---
type: Airport Family Guide
title: "Denver International Airport (DEN) with Kids: Every Family Facility, Mapped"
description: DEN has 2 24/7 play areas and 10 nursing rooms — but no sensory room and no family security lane. Verified against flydenver.com August 2026.
resource: https://www.velivolotravel.com/family-airport-guide/denver-international-airport-den
tags: [airport, family, travel, DEN, us-west]
timestamp: 2026-08-03
---

# Denver International Airport (DEN) with Kids: Every Family Facility, Mapped

**Short answer:** Denver International Airport has two 24-hour play areas and ten nursing rooms, all past security — genuinely strong feeding coverage for a single-terminal airport. There is no sensory room and no dedicated family security lane. One pre-security nursing room is temporarily closed for construction, so plan feeding stops before you reach the checkpoint.

**Velivolo family score:** 5.5/10 (Fair)

DEN is generous with nursing rooms — ten of them, three on each concourse, all open 24 hours with a sink, outlet and changing table — and both its play areas at Gates C54 and A25 never close. What it lacks stands out just as clearly: no sensory room, no confirmed stroller rental, and no restaurant published with a kids' menu. The single pre-security nursing room is closed for construction, so the only landside baby-care stop right now is one companion care restroom on Level 5.

## Quick facts

- DEN's two child play areas, near Gate C54 and Gate A25, are open 24 hours a day and both are past security.
- DEN publishes ten nursing rooms — three on each of Concourses A, B and C, plus one in the Jeppesen Terminal that is currently closed for construction.
- The only pre-security baby-care stop at DEN right now is a companion care restroom with an adult changing table on the west side of Level 5.
- DEN's Train to the Gates reaches Concourse C in under ten minutes, and Concourse A can also be reached on foot over the A-Bridge.
- DEN has no sensory room; it offers a Sunflower hidden-disabilities lanyard and Autism Center of Excellence videos instead.

## Facility matrix

| Facility | Status | Terminals | Security side | Hours | Age limit | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children's play area | available | Concourse A, Concourse C | post-security | 24 hours | Not published | free |
| Nursing room / lactation pod | available | Jeppesen Terminal, Concourse A, B, C | both | 24 hours | — | free |
| Family / all-gender restroom | available | Concourse A, B, C (Jeppesen location closed) | both | Terminal hours | — | free |
| Baby changing table | available | All nursing rooms | both | 24 hours | — | free |
| Sensory room | none | — | unknown | — | — | n/a |
| Family security lane | none | — | unknown | — | — | n/a |
| Stroller rental | unconfirmed | — | unknown | — | — | unknown |
| Dedicated family lounge | none | — | unknown | — | — | n/a |

## Play areas

| Name | Location | Security side | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child Play Area — Gate C54 | Jeppesen Terminal · Concourse C · Near Gate C54 | post-security | DEN describes the play areas as featuring fun play structures, seating and storage spaces, so a parent can sit with the bags while children climb. | https://www.flydenver.com/at-the-airport/services-and-amenities/children-and-families/ |
| Child Play Area — Gate A25 | Jeppesen Terminal · Concourse A · Near Gate A25 | post-security | DEN describes the play areas as featuring fun play structures, seating and storage spaces, so a parent can sit with the bags while children climb. | https://www.flydenver.com/at-the-airport/services-and-amenities/children-and-families/ |

