About this Location

Facility Overview

The West Lot in Denver, Colorado (ZIP 80211) is a prime open-air surface parking facility situated strategically along the South Platte River corridor, right at the intersection of West 23rd Avenue, Children's Museum Drive, and Water Street. Nestled on the border between Denver's historic Jefferson Park neighborhood, the bustling Lower Highland (LoHi) district, and the Central Platte Valley, this lot serves as an indispensable parking destination for both premier family attractions and major regional sporting events. The facility features a sprawling, level paved surface layout with wide driving aisles and standard, clearly painted stalls that ensure smooth maneuverability.

Because the West Lot is an uncovered, outdoor surface lot, it offers completely unobstructed overhead clearance with no vertical height restrictions. This makes it uniquely accommodating for a broad spectrum of vehicle types that commonly struggle in conventional downtown parking decks. Standard sedans, compact crossovers, full-size pickup trucks (such as Ford F-150s and Ram 1500s), full-length passenger SUVs, high-top conversion vans, and vehicles equipped with roof racks, cargo boxes, or mountain bike carriers can easily access and park within the property.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

The West Lot boasts one of the most advantageous locations in central Denver, placing drivers within comfortable walking distance or a momentary ride of some of the Mile High City's most iconic destinations:

Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus: Situated directly adjacent to the lot, providing effortless door-to-door access for parents, strollers, and visiting families.
Downtown Aquarium: Located immediately across Water Street (less than a 2-minute walk), home to over a million gallons of marine exhibits, dining, and family entertainment.
Empower Field at Mile High: Home of the NFL's Denver Broncos and host of major stadium concert tours, situated roughly 0.7 miles south. Eventgoers enjoy an easy, scenic 12-to-15-minute walk along the paved, flat South Platte River Trail directly to the stadium's north gates, completely bypassing stadium-loop gridlock.
Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park: Just across the pedestrian footbridge over the river and light rail tracks, reachable within a 10-minute stroll.
Parks & Outdoor Recreation: Immediate access to Fishback Landing Park, Gates Crescent Park, and the South Platte River Trail, with the kayak chutes and green lawns of Confluence Park and the flagship Denver REI store only 8 to 10 minutes away on foot.
Lower Highland (LoHi) Dining & Nightlife: Elevated just up the hill to the west and northwest, LoHi's culinary hotspots—including Linger, Root Down, Avanti Food & Beverage, and Little Man Ice Cream—are within a 12-to-15-minute walk or a 3-minute ride.
Ball Arena & Downtown: Ball Arena (home of the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche) is approximately 1.1 miles away, easily accessible via pedestrian bridges crossing the Central Platte Valley into Lower Downtown (LoDo) and Denver Union Station.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Ingress and egress are straightforward and engineered to handle high-turnover traffic. Drivers enter the lot via West 23rd Avenue and Children's Museum Drive off Water Street. The facility's greatest logistical strength is its immediate proximity to Interstate 25 (I-25). Situated right next to Exit 211 (23rd Ave / 20th Ave), motorists can hop onto I-25 North or South in under two minutes after leaving the gate, effectively bypassing the intense city-center bottlenecks along Speer Boulevard and Colfax Avenue following sold-out stadium games or weekend festivals.

Public transit and multi-modal travel options are abundant in the immediate vicinity. The historic Denver Trolley runs along the west bank of the South Platte River, offering seasonal stops right at the Children's Museum and Downtown Aquarium. For regional rail service, the RTD Light Rail's Ball Arena-Elitch Gardens Station (serving the E and W lines) is accessible via the pedestrian bridge across the tracks. Additionally, the South Platte River Trail delivers uninterrupted, grade-separated bicycle and pedestrian corridors connecting south toward Littleton and north through central Denver.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Open-Air Surface Parking: Level asphalt ground with wide spaces and no overhead height barriers.
Digital & Contactless Payment: Compatible with mobile booking platforms (such as SpotHero and ParkMobile) and equipped with on-site pay-by-plate digital payment kiosks accepting all major credit/debit cards.
ADA Accessibility: Designated accessible parking stalls positioned closest to pedestrian curb cuts, sidewalk ramps, and venue entrances.
Security Lighting: High-mast exterior illumination throughout the lot to provide safety and visibility during night events and late departures.
Stroller & Pedestrian Friendly: Direct curb-free transitions onto paved park pathways and the South Platte River pedestrian trail network.
Round-the-Clock Access: Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for daytime museum visitors and nighttime stadium attendees alike.

Ideal For

Families & Museum Guests: Parents and caregivers visiting the Children's Museum and Downtown Aquarium seeking stress-free parking with no stairs or tight garage ramps.
Broncos Fans & Stadium Concertgoers: Savvy football fans and concert attendees at Empower Field who want guaranteed parking with a direct, flat walking path and immediate highway escape post-event.
Outdoor Enthusiasts & Cyclists: Runners, walkers, and cyclists using the South Platte River Trail and Fishback Landing Park as a trailhead launch point.
LoHi & Riverfront Visitors: Guests looking for accessible, off-street parking before heading to Riverfront Park, Confluence Park, or LoHi eateries.

Visitor & Driver Tips

Pre-Book on Game Days: During Denver Broncos home games and major stadium concerts at Empower Field, spaces fill to capacity well before kickoff or showtime. Reserve your spot in advance through SpotHero or ParkMobile to secure entry and lock in competitive rates.
Dynamic Event Rates: Standard daytime museum parking is often complimentary or low-cost for registered patrons, but parking during stadium events transitions to special event flat-rate pricing. Always check posted rates and signage upon arrival.
GPS Navigation Advice: Set your navigation system directly to 2121 Children's Museum