Denver – The Mile High City. As its name suggests, this city lies precisely one mile (5280 feet) above sea level. Whether you’re traveling around Denver by car for work or headed there to visit the Rocky Mountains, you’ll need to know how to navigate Denver toll roads.

Denver roads are relatively flat and straight, making the city easy to get around. However, there are several toll roads in the area, including several express lanes that come with a fee.

Let’s take a look at the main toll roads of Denver and the best way to pay for them.

The E-470 is a non-stop, 75mph highway toll road that runs along
the Eastern edge of the Denver metro area. The 47-mile-long toll road also
provides access to the Denver International Airport.

The E-470 toll road starts at section I-25. It runs east through
to Aurora – passing through Douglas County, Arapahoe County, Parker, Adams
County, Brighton, Commerce City, and Thorton.

The idea for the E-470 was discussed as early as 1958. In 1985, Adams County, Apharoe County, and Douglas County joined forces to create the E-470 authority that would oversee the funding for the highway.

The final segment of the tollway opened in 2003. In 2009, the tollway became totally cashless, switching to an all-electronic tolling system.

There are also several expressways in Denver operated by CDOT (Colorado Department of Transportation).

Express lanes are those lanes that run alongside the general purpose lanes on CDOT’s roads. The aim of which is to ease congestion.

• US 36 (From Boulder to Denver)
• I-25 from downtown Denver to Northwest Parkway/E-470
• I-70 Mountain Express Lane (from Empire to Idaho Springs)
• C-470 Express Lane

The Express Lanes in Denver are optional to use. But they will help you get to your destination quicker.

Express Lanes are free if you have a switchable HOV transponder or Express Toll account and have three or more people in your car.

Otherwise, you will be billed through License Plate Toll (See more below).

How to pay for the E-470 and Denver Express Lanes

There are essentially three ways to pay for the Denver-Aurora 470.

1. Uproad
   Rest assured! You’ll never miss a payment on the E-470 with the Uproad App.
   
   The simplest and most convenient way to pay. With Uproad, all you need is your phone!
   
   Download the Uproad App for your iPhone or Android, and you’ll be exploring the sights and sounds of Denver in no time.
   
   Uproad allows you to pre-load your account balance to automatically pay for tolls, including the E-470, as you drive. With the Uproad app, you can also calculate costs before you travel and track your usage and expenses on the go.
   
   What’s more? Uproad works across most states in the U.S. Click here to see a coverage map.
2. ExpressToll
   ExpressToll allows you to use the E-470 and all Colorado Express Lanes. Whenever you drive on Colorado toll roads, the toll amount will be deducted from your account.
   
   However, you will need to set yourself up with a Switchable HOV Transponder, which is a device that costs $18 to set up. You’ll also need an initial $35 balance to create an account from which the $18 is then deducted.
   
   ExpressToll is a good option if you are a resident of Denver. But to save yourself the trouble of ordering a transponder, you could simply download the Uproad app instead and hit the road immediately.
   
   In comparison, an Uproad pro account starts as low as $3.49/month and comes with loads of features, including nationwide toll payment and toll violation support. You also have a pay-as-you-go option, which costs just $0.90/day – which is great if you are just visiting Denver for a short time.
3. License Plate Toll
   As you drive on the E-470 or other Denver toll roads, high speed cameras will capture your number plate, automatically creating an account for your vehicle. If you haven’t got the Uproad app or an ExpressToll account, then a toll bill will be sent to the address of the vehicle’s registered owner.
   Denver tolls paid this way are significantly higher, and if you don’t make the payment within 30 days, you’ll pay an extra $5 late fee and a one-time $20 collection fee.

Denver roadway authorities are committed to safety, service, and reliability. Tolls collected are reinvested into new safety features, maintenance, and improvements, including clearing the roadways during bad weather, road widening projects, and, adding interchanges. Round-the-clock roadside assistance is also available to all drivers traveling the E-470.

Download Uproad via the Apple Store or Google Play and get exploring the great city of Denver worry-free