## Nursing rooms

| Name | Location | Security side | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeppesen Terminal — Center Core nursing room | Jeppesen Terminal · Level 5 · Centre of Jeppesen Terminal, south side, inside the women's restroom | pre-security | Closed at the time of checking. When open, DEN lists no code or key requirement. | https://www.flydenver.com/at-the-airport/services-and-amenities/children-and-families/ |
| Concourse A — Center Core nursing room | Jeppesen Terminal · Concourse A · Centre of the A Gates, near the women's restroom closest to Denver Duty Free | post-security | Walk in — DEN publishes no code or key requirement. Every room has comfortable seating, a sink, power outlets and a changing table, and is wheelchair accessible. | https://www.flydenver.com/at-the-airport/services-and-amenities/children-and-families/ |
| Concourse A — nursing room near Gate A19 | Jeppesen Terminal · Concourse A · Near Gate A19 | post-security | Walk in — DEN publishes no code or key requirement. Every room has comfortable seating, a sink, power outlets and a changing table, and is wheelchair accessible. | https://www.flydenver.com/at-the-airport/services-and-amenities/children-and-families/ |
| Concourse A — nursing room near Gate A27 | Jeppesen Terminal · Concourse A · Near Gate A27 | post-security | Walk in — DEN publishes no code or key requirement. Every room has comfortable seating, a sink, power outlets and a changing table, and is wheelchair accessible. | https://www.flydenver.com/at-the-airport/services-and-amenities/children-and-families/ |
| Concourse B — Center Core nursing room | Jeppesen Terminal · Concourse B · Centre of the B Gates, near the women's restroom between Gate B38 and Topo Designs | post-security | Walk in — DEN publishes no code or key requirement. Every room has comfortable seating, a sink, power outlets and a changing table, and is wheelchair accessible. | https://www.flydenver.com/at-the-airport/services-and-amenities/children-and-families/ |
| Concourse B — nursing room near Gate B11 | Jeppesen Terminal · Concourse B · Near Gate B11 | post-security | Walk in — DEN publishes no code or key requirement. Every room has comfortable seating, a sink, power outlets and a changing table, and is wheelchair accessible. | https://www.flydenver.com/at-the-airport/services-and-amenities/children-and-families/ |
| Concourse B — nursing room near Gate B65 | Jeppesen Terminal · Concourse B · Near Gate B65 | post-security | Walk in — DEN publishes no code or key requirement. Every room has comfortable seating, a sink, power outlets and a changing table, and is wheelchair accessible. | https://www.flydenver.com/at-the-airport/services-and-amenities/children-and-families/ |
| Concourse C — Center Core nursing room | Jeppesen Terminal · Concourse C · Centre of the C Gates, near the women's restroom between Gate C39 and Sky Market | post-security | Walk in — DEN publishes no code or key requirement. Every room has comfortable seating, a sink, power outlets and a changing table, and is wheelchair accessible. | https://www.flydenver.com/at-the-airport/services-and-amenities/children-and-families/ |
| Concourse C — nursing room near Gate C55 | Jeppesen Terminal · Concourse C · Near Gate C55 | post-security | Walk in — DEN publishes no code or key requirement. Every room has comfortable seating, a sink, power outlets and a changing table, and is wheelchair accessible. | https://www.flydenver.com/at-the-airport/services-and-amenities/children-and-families/ |
| Concourse C — nursing room near Gate C61 | Jeppesen Terminal · Concourse C · Near Gate C61 | post-security | Walk in — DEN publishes no code or key requirement. Every room has comfortable seating, a sink, power outlets and a changing table, and is wheelchair accessible. | https://www.flydenver.com/at-the-airport/services-and-amenities/children-and-families/ |

## Family restrooms

| Name | Location | Security side | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeppesen Terminal — companion care restroom with adult changing table | Jeppesen Terminal · Level 5 · West side of Level 5, adjacent to the train exit and next to the men's restroom | pre-security | Adult changing table | https://www.flydenver.com/at-the-airport/services-and-amenities/accessibility-services/ |
| Jeppesen Terminal — Family & All Gender restroom | Jeppesen Terminal | pre-security |  | https://www.flydenver.com/at-the-airport/services-and-amenities/accessibility-services/ |
| Concourse A — Family & All Gender restroom | Jeppesen Terminal · Concourse A | post-security |  | https://www.flydenver.com/at-the-airport/services-and-amenities/accessibility-services/ |
| Concourse B — Family & All Gender restroom | Jeppesen Terminal · Concourse B | post-security |  | https://www.flydenver.com/at-the-airport/services-and-amenities/accessibility-services/ |
| Concourse C — Family & All Gender restroom | Jeppesen Terminal · Concourse C | post-security |  | https://www.flydenver.com/at-the-airport/services-and-amenities/accessibility-services/ |

