About this Location

Facility Overview

The RTD 27th Way & Broadway Park-n-Ride is a strategically positioned transit and commuter parking lot situated at 500 Broadway at the junction of 27th Way in South Boulder, Colorado (ZIP code 80305). Serving as a critical transportation interchange between residential South Boulder, federal research facilities, and the University of Colorado Boulder campus, this open-air surface parking facility provides approximately 59 paved parking stalls configured for streamlined ingress and egress. Its ground-level layout features standard 90-degree parking spaces, clearly demarcated lanes, dedicated accessible stalls, and multimodal infrastructure including bicycle lockers and racks.

Because the facility is an open surface lot without overhead barriers, there are no vertical clearance limits, making it exceptionally accommodating for elevated vehicles. Drivers of standard passenger sedans, crossover SUVs, full-size pickup trucks, cargo vans, and roof-rack-equipped vehicles loaded with skis or bikes can maneuver and park without headroom restrictions. While standard passenger stalls are not tailored for extended multi-axle trailers or oversized recreational vehicles, standard-dimension vehicles will find convenient and accessible parking.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Located on the southern corridor of Boulder, the lot places drivers within minutes of prime educational, scientific, recreational, and dining destinations across the city:

University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder): Situated less than 1 mile north of the facility. Students, staff, and visitors can reach the CU Main Campus, Kittredge complex, and CU Events Center in a brisk 15-minute walk or a 4-minute bus transfer.
Folsom Field: Located just under 1.5 miles north, making this lot an exceptional park-and-ride staging point during Colorado Buffaloes home football games to avoid heavy campus gridlock.
Federal Research Hubs (NIST & NOAA): The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) campus and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Boulder facilities are located directly across Broadway, accessible within a 5-minute walk.
Chautauqua Park & The Flatirons: Located approximately 1.4 miles west. Visitors can catch the seasonal Hop2Chautauqua and Park-to-Park shuttles directly from the adjacent Broadway transit stop for direct access to iconic Flatirons hiking trailheads and the historic Chautauqua Auditorium.
Eldorado Canyon State Park: Renowned worldwide for rock climbing and hiking, accessible on summer weekends and holidays via the free Eldo Shuttle departing right along this transit stop.
Martin Acres & Table Mesa Dining: Walking distance to local South Boulder staples, neighborhood coffee houses, cafes, and bakeries.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Arriving at the 27th Way & Broadway Park-n-Ride is exceptionally easy for regional commuters. The lot is positioned immediately off US-36 (Denver-Boulder Turnpike) via the Baseline Road and 27th Way exits, allowing incoming travelers from Denver, Broomfield, Westminster, and Louisville to park immediately upon entering South Boulder without fighting inner-city stoplights. Direct vehicle access is located on 27th Way just off Broadway and Moorhead Avenue.

As an official Regional Transportation District (RTD) hub, the facility offers outstanding public transit connections right beside the parking bays:

Route SKIP: Boulder’s high-frequency north-south transit spine, carrying riders up Broadway through the CU campus, Downtown Boulder, and north to North Broadway every few minutes.
Route DASH: Provides regional connections east toward Louisville and Lafayette along South Boulder Road.
Route BOUND: Connects north along 30th Street to central shopping hubs and Boulder Junction.
Route GS: Directly links Boulder commuters south to Golden and the RTD W Line at the Jefferson County Government Center.
Route AB1 (SkyRide): Direct express bus link connecting South Boulder commuters straight to Denver International Airport (DEN).
Seasonal Shuttles: Direct access to the free Hop2Chautauqua concert/park shuttle and Boulder County’s Eldo Shuttle to Eldorado Canyon.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Paved open-air surface parking with approximately 59 marked vehicle stalls.
Zero vertical height restrictions, accommodating high-roof vans, lifted trucks, and roof accessories.
Designated ADA accessible parking stalls located adjacent to transit platforms and walkways.
Bike-n-Ride infrastructure, featuring heavy-duty bike racks and secure, weather-protected bike lockers.
Covered passenger transit waiting shelters with seating, schedules, and route maps.
Overnight safety illumination providing perimeter lighting throughout late-night transfers.
Mobile app payment compatibility via ParkMobile and RTD regional transit tools.

Ideal For

CU Boulder Commuters: Students, faculty, and campus visitors aiming to avoid costly on-campus parking permits by utilizing a single hop on the SKIP or DASH bus lines.
Flatirons & Trail Hikers: Outdoor recreationists seeking a stress-free meeting spot to board the Eldo Shuttle or Chautauqua Park-to-Park shuttles without competing for crowded trailhead parking.
Regional Transit Travelers: Day commuters heading south toward Golden (via Route GS) or east toward Lafayette and Louisville.
Game-Day & Concert Fans: Event attendees headed to Folsom Field, CU Events Center, or Chautauqua Auditorium seeking swift departures onto US-36 post-event.
Airport Day Travelers: Travelers hopping onto the RTD AB1 SkyRide bus for single-day journeys to Denver International Airport.

Visitor & Driver Tips

Overnight Parking Restrictions: Unlike multi-day garage facilities such as the Table Mesa Park-n-Ride garage down the road, this particular lot enforces strict no-overnight parking rules. Ensure your vehicle departs prior to late-night transit service shutdowns to avoid towing or citations.
RTD District Parking Rates: Vehicles registered within the RTD boundary qualify for free parking during normal transit use (up to 24 hours). Vehicles registered outside the RTD boundary are required to pay the standard daily out-of-district parking fee (typically $4.00) via ParkMobile or designated payment portals prior to boarding transit.
Arrive Early During Events: Because the lot offers an intimate footprint of fewer than 60 spaces, stalls fill rapidly on CU Buffaloes home football game days, during Colorado Music Festival performances at Chautauqua, and during morning weekday rush hours.
GPS Navigation: When setting GPS directions, inputting '500 Broadway, Boulder, CO' or '27th Way & Moorhead Ave' will direct you cleanly to the driveway entrance off 27th Way.