DIA to Littleton. Where to Live? (Denver, Aurora: relocating, travel, job)

[cancanjan]

My husband recently took a job at DIA so we will be relocating to the Denver area. We have family in Littleton, so we would like to find a good, moderately priced, family-friendly area that is not far from DIA and southern Denver suburbs. Does anyone have any recommendations?

[2bindenver]

Halfway between? Where in Littleton? I'd look at Aurora and Centennial.

[sumisu]

Hi Cancanjan -

Some neighborhoods worth checking out between DIA and Smoky Hill Road, along the E470 corridor & Gun Club Road are:

Murphy Creek
Tallgrass
Tollgate
Cross Creek
Sorrell Ranch
Wheatlands
Tallyns Reach

All of these are nice and make for an easy commute to DIA and Littleton.

Good luck. Sumisu

[Fuzz]

Littleton seems a bit far away for working at DIA. I used to live in Lakewood (near C-470 and US-285) and did the drive to the airport quite a bit for business travel (via US-6E > I-25N > I-70E as well as C-470N > I-70E).

I-25 should be avoided for the most part, no matter what time of day.

I'd avoid having to drive on I-70 as well. The evening rush hour going west on 70 between DIA and I-25 is absolutely horrible -- reminds of the worst rush hour traffic in Chicago (and that's saying something!) -- surprisingly, it's not that bad going east in the mornings.

E-470 always seems to run pretty freely (the few times I've taken it to/from DIA). So, as sumisu suggested, neighborhoods off that should be good.

Haven't driven on 225 enough to know how that moves in rush hour.

[kwk722]

I would also suggest east or southeast Aurora, near 470. DIA is a LONG drive from most of Littleton.

[NU97]

I'd echo was was posted above -- SE Aurora would be great. I live near Quincy/E470 and it takes me 18 minutes to get to DIA via E470 (not a cheap road, but IMHO very worth it b/c of the time you save). The Southlands shopping center is fabulous and has nearly anything and everything that you would need. Tallgrass is "closing out" so you might be able to get some great deals there; Copper Leaf, Wheatlands, Beacon Pointe, Southshores, Serenity Ridge, Sorrell Ranch, Tallyn's Reach -- all worth a look! Those are generally thought of as places where you'd build your house, but I know there are a lot of existing newer homes in those areas that have been very slow moving. You could get a great deal -- I definitely know people who are desperate to sell!

[tfox]

E-470 is a great road for occasional trips to the airport, but I think you have to consider the costs if you take it every day both ways. Let's say you live in Lone Tree or HR on the south side, and take E-470 from the I-25S exit all the way up to Pena Blvd. That's $5.75 each way, or $11.50 round trip. On an average month you're looking at $265-$275 just in tolls. Ouch!

Of course, SE aurora is closer and the tolls wouldn't be AS bad, ($4.00 versus $5.75), but you'd probably also have to take E-470 more often for other purposes given SE Aurora is somewhat of a "captive audience" for E-470.

It's nice that E-470 has given us a good option for occasional trips, but I think it's often misunderstood by newcomers who picture it as being like eastern Turnpikes in cost. It's not. It's one of the most expensive toll roads in the country.