## Security with children

- **Family lane:** DEN publishes no family security lane. Its facilities page names only the East and West primary screening checkpoints on Level 6 of the Jeppesen Terminal, and the accessibility page also refers to a South checkpoint on Level 5, with no family-specific lane at any of them. Every concourse is reachable from every checkpoint, so you can simply pick the shortest queue.
- **Strollers and car seats:** TSA rules apply: strollers, umbrella strollers, baby carriers, car seats and booster seats go through the X-ray, and anything too large for the belt is inspected by hand. Take your child out and carry them through the walk-through metal detector.
- **Formula, milk and baby food:** Formula, breast milk, toddler drinks and baby food including puree pouches are allowed over 3.4 oz (100 ml) and do not have to fit in the quart bag. Your child does not need to be travelling with you to carry breast milk. Declare them at the start of screening and take them out of your bag.
- **Shoes:** Children 12 and under can leave their shoes, light jackets and headwear on during screening.
- **PreCheck:** Children 17 and under can go through the TSA PreCheck lane free with an enrolled adult, without their own Known Traveler Number.
- Source: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/special-procedures/traveling-children

## Getting between terminals

The Train to the Gates connects the Jeppesen Terminal with all three concourses. You board it immediately after screening at the East or West checkpoint; the trip from the terminal to the C Gates takes less than ten minutes, and stations sit in the centre of each concourse. If you are flying from the A Gates you can walk instead, over the A-Bridge directly north of the security checkpoints — the only route at DEN that avoids the train. DEN's accessibility page notes escalators and lifts down to the train stations, and asks anyone assisting a wheelchair user to use the middle carriages and reverse in so the wheels do not catch on the boarding threshold; the same advice is worth following with a stroller, though DEN never mentions strollers on the train either way.
- Source: https://www.flydenver.com/about-den/facilities/

## Layover plans

### 1–2 hours — The A-Bridge walk saves time if you're on Concourse A

1. Use the East or West checkpoint on Level 6 — DEN has no family lane, so pick whichever queue is shorter.
2. If your gate is on Concourse A, walk the A-Bridge directly north of the checkpoints and skip the train.
3. For B or C gates, the Train to the Gates reaches Concourse C in under ten minutes.

### 3–5 hours — Pair a play area with its nearest nursing room

1. Head to the Gate C54 play area — it's open 24 hours and one gate from the C55 nursing room, the most convenient pairing at DEN.
2. Or use the Gate A25 play area on Concourse A, with three nursing rooms nearby: Center Core, Gate A19 and Gate A27.
3. All rooms have a sink, outlet and changing table, and are available around the clock.

### Overnight — Everything documented at DEN runs 24/7

1. Both play areas and all nine open nursing rooms are available all night — DEN's family facilities don't keep terminal hours.
2. The Train to the Gates also runs continuously between the terminal and all three concourses.
3. There's no sensory room to retreat to if a child is overstimulated late at night — plan your own quiet corner.

### International connection — Concourse A handles every international arrival

1. All international flights land at the A Gates, reachable by train or by walking the A-Bridge from the checkpoints.
2. Three nursing rooms serve Concourse A: the Center Core room, near Gate A19 and near Gate A27.
3. The Concourse A Family & All Gender restroom is available for changing after you clear security.

## Your rights

- **Lactation:** Under the FAM Act, part of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, every medium and large hub airport must provide a lactation area in the sterile area of each terminal, with a door that locks, a place to sit, a flat surface, a power outlet and access to a sink or sanitiser. DEN goes well beyond this minimum with ten nursing rooms rather than the legal baseline of one per terminal.
- **Changing tables:** The same law requires a baby changing table in at least one men's and one women's restroom in every passenger terminal, with compliance due by 30 September 2020. DEN confirms a changing table in every nursing room; the one pre-security room being closed for construction does not remove the legal requirement, and DEN's post-security rooms remain available.
- **Liquids:** TSA allows formula, breast milk, toddler drinks and baby food including puree pouches in quantities over 3.4 oz (100 ml), and they do not need to fit in the quart bag. Your child does not need to be travelling with you to carry breast milk. Declare them at the start of screening and take them out of your bag.
- **Boarding:** Priority boarding for families is set by your airline rather than by DEN — check your carrier's policy before you fly.
- **If it is missing:** If you can't find a nursing room in the secure area, ask at a DEN customer service booth, which can also provide a free Sunflower hidden-disabilities lanyard. The legal requirement gives you grounds to insist a compliant space exists on your concourse.
- Source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/302

