Westminster

Denver-area suburban city between Boulder and the capital, with trails, open space, and the Butterfly Pavilion.

Westminster is a suburban city of about 115,000 people in the Denver metropolitan area, sitting between Denver and Boulder in Adams and Jefferson counties. It has grown rapidly since the 1990s and is now one of Colorado's larger cities, though it functions primarily as a suburb rather than a destination in its own right. The city's main attraction is its location: Denver is 15 minutes south, Boulder 20 minutes north, and Rocky Mountain National Park is about an hour away.

The Butterfly Pavilion is the most notable specific attraction in Westminster — a tropical insect and invertebrate zoo that is genuinely well done, particularly for families. The Big Dry Creek Trail and surrounding open space offer accessible walking and cycling within the city. The Promenade at Westminster is a large outdoor shopping and entertainment complex that anchors the commercial core along US-36.

For most travellers, Westminster is a practical place to stay when visiting the Denver-Boulder corridor rather than a destination in itself. But it is a comfortable, well-resourced base with easy freeway access to the whole Front Range.

Guide

Getting There

Westminster is served by Denver International Airport (DIA), about 30 minutes east via US-36 and I-270. From downtown Denver, US-36 runs directly through Westminster toward Boulder — the city's main commercial strip follows this corridor.

RTD (Regional Transportation District) operates bus and light rail connections to Westminster. The Westminster Station on the B Line light rail connects to downtown Denver Union Station in about 25 minutes. From Boulder, the Flatiron Flyer express bus uses the US-36 managed lanes and reaches Westminster's transit stations in around 20 minutes. A car is useful for getting around within the city, as the suburban layout is not particularly walkable between destinations.

Guide

Things to Do

Westminster's main draws are practical rather than spectacular. The Butterfly Pavilion is the standout attraction for families and anyone with an interest in invertebrates. The city's open space system offers accessible trail running and cycling along Big Dry Creek. For shopping and eating, the Promenade is the hub. Most visitors come through Westminster on their way somewhere else — but the following are worth stopping for.