There’s a certain kind of itch you get living in Denver, where the mountains are stunning but you’ve hiked them all and you just want to be somewhere else for a long weekend. The good news is that DEN is one of the best airports in the country for cheap fares, and you don’t have to go far to find them. I’ve spent years watching these routes, and some of them stay shockingly affordable all year.
Below are the cheapest places to fly from Denver in 2026, the ones I’d book myself when I want a quick escape. You’ll find everything from $38 hops to Vegas to sunny theme-park weekends in Orlando. For each one I’ll tell you what to expect to pay, which airlines to watch, and the best time to go.
Southwest Now Assigns Seats
Southwest flies most of these routes, and as of January 27, 2026 it ended its 53-year open seating policy. You now pick a seat when you book, and the cheapest Basic fare only gets a standard seat assigned at check-in, so you won’t know where you’re sitting until then. If you want a guaranteed spot or the new Extra Legroom rows up front, you’ll pay up for a higher bundle.
Cheapest places to fly fom Denver at a glance
Short on time? Here are five of my favorite cheap escapes from DEN before we get into all seven. These are the typical roundtrip fares I keep seeing, and any one of them makes for an easy long weekend.
| Destination | Typical Roundtrip | Flight Time | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas, NV | $38–$150 | 2 hrs | A spontaneous weekend blowout |
| Ontario, CA | $56–$160 | 2 hr 10 min | SoCal without the LAX chaos |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $68–$140 | 1 hr 40 min | An underrated foodie weekend |
| Dallas, TX | $79–$170 | 2 hrs | Big-city eats and sports |
| Orlando, FL | $148–$230 | 3 hr 45 min | A winter theme-park escape |
Prices move around with season and demand. Treat these as ballpark figures and always compare in real time before you book.
1. Denver to Las Vegas, NV ($38–$150 roundtrip)
- ✈️ Flight Time: 2 hours
- 🛫 Airlines: Frontier, Southwest, United (15+ daily flights)
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: March-May & October-November 🎲 for milder temperatures
- 🏆 Perfect for: Entertainment seekers 🎭, pool partiers 🏊, gambling enthusiasts 🎰
Las Vegas is basically the polar opposite of Denver‘s mountain vibes. This desert playground trades hiking trails for neon lights and craft breweries for massive casino floors, making it the perfect weekend escape.
The Strip is lined with themed mega-resorts, each trying to outdo the next with over-the-top attractions like the dancing fountains at Bellagio or the indoor gondola rides at The Venetian. Beyond gambling, the entertainment is next level, with everything from mind-blowing Cirque du Soleil shows to A-list artist residencies that feel like once-in-a-lifetime concerts. For killer views, ride the High Roller or grab a cocktail at Legacy Club while the Strip lights up at sunset.
Flying from Denver to Vegas is affordable thanks to Frontier frequently dropping fares as low as $19 one-way if you can travel light midweek. Southwest usually costs more, and since it ended its free-bag policy in 2025, you’ll now pay to check unless you’ve got A-List Preferred status or a Business Select fare. Still worth a look if the fare’s low enough to offset the bag fee.
For the ideal times to visit, spring and fall are the sweet spots, offering perfect party weather without the summer heat.
2. Denver to Ontario, CA ($56–$160 roundtrip)
- ✈️ Flight Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
- 🛫 Airlines: Frontier, Southwest, United (8+ daily flights)
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: March-May & September-November 🌴 for perfect SoCal weather
- 🏆 Perfect for: Theme park enthusiasts 🎢, mountain hikers 🏔️, SoCal explorers 🌊
Ontario is basically SoCal’s secret backdoor that lets you skip LAX hell. Their convenient airport puts you right in the Inland Empire with easy access to everything from beaches to mountains to theme parks.
Ontario Mills is this massive outlet mall where you can score serious deals on designer stuff, while the nearby Victoria Gardens gives you that perfect outdoor shopping village vibe. The real draw though is location, where you’re less than an hour from Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm without battling Orange County traffic, and just 30 minutes from mountain hiking in the San Gabriel Mountains where trails offer views stretching all the way to the ocean on clear days.
This route is surprisingly budget-friendly. Frontier often drops roundtrip fares below $100 if you fly light and midweek. Southwest costs more upfront, and bags aren’t free anymore unless you hold elite status or a top-tier fare. Factor that in if you’re packing for both beach days and mountain hikes. Time your visit in spring or fall, when the weather hits that perfect balance for outdoor activities.
3. Denver to Oklahoma City, OK ($68–$140 roundtrip)
- ✈️ Flight Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
- 🛫 Airlines: United, Frontier, American (6+ daily flights)
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: April-June & September-October 🌻 for pleasant prairie weather
- 🏆 Perfect for: Western history buffs 🤠, food enthusiasts 🍔, urban explorers 🏙️
Oklahoma City is way more happening than you’d expect. This prairie metropolis has transformed from flyover territory to a legit destination with a booming food scene, revitalized districts, and authentic cowboy vibes.
Bricktown is the city’s entertainment hub with a canal running through former warehouses now filled with restaurants, bars, and the minor league baseball stadium where tickets cost less than movie popcorn. The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is actually incredible even if you don’t care about cowboys—the art collection alone is worth the trip.
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This short flight from Denver is perfect for weekend getaways, with Frontier frequently offering bargain fares if you can travel light. Don’t miss the Myriad Botanical Gardens when the flowers are blooming, or the outdoor exhibits at the Oklahoma City Zoo if you’re visiting in spring.