## FAQ

### Does Denver airport have a kids' play area?

Yes — DEN has two child play areas, and both are open 24 hours a day, which is unusual even among larger US airports. One sits near Gate C54 on Concourse C, and the other is near Gate A25 on Concourse A; both are reached past security using the Train to the Gates, or by walking the A-Bridge if you're headed to Concourse A. DEN describes them only as featuring play structures, seating and storage space, so a parent can sit with the bags while children climb — it publishes no age limits, height restrictions or supervision policy for either one.

### Where are the nursing rooms at DEN?

DEN publishes ten nursing rooms, split evenly with three on each of Concourse A, B and C plus one in the Jeppesen Terminal itself. On Concourse A you'll find one in the Center Core near the women's restroom closest to Denver Duty Free, one near Gate A19 and one near Gate A27. Concourse B has one in its Center Core near Gate B38 and Topo Designs, one near Gate B11 and one near Gate B65. Concourse C mirrors that pattern near Gate C39, Gate C55 and Gate C61. Every room has a sink, power outlets and a changing table, and DEN says all are available 24 hours a day. The one exception is the Jeppesen Terminal's Center Core room, on Level 5 before security, which is currently closed for construction.

### Is there a family restroom at DEN?

Yes. DEN has large, private Family & All Gender restrooms on each of its three concourses, plus one pre-security companion care restroom with an adult changing table on the west side of Jeppesen Terminal's Level 5, next to where the train exits. There was also a Family & All Gender restroom directly in the Jeppesen Terminal, but it is temporarily closed at the time of our check. DEN does not publish exact gate numbers or a total count for the concourse restrooms — it only confirms that each concourse has one and directs travellers to the interactive terminal map to find the nearest one to a specific gate.

### Does DEN have a sensory room?

No, Denver International Airport has no dedicated sensory or calming room. In place of one, its accessibility page offers a free Hidden Disabilities Sunflower lanyard, available from any customer service booth, which signals to staff that a passenger may need extra patience or assistance without having to explain why. DEN also publishes Autism Center of Excellence familiarisation videos in both English and Spanish, meant to walk a child through what to expect at the airport before the trip. Neither of these replaces a physical quiet space, so if your child needs somewhere calm to decompress, your best option is likely one of the two 24-hour play areas or a nursing room, since DEN offers nothing purpose-built for sensory needs.

### Can I rent a stroller at Denver airport?

DEN doesn't say, one way or the other. We checked its Children and Families page, which lists nursing rooms, play areas, Wi-Fi, lost and found, pets, currency exchange, the airport chapel, mail services and the attached Westin hotel — but nothing resembling a stroller rental counter. That's different from an airport that explicitly states it offers none; DEN simply never addresses the question, so treat stroller rental as unavailable and bring your own rather than counting on finding one at the terminal. If you gate-check a stroller, DEN also publishes no guidance on where it will be waiting when you land, since that policy is set by your airline rather than the airport.

### Does DEN have a family security lane?

No. DEN advertises no dedicated family security lane at any of its checkpoints. Its own pages aren't even fully consistent on how many checkpoints exist: the Facilities page names an East and a West checkpoint, both on Level 6 of the Jeppesen Terminal, while the Accessibility Services page separately mentions a South Security Checkpoint on Level 5, reachable by lift from the Westin hotel lobby. Whichever you use, standard TSA child procedures apply: children who appear 12 and under keep shoes, jackets and hats on, and children 17 and under can join the PreCheck lane free alongside an enrolled adult. Ask at a DEN customer service booth for a Sunflower lanyard before you queue if your child needs extra patience from staff.

