked bag	Seat	Changes
Delta Main Basic	Delta says every passenger can bring one carry-on and one personal item free.	Delta charges for checked bags on domestic flights unless you qualify for a waiver, such as Medallion status or an eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express card.	Assigned after check-in. You may be able to buy a seat ahead of time for a fee.	Refunds are not allowed after the 24-hour risk-free cancellation window. Delta says a change or cancellation may be possible for a fee, with any value left as an eCredit.
American Basic Economy	Included, plus a personal item.	Not included, except for some AAdvantage status members and eligible cardmembers.	A free seat is assigned at check-in, or you can pay to choose one.	Generally not allowed. American describes a 24-hour window and some credit options on its Basic Economy page.
United Basic Economy	Not included on domestic flights. One personal item only, unless you are a MileagePlus Premier member, travel with one, or hold a qualifying MileagePlus card.	Not included; check United's bag fee calculator.	Assigned by United before boarding.	Changes may not be allowed. Refund if cancelled within 24 hours of booking, under United's 24-hour policy; after that, partial travel credit.
Southwest Basic	Southwest's policy allows one carry-on and one personal item.	Checked bag fees apply to Basic fares.	A free Standard seat is assigned at check-in. Preferred and Extra Legroom seats cost extra.	Only by upgrading to a Choice fare or higher. Cancelling at least 10 minutes before departure gives a flight credit, which for Basic expires 6 months from booking.

Based on the airlines' own pages, checked on 17 Oct 2026. Fees are left out because they change often. Check the final price, bags and fare rules on the partner site before you pay.

How EazAir measured fares on this route

When this guide was checked on 22 Oct 2026, EazAir had not stored any fare checks from Kansas City to Denver, so it cannot describe how prices have moved. The cheapest cached price near the top of this page comes from a separate partner fare lookup and shows its own last-checked date. For the return direction, Denver to Kansas City, EazAir's first 3 checks ran from 30 Sep to 19 Oct 2026. Search your own dates for current prices.

Sources

Southwest: Flights from Kansas City to Denver (no date shown, accessed 22 Oct 2026)
Southwest: Flights from Denver to Kansas City (no date shown, accessed 22 Oct 2026)
Southwest: Airport information, Kansas City (MCI) (no date shown, accessed 22 Oct 2026)
Southwest: Airport information, Denver (DEN) (no date shown, accessed 22 Oct 2026)
DEN: Facilities (no date shown, accessed 22 Oct 2026)
DEN: East security checkpoint opens (4 Aug 2025, accessed 22 Oct 2026)
Colorado State Capitol: History of the Capitol (no date shown, accessed 22 Oct 2026)
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment: Top 5 things to know, stay safe when visiting Colorado (no date shown, accessed 22 Oct 2026)
City of Kansas City: MCI security line layout changed (posted 04/10/2026, accessed 22 Oct 2026)
City of Kansas City: Economic study shows impact MCI has on the region (posted 02/02/2026, accessed 22 Oct 2026)
City of Kansas City: New development coming to MKC (posted 11/21/2025, accessed 22 Oct 2026)
DEN: Great Hall Program (no date shown, accessed 22 Oct 2026)
American Airlines: Kansas City, MO (MCI) (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
RideKC: 229 Boardwalk-KCI (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
TSA: REAL ID (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
DEN: Airlines (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
DEN: To and from the airport (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
RTD: Airport (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Delta: Delta Main Basic (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Delta: Fares and discounts (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Delta: Carry-on baggage (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Delta: Bags (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
American Airlines: Basic Economy (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
United: Basic Economy FAQ (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Southwest: Fare information (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Southwest: Assigned seating (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Southwest: Carry-on baggage policy (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Southwest: Fare types and benefits (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
EazAir fare checks for MCI to DEN: none stored as of 22 Oct 2026; DEN to MCI, 30 Sep 2026 to 19 Oct 2026

Frequently asked questions

Who flies nonstop from Kansas City to Denver?

Southwest's route pages, checked 22 Oct 2026, answer yes to nonstop flights from Kansas City to Denver and from Denver to Kansas City. Other results may connect, so check the stops shown before you choose.

How do I get from the Southwest gates in Denver to the main terminal?

Southwest lists Concourse C, gates C23 to C37, C40 to C47, C49 and C51. Take the train to the gates back to Jeppesen Terminal; DEN says the ride from the terminal to the C Gates takes less than 10 minutes.

Will the altitude in Denver affect me after flying in from Kansas City?

It can. Denver's official elevation is 5,280 feet, marked on the State Capitol's west steps. Colorado's health department says symptoms usually appear within 6 to 24 hours and suggests limiting alcohol and strenuous activity for the first 24 to 48 hours.

Where do I enter security in the new Kansas City terminal?

The city said on 10 Apr 2026 that general boarding, TSA PreCheck and touchless ID share one entrance near the midpoint of the check-in hall, with new signs showing where to enter. TSA says travelers 18 and older need a REAL ID-compliant license or another accepted ID, such as a passport.

Which Kansas City airport do these flights use?

Kansas City International (MCI), whose new terminal opened in 2023. Kansas City Downtown Airport, Wheeler Field (MKC) is a different airport with its own code, and the city says its new facilities are designed for business, government and general aviation users.

Do the lowest Kansas City to Denver fares include a carry-on?

Southwest Basic, Delta Main Basic and American Basic Economy each allow a carry-on and a personal item. United Basic Economy includes a personal item only on domestic flights, unless MileagePlus Premier status or a qualifying MileagePlus card applies.

Airline bag fees

Baggage allowances differ significantly between fare classes (Basic/Light vs. Standard/Flex) and can change over time. Always verify the exact allowance for your specific fare with the airline before you fly.

Checked bag fees from each airline's own website
Airline	Carry-on, basic economy	1st checked bag	2nd checked bag	Source
American Airlines	Included	$45	$55	aa.com, Sep 24, 2026
United Airlines	Not included	$40	$50	united.com, Sep 24, 2026
Delta Air Lines	Included	$45	$55	delta.com, Sep 24, 2026
JetBlue	Included	$45	$59	jetblue.com, Sep 24, 2026
Alaska Airlines	Included	$45	$55	alaskaair.com, Sep 24, 2026
Frontier Airlines	Not included	Varies	Varies	flyfrontier.com, Sep 24, 2026
Sun Country Airlines	Not included	Varies	Varies	suncountry.com, Sep 24, 2026

Domestic US fees per bag, each way, when paid online in advance. "Varies" means the airline prices bags by route and date.

Travel tips

Arrive early for domestic flights

TSA generally recommends arriving at least 2 hours before a domestic departure, more at larger hub airports during peak travel periods.

Pack a mixed carry-on

Keep a change of clothes, chargers, and any essentials in your carry-on rather than only your checked bag, in case of a delay or a bag that doesn't arrive with you.

Ease jet lag on longer routes

On longer cross-country flights, adjusting your sleep schedule a day or two before departure and staying hydrated in flight can reduce jet lag on arrival.

Screenshot your confirmation

Save a screenshot or PDF of your booking confirmation and boarding pass before you travel, in case you lose signal or battery at the airport.

Check in online when it opens

Most airlines open online check-in 24 hours before departure. Checking in early can help with seat selection and, on some airlines, boarding group assignment.