4.Denver to Dallas, TX ($79–$170 roundtrip)
- ✈️ Flight Time: 2 hours
- 🛫 Airlines: American, Southwest, Frontier, United (12+ daily flights)
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: March-May & September-November 🍂 for pleasant temperatures
- 🏆 Perfect for: Urban cowboys 🤠, food enthusiasts 🍖, sports fans 🏈
Dallas is where big city luxury meets Texas-sized personality. This sprawling metroplex offers way more than just cowboy stereotypes with world-class museums, incredible food, and neighborhoods that feel like completely different cities.
Deep Ellum is the city’s historic entertainment district with live music venues, street art, and trendy restaurants housed in converted industrial buildings. For culture that doesn’t involve cowboy hats, the Dallas Museum of Art is completely free and actually impressive, while the Klyde Warren Park is this cool green space built over a freeway where food trucks gather daily.
American Airlines dominates this route with Dallas as its main hub, but budget carriers like Frontier regularly offer roundtrip fares under $100 if you book early and travel light. Spring and fall visits are ideal for patio dining and exploring outdoor spots like the Dallas Arboretum with its stunning seasonal displays.
5. Denver to Houston, TX ($85–$180 roundtrip)
- ✈️ Flight Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- 🛫 Airlines: United, Southwest, Frontier (10+ daily flights)
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: October-April 🌞 for pleasant temperatures
- 🏆 Perfect for: Food enthusiasts 🍽️, space nerds 🚀, museum lovers 🖼️
Houston is seriously underrated and way more diverse than people expect. This sprawling Texas metropolis combines Southern hospitality with international vibes and actually has a food scene that rivals cities twice its size.
Space Center Houston lets you geek out over actual NASA mission control and touch real spacecraft that have been to space and back. The Museum District packs 19 different museums into a walkable area, with the Menil Collection housing world-class art in a building so gorgeous you’ll want to move in. For outdoor fun, Buffalo Bayou Park offers kayaking right through downtown with skyline views that will make you forget you’re in a city known for oil and humidity.
United runs a ton of flights on this route thanks to Houston being one of its major hubs. Southwest stays competitive on fares, though its checked bags are no longer free unless you have elite status or a premium fare. Frontier sometimes drops fares below $100 roundtrip if you’re flexible with dates and can travel light.
Avoid the summer heat and visit between October and April for perfect patio weather and photogenic spots like Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park, that massive fountain you’ve probably already seen on Instagram.
6. Denver to Minneapolis, MN ($118–$200 roundtrip)
- ✈️ Flight Time: 2 hours
- 🛫 Airlines: Delta, Sun Country, United, Frontier (8+ daily flights)
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: June-September 🌲 and December-February ❄️ for seasonal activities
- 🏆 Perfect for: Lake lovers 🏊♀️, food explorers 🍽️, outdoor enthusiasts 🌲
Minneapolis is way more than just a flyover city. This place totally crushes the Midwest stereotype with killer food, tons of lakes right in the city, and cultural stuff that rivals coastal spots.
The Chain of Lakes gives you legit beaches and rental kayaks within biking distance of downtown, and the Stone Arch Bridge area is perfect for that skyline shot everyone posts. First Avenue is this legendary music venue where Prince got his start, and you’ll find purple tributes to him all over town.
Summer here is absolutely prime time when the city goes nuts for outdoor everything with free concerts at Lake Harriet and patios everywhere. Delta hubs out of MSP Airport so they’ve got the most flight options, but Sun Country sometimes drops crazy deals in the $150 range if you book a couple months out.
7. Denver to Orlando ($148-$230 roundtrip)
- ✈️ Flight Time: 3 hours 45 minutes
- 🛫 Airlines: Southwest, Frontier, United (10+ daily flights)
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: January-April & September-November 🎢 for lower humidity
- 🏆 Perfect for: Theme park enthusiasts 🎢, family vacations 👨👩👧👦, winter escapees ☀️
Orlando is where you trade Rocky Mountain highs for palm trees and sunshine. This theme park capital makes an ideal winter escape when Denver is buried in snow, especially between January and April when the weather’s warm but not swampy, and the crowds are way more manageable.
Beyond the big-name parks, the I-Drive area is packed with attractions like the 400-foot Orlando Eye and ICON Park, where you can bar-hop, ride thrill rides, and people-watch in the Florida sun. For something wilder (literally), zipline over real gators at Gatorland, or swim with dolphins in a laid-back setting at Discovery Cove. Even the shopping is next-level at places like Disney Springs and Universal CityWalk, where entrance is totally free and the vibes are all-out vacation mode.
Flight deals from Denver show up often, especially if you book 4–6 weeks in advance and fly midweek. Frontier has some of the lowest fares thanks to its Denver base, though Southwest is a great option too if you’re checking bags. Orlando International Airport handles crowds like a pro, with quick access to rental cars and hotel shuttles.
✈️ How I catch these DEN fares before they climb
Prices on these routes bounce around fast, so I let Going’s Premium plan ($49/year) do the watching for me. It’s how I’ve grabbed sub-$40 roundtrips to Vegas and Orlando deals well under $150 out of Denver without refreshing Google Flights all day. If you ever want to fly up front, Elite also sends business and first class drops that regularly land $1,000 to $2,000 below what you’d see booking direct.
Try Going Elite free for 14 days — use code JON25 for 25% off if you keep it.
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Global Viewpoint is a personal blog. All content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute professional financial, medical, or legal advice.
