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Thread: Rental Cars and Toll Roads in Denver

  1. #1


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    Rental Cars and Toll Roads in Denver

    Along with Zee, I have been looking into a Black Hawk blackjack trip. However, in my case it probably will never happen as the airfare expense alone would pretty much kill any chance at a winning trip.

    However, I noticed a highhway called E470 that kind of swings around the main city. I thought this would be a good less crowded route until I discovered it is a toll road. You also don't pay any cash. It sends you a bill in the mail and if not paid in a few days a big fine.

    Now the last time I was ever on a toll road (except for Mackinac Bridge) was about 25 years ago down by Chicago. Cars would drive a few miles, then everybody slams on their brakes and throw a few coins in a bin and off they go 90 mph again. It kind of blew my mind having to pay to drive on a road.

    Anyway, I wish someone could tell me how this works with a rental car especially in the Denver area.
    Last edited by Midwest Player; 05-08-2019 at 08:55 PM.

  2. #2


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    If the toll is cashless, the rental car will pay the toll for you + $10 or so as administrative fee. So, $2 toll will be $12-15. Some people carry their own "transmitter" , not sure the right name is to pay the toll directly. Obviously if the toll booth accept cash, then you just pay it. Many toll roads now are cashless and these are common in most cities. I am amazed that your last toll road was $25 years ago. You are like a cave man. You need to get out more and spend some of that cash.

  3. #3


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    Several states have a connected pass. It's called different names in different states, but you go through a reader and your account is charged. Colorado calls it the Pike Pass, if I remember correctly. See if your state is one of the participating states.

  4. #4


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    I thought you were going to take trains and casino shuttles, no?

    I have an EZPass, which started out for tolls crossing NY/NJ bridges and tunnels, but then eventually expanded to cover most toll roads east of the Mississippi.

  5. #5


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    Quote Originally Posted by 21forme View Post
    I thought you were going to take trains and casino shuttles, no?
    Yes, I was looking into this. Seniors can ride for half fare I believe so $10.50 round trip on train and if you buy casino shuttle pass on internet cost would be $20 I think. So about $30 to get from airport to Black Hawk and back. My concern was the train drops you off in the middle of no where. No building or terminal. I had concerns about safety especially about hauling along a suit case with me. It is a way to reduce expenses by over a $100.

  6. #6


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    [QUOTE=Midwest Player;268601It is a way to reduce expenses by over a $100.[/QUOTE]

    And get robbed with lots cash on you..... i wouldn’t do it, even as a middle aged, still agile Asian man.

  7. #7


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    E470 uses ExpressToll. There is also a road called C470 (Note the letter difference) which is free. E470 stretches from the Airport to I25, and then it turns into C470 (Free to drive on) (E470 actually goes further north than that, but you'd have no reason to use it)
    If you were driving in from the east, you would take I70W to E470W, E470W to C470W (It's a seamless change, no getting off the road, but the speed limit drops down by 10MPH), and C470 to I70W, and take that all the way to Blackhawk.

    Or, you could save the money and just stay in I70W the whole time, it really isn't that big of a delay, traffic isn't too bad in Denver to be honest.
    If you're coming from the airport, you can also take Pena Blvd to I70, and avoid E470, it only adds several minutes to your drive.

    For what it's worth, here is the ExpressToll website. https://www.expresstoll.com/TollRates The rates are fairly reasonable. I've driven half of E470 (and back), and only paid around $15. Your rental car company would add the charge to your credit card.


    Regarding taking a train: From the airport, you would take the light rail all the way to Union Station, and from Union Station you would take whatever line you wanted to the nearest bus/shuttle station. I don't know how the busses and shuttles work to Blackhawk, but I see them frequently.

    You mentioned that the train drops you off in the middle of nowhere...If you're being dropped off at the Jefferson County Government Center Station, I wouldn't worry. The Colorado State Patrol has a large office right near that, and that whole area is pretty crime-free. If you're being dropped off at Union Station, you're in a very large building and terminal to get on the busses, with both RTD Police and Denver PD police patrolling.


