Your stay — Motel 9
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Denver.
The Property — Motel 9
Motel 9 sits on a busy commercial strip near I-70, a classic two-storey motor inn with exterior corridors and a modest outdoor pool. The lobby feels like a functional pit stop: vending machines, a small front desk, and the faint smell of coffee. It’s a decent budget base for travellers who just need a clean room and quick highway access, not charm or amenities.
Chronicles of Denver
Denver was founded in 1858 during the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush, quickly becoming a supply hub for miners. The 20th century brought a shift from mining to energy, aerospace, and government, shaping its wide-grid downtown with Beaux-Arts buildings and modernist towers. Today, Denver is known for its high-altitude brewery scene, a lively arts district, and as the gateway to the Rocky Mountains, with a growing tech sector that has pushed up housing costs.
Best Time to Visit
Full Denver guide →Best months
June and September offer the best weather—warm, low rain—and fewer crowds than July. The mountains are accessible without summer holiday traffic.
Peak / festival surge
July is the peak month, driven by Independence Day celebrations and summer festivals like the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival (July 25-26, 2026). Hotel prices spike 30-50% above shoulder rates; demand is also high for Red Rocks concerts.
Budget shoulder season
May and October are the best shoulder months: mild weather, significant hotel discounts (often 20-30% off peak), and fewer tourists. October also brings the Great American Beer Festival.
Weather & packing
Denver’s summer weather is notorious for sudden afternoon thunderstorms with hail. Pack a waterproof jacket and clothes you can layer over t-shirts—the morning can be cool, the afternoon hot, and the evening chilly.
Live City Briefing — Denver
- The I-70 Floyd Hill project continues in 2026, with overnight lane closures between exit 243 and 245 for widening work; plan extra time driving to or from the airport.
- Denver’s new airport train station opened in 2024, but the Regional Transportation District (RTD) still operates reduced weekend frequency on the A Line—check the schedule before trusting the transit connection.
- The city’s long-running housing crisis means construction sites dot downtown, and noise from new apartment towers near Union Station may be constant during your stay.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Motel 9, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room at the back of the motel, facing away from East Colfax Avenue. Upper floor (if there is one) for less street-level noise. Side rooms away from the office entrance are preferable.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid any room directly facing East Colfax Avenue — it's a major arterial road with heavy traffic noise all day and night. Also avoid ground-floor rooms near the office or parking lot entrance, which take footfall and car noise.
Best views
View is limited — you're on a commercial strip. The best outlook is onto the parking lot or side yard (if quieter), not the main road.
Quietest floors
First floor is the only floor available; the motel is single-storey. Request a room at the far end from the office/entrance.
🔊 Noise notes
East Colfax Avenue is a major urban corridor with constant traffic, buses, and emergency vehicles. Expect road noise, especially at front-facing rooms. Occasional late-night activity from nearby shops and fast-food outlets.
Insider tips
1. Park at the back of the lot, nearer the motel's rear rooms — quieter and less passing traffic. 2. Check in after 6pm if possible: front-office traffic settles and street noise drops slightly after rush hour.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Motel 9
Free Wi-Fi with 10 Mbps download; no login required—open SSID 'Motel9-Guest'
No lift; two-storey motel with exterior staircases only (no interior elevator)
Complimentary USA Today copies at front desk each morning (limited quantity); no digital newsstand
3pm-11pm standard; early bag-drop available from 11am at front desk; late check-out charged $20 until 1pm (after 1pm full night rate)
Free storage behind front desk after check-out until 10pm same day
Ground floor rooms accessible via no-step entry from parking lot; no grab bars in standard bathrooms (call ahead for ADA room availability); no Braille signage
Free on-site parking (uncovered, first-come first-served); no valet; no EV charging; nearest public garage at 9100 E Colfax (Denver Health lot) costs $15/night
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: Denver lodging tax of 15.75% (incl. city & state sales taxes plus a 2% tourism improvement district fee) applies to the room rate
Deposit & card hold: First night's room + tax charged at booking; a $50 incidental hold on credit card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Greater Union Baptist Church (691 m · ~9 min walk)
- Church: Boston Street Seventh Day Adventist Church (869 m · ~11 min walk)
- Church: Hangar 61 - Stapleton Fellowship Church (1.2 km · ~15 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Stanley Marketplace — 2.1 km · ~26 min walk
Verbena Park — 1.0 km · ~13 min walk
Vintage Theater — 1.3 km · ~17 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Wells Fargo — 476 m · ~6 min walk
Best High Dispensary — 1.7 km · ~21 min walk
Family Asia Market — 156 m · ~2 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →United States dollar, USD
Travelers can exchange currency at banks, currency exchange offices, or use ATMs. Airport bureaux often have poor exchange rates, so it's best to exchange at banks or use ATMs with your debit/credit card.
Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in the area, with many businesses also accepting contactless payments and mobile payments like Apple Pay.
