Venue and Travel

Conference venue

The conference will be held in the University Memorial Center (UMC) and the Duane Physics building on the University of Colorado Boulder main campus.

Getting to Boulder from the airport

There are several options for students and speakers to get from Denver International Airport (DIA) to either Duane Physics or the Embassy Suite:

*Recommended* - RTD (CO public transportation service), bus route AB1

Please check first to see if you can obtain a bus pass from us - refer to the Transportation Guide sent through email.

• Runs once per hour (twice per hour during rush hour), trip duration ~1h15m. Schedule can be found at the RTD website and real-time bus location can be tracked on the Transit App or RTD app as well as on Google Maps. From baggage claim, follow signs to "local buses" and exit the terminal through the glass doors on the South end. Take the escalator down to Level 1: DIA Transit Center. The AB1 picks up from Bus Gate 8.

• If going directly from the airport to the hotel, take the AB1 bus to the Downtown Boulder Station (this is the very last stop - you won't miss it). Then you can transfer to either the 205 bus or the BOLT bus, and ride 4 stops to Canyon Blvd & Mcguckin Way. This will drop you off right in front of the Embassy Suites hotel. Alternatively, you can also get off from AB1 at Broadway & Euclid and transfer to a HOP bus. Google Maps, Transit, or RTD apps can all help you plan for the best route. NOTE: 205 last trip is around 9 PM. BOLT goes every one hour, but does not stop running until the early hours. HOP's last trip is also around 9:30 PM. 

• If you arrive close to the time of some programing e.g. lab tour, you can get off AB1 at Broadway & Euclid. We have some (but limited) storage capacity for your luggage if you want to drop off your stuff and head straight to a conference activity.

• Fee: $10 for a full day pass (from airport and around Boulder). Can be purchased by exact cash, at the machine at the airport, or buying the pass on the Transit App, RTD app, or Uber app transit option. We highly recommend that you purchase this beforehand.

Eight Black Airport Shuttle

An airport shuttle that must be booked in advance. Shuttles operate roughly hourly from the airport from 4:30 AM until 12:30 AM. The shuttle picks up at DIA and you must arrange to have it drop you off at CU Boulder campus at the University Memorial Center. Fare is $62 for the first person and $30 for every additional person in the same group

Taxi/Uber/Lyft

Only recommended as a last resort. Fare is usually above $100 to Boulder (NOTE: Taxi fare will not qualify for reimbursement except in extreme cases which are pre-approved by the Conference Organizers)

Getting around Boulder

Transportation between conference venue and hotel

Friday night, Jan 24: public transit for most transportation to and during conference, either by yourself or with volunteers from organizing team (for lab tours). At night, there will be a shuttle bus from the Planetarium (where we have the late evening show) back to the hotel.

Saturday, Jan 25: 

• From hotel to conference: we will be handing out RTD bus passes to get you on the HOP bus from the hotel to the conference venue (venue stop name: Broadway & Euclid). Make sure to leave enough time for the trip! 

• From conference back to hotel: if you choose to participate in late-evening social event, we are arranging a shuttle to bring people back to the hotel - details to be confirmed. Earlier departure from conference can be done using HOP bus (before 9:30 PM)

Sunday, Jan 26: 

• From hotel to conference: RTD HOP bus

• Departure from conference/hotel: by yourself

Note: transportation to/from conference events after the arrival to Boulder is not reimbursable - make use of the options provided.

Hop bus to the conference: the RTD Hop local bus runs between the hotel and the campus every 15 - 20 minutes. Download the Transit App or RTD app for live bus locations and for buying tickets. 

Other options to get around

Bussing around Boulder: Various other bus lines take you around the city from the campus - Broadway & Euclid is a station that serves many buses and is right outside of the University Memorial Center. The day pass for all buses within Boulder County costs $5.50 ($10 if including a ride from the airport), while each ride costs $2.75.

Depending on the weather, two other popular options among students in Boulder are e-bike and e-scooter rental. BCycle is an e-bike 30-min rental from station to station. There are BCycle stations everywhere on campus, and one station a few minutes walk away from the hotel. Each BCycle trip costs $7, but we are working to obtain discounted passes for participants. Lime scooters are also readily available and costs $1/trip + $0.42/minute. Though convenient, we strongly recommend against using these means of transportation on snowy days as they can be very dangerous.

Walking is also an option: it is a 30-minute walk from the hotel to the University Memorial Center. Be sure to leave early and dress warmly, and beware of ice!

Travel reimbursement

We expect that all attendees first ask their home university department to fund travel to and from the conference. If your home institution is unable to provide travel funds, we will need an official letter from your department head/Chair stating that you have requested their support but that they are unable to provide travel funds to the conference. Please send this letter to cuwipboulder@colorado.edu. 

Flight tickets will be purchased directly by the CU Boulder Physics Department. Once we receive your request, we will be in touch to arrange the purchase and issuing of your ticket(s).

Carpooling is strongly encouraged as it is usually the most economical option.  Students should estimate the costs of air and of car, taking into account the efficiencies of carpooling and choose the least expensive option. If the choice is questionable, we may ask for additional information to support the choice of means of transportation.

Keep all travel receipts to ensure you will be reimbursed (if applicable). You will receive a reimbursement form included in your welcome packet at registration that you will fill out and return to us after the conference with attached receipts. A check will be mailed to you usually within one month of the conference.