    If you have any questions, let me know.

  8. #8


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    Quote Originally Posted by nighterfighter View Post
    You mentioned that the train drops you off in the middle of nowhere...If you're being dropped off at the Jefferson County Government Center Station, I wouldn't worry. The Colorado State Patrol has a large office right near that, and that whole area is pretty crime-free. If you're being dropped off at Union Station, you're in a very large building and terminal to get on the busses, with both RTD Police and Denver PD police patrolling.

    If you have any questions, let me know.
    Thanks for the good info nighterfighter. You catch the casino shuttle at the Federal Center Light Rail Station. I don't see Gate R on the map. I wouldn't want to have a long wait there with a 40 lb suitcase.
    http://www.casinoshuttle.com/schedul...er-station.asp

  9. #9


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    Quote Originally Posted by Midwest Player View Post
    Thanks for the good info nighterfighter. You catch the casino shuttle at the Federal Center Light Rail Station. I don't see Gate R on the map. I wouldn't want to have a long wait there with a 40 lb suitcase.
    http://www.casinoshuttle.com/schedul...er-station.asp
    You're welcome.

    It is not uncommon for people to be standing at these sort of stops with backpacks and the like, but a large suitcase might stand out. I will say that that area is a decent part of town. I personally wouldn't worry too much about being robbed, but that is a personal decision you have to make.

    I personally have not been to that location, and I do not see Gate R either.

    I can stop there tomorrow evening and find it for you, if you would like. I can take a photo and send it to you, if you'd like.

  10. #10


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    Quote Originally Posted by Midwest Player View Post
    I wouldn't want to have a long wait there with a 40 lb suitcase.
    40 lbs? You can leave your snow shovel at home! And you can put your suitcase down on the pavement.

    I've never been there, but that shouldn't be an isolated location. It's a big place and the Denver Federal Center has more Federal employees than anywhere else in the country except Wash DC.

  11. #11


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    Quote Originally Posted by nighterfighter View Post
    You're welcome.

    It is not uncommon for people to be standing at these sort of stops with backpacks and the like, but a large suitcase might stand out. I will say that that area is a decent part of town. I personally wouldn't worry too much about being robbed, but that is a personal decision you have to make.

    I personally have not been to that location, and I do not see Gate R either.

    I can stop there tomorrow evening and find it for you, if you would like. I can take a photo and send it to you, if you'd like.
    No need to go out of you way to get a picture of the place. There are quite a few pictures on the internet. Nothing close by except parking lots. It is a pretty open area.
    Last edited by Midwest Player; 05-11-2019 at 09:49 PM.

  12. #12


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    Quote Originally Posted by Midwest Player View Post
    No need to go out of you way to get a picture of the place. There are quite a few pictures on the internet. Nothing close by except parking lots. It is a pretty open area.
    It wasn't too far out of my way, I had to swing by my bank who is right near there.

    I swung by and looked at the area. For what it's worth, I did find Terminal R, it is in the corner closest to the parking lot, at the end. There are clear signs. You would get off the train and go to your left.

    There were lots of people standing around, dressed fairly nicely. It definitely isn't a sketchy area. Lots of people with their kids and babies in strollers. I personally wouldn't feel threatened to wait there for a bit.

  13. #13


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    Thanks again nighterfighter. I would like to make a trip to Black Hawk but probably never will. My expenses would be much more than Zee's since I live in such a difficult place to get out of that has high airfare prices. I'm in a Catch 22 situation. Airfare prices are really high unless there is a Saturday night stay over. If I have a Sat night stay over hotel prices are like $200 a night in Black Hawk on a Sat night.

    Without a comp on hotel a trip for me would be twice what Zee is going to be paying and that assume's no car rental. However, taking the train from the airport and then taking the casino shuttle does look like a good deal. For a senior the train rate is half fare so $10.50 round trip and the shuttle fare you can get refunded by the casinos if you play rated for awhile. You can look out the windows of the bus and check out the scenery and relax without having to keep your eyes on the road.
    Last edited by Midwest Player; 05-12-2019 at 09:47 AM.

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