Tipping is customary in the US, with 15-20% expected in restaurants and bars, and $1-2 per bag for taxi drivers.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Gas stations and convenience stores like 7-Eleven often have affordable coffee options for around $1-2.
Fast food chains like McDonald's and Subway offer affordable lunch options for around $5-7.
Mexican restaurants like El Taco Loco offer affordable dinner options for around $10-12 for a main course.
The area around 28th Avenue and Colorado Boulevard has a variety of food trucks and street vendors offering affordable eats.
King Soopers and Safeway are popular supermarket chains in the area.
Thrift stores like Goodwill and Salvation Army offer affordable high-street shopping options.
A daily RTD bus pass costs around $4.50, and the airport shuttle bus costs around $10 one way.
Take advantage of happy hour deals at local bars and restaurants to save on food and drinks.Consider buying snacks and water at convenience stores instead of touristy areas.Use public transportation or walk/bike whenever possible to save on transportation costs.
Good to know — Denver
Type A/B · 120V
safe
USD ($)
Emergency Contacts
DenverWhere to Eat
Book a table →💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Denver, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Motel 9
🕒 Check-in is from 15:00. Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Wells Fargo — 476 m · ~6 min walk — pharmacy · Best High Dispensary — 1.7 km · ~21 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Denver International Airport (DEN) → Downtown Denver (16th St Mall Station)
💡 Best value and speed. Walk 5 minutes from 16th St station to The Oxford Hotel. Modern, reliable, skip traffic congestion entirely.
Denver International Airport (DEN) → The Oxford Hotel, Downtown Denver
💡 Most budget-friendly airport transfer. Buy RTD pass at airport for multiple rides. SkyRide Express runs directly to downtown transit center near hotel.
The Oxford Hotel, Downtown Denver → Around Denver (local transit)
💡 Downtown Denver has free MallRide on 16th Street. Buy Day Pass ($15) for unlimited transit. Hotel is walking distance to most attractions in LoDo and downtown.
Denver International Airport (DEN) → The Oxford Hotel, Downtown Denver
💡 Uber/Lyft often cheaper than traditional taxis. Airport has dedicated rideshare pickup on Level 5. Downtown location means short rides cost less.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Motel 9?
Request a room at the back of the motel, facing away from East Colfax Avenue. Upper floor (if there is one) for less street-level noise. Side rooms away from the office entrance are preferable.
Which rooms should I avoid at Motel 9?
Avoid any room directly facing East Colfax Avenue — it's a major arterial road with heavy traffic noise all day and night. Also avoid ground-floor rooms near the office or parking lot entrance, which take footfall and car noise.
Is Motel 9 noisy?
East Colfax Avenue is a major urban corridor with constant traffic, buses, and emergency vehicles. Expect road noise, especially at front-facing rooms. Occasional late-night activity from nearby shops and fast-food outlets.
Which rooms have the best views at Motel 9?
View is limited — you're on a commercial strip. The best outlook is onto the parking lot or side yard (if quieter), not the main road.
What are insider tips for staying at Motel 9?
1. Park at the back of the lot, nearer the motel's rear rooms — quieter and less passing traffic. 2. Check in after 6pm if possible: front-office traffic settles and street noise drops slightly after rush hour.
What time is check-in at Motel 9?
Check-in at Motel 9 is from 15:00. Check-out is by 11:00.
Does Motel 9 have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi with 10 Mbps download; no login required—open SSID 'Motel9-Guest'
Is there a city or tourist tax at Motel 9?
Denver lodging tax of 15.75% (incl. city & state sales taxes plus a 2% tourism improvement district fee) applies to the room rate
Where can I eat cheaply near Motel 9?
Fast food chains like McDonald's and Subway offer affordable lunch options for around $5-7.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Motel 9?
A daily RTD bus pass costs around $4.50, and the airport shuttle bus costs around $10 one way.
When is the best time to visit Denver?
June and September offer the best weather—warm, low rain—and fewer crowds than July. The mountains are accessible without summer holiday traffic.
Top Attractions in Denver
💡 The Venetian-style 'Seat of the Gods' bench offers a good photo op with the Capitol dome. Avoid the north edge after dark—the park's less busy then.
💡 Tours run hourly but book quickly; arrive before 10am or go midweek. Don't miss the free visitor gallery access when the legislature is in session (Jan–May)—you can watch debates from the balcony.
💡 Grab a coffee at the on-site shop and sit in the Great Hall's leather chairs—cheaper than the attached hotel lobby. The best light for photos is late afternoon through the south windows.
💡 Park near the sailboat pond for a quiet picnic; the east side near the golf course is quieter. Free yoga sessions often happen at the pavilion on summer Sundays.
💡 Arrive early on free days; queues build quickly. The Hamilton Building's tilted walls can disorient—stick to the central stairs if you feel woozy.