### How do I get from the DEN terminal to my gate with a stroller?

After clearing security at the East or West checkpoint on Level 6, most passengers take the Train to the Gates, DEN's automated people mover, which reaches the C Gates in under ten minutes and stops at the centre of each concourse. If you're departing from Concourse A, you can skip the train entirely and push the stroller across the A-Bridge, a walkway directly north of the checkpoints — it's the only step-free, train-free route at DEN, and it also gives children a view over the taxiway. DEN's accessibility guidance for the train recommends boarding in the middle carriages and reversing in with a wheelchair so the wheels don't catch on the threshold; the airport never mentions strollers specifically, but the same approach is a reasonable precaution.

### Is Denver airport hard to navigate with young kids?

It's manageable, but DEN is a genuinely large single terminal with three concourses that mostly require a train ride. From the Jeppesen Terminal you clear one of two Level 6 checkpoints, then either board the Train to the Gates — under ten minutes to Concourse C — or, if you're on Concourse A, walk the A-Bridge instead. Once you're on a concourse, everything family-related is close by: 24-hour play areas near Gate C54 and Gate A25, and nursing rooms spaced every few gates on all three concourses. The trade-off is the initial distance — allow extra time for the walk or train ride from check-in to your gate, especially with a stroller and bags in tow.

### What restaurants at DEN are good for young kids?

DEN doesn't say. No page on flydenver.com names a specific restaurant with a kids' menu, high chairs or bottle-warming service, and the airport's Children and Families page covers nursing rooms and play areas without mentioning dining at all. If a kids' menu or high chair matters to your trip, the only reliable approach is to check the individual restaurant chain's own website before you fly, since DEN publishes no curated family-dining list the way some larger airports do. What we can confirm is that both 24-hour play areas have seating and storage space nearby, so at minimum you have somewhere to sit with food you've brought yourself while children play.

### Are DEN's nursing rooms open all night?

Yes — DEN states that all nine of its currently open nursing rooms are available 24 hours a day, which matters if you're on an overnight layover or a very early or late flight. Three sit on each of Concourse A, B and C, spaced roughly every ten to twenty gates, and each one has a sink, power outlets, comfortable seating and a changing table, and is wheelchair accessible. The one exception is the Jeppesen Terminal's Center Core room, on Level 5 before security, which is temporarily closed for construction — so if you need to feed or pump before reaching the checkpoint, that pre-security option currently isn't available, and the closest alternative is one of the post-security concourse rooms.

## Related airports

- [Albuquerque (ABQ)](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/airports/albuquerque-international-sunport-abq.md) — A small Southwest connection many DEN passengers route through — a single terminal, but no play area at all.
- [Seattle (SEA)](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/airports/seattle-tacoma-international-airport-sea.md) — Adds two sensory rooms and stroller rental — both things DEN doesn't offer.
- [Phoenix (PHX)](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/airports/phoenix-sky-harbor-international-airport-phx.md) — Play areas in every terminal and a clearer security picture than DEN's contradictory checkpoint pages.
- [Las Vegas (LAS)](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/airports/harry-reid-international-airport-las.md) — A common connection south, though its nursing suites are far less documented than DEN's ten named rooms.

## Sources

- [DEN — Children and Families (2026)](https://www.flydenver.com/at-the-airport/services-and-amenities/children-and-families/) — Both play areas and all ten nursing rooms
- [DEN — Accessibility Services (2026)](https://www.flydenver.com/at-the-airport/services-and-amenities/accessibility-services/) — Family & All Gender restrooms and sensory-room absence
- [DEN — Airport Facilities and Grounds (2026)](https://www.flydenver.com/about-den/facilities/) — Train to the Gates, A-Bridge, checkpoint locations
- [TSA — Traveling with Children (2026)](https://www.tsa.gov/travel/special-procedures/traveling-children) — Screening rules for strollers, car seats, formula and breast milk
- [FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (PL 115-254) (2018)](https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/302) — FAM Act lactation room and changing table requirements

**Last checked:** 2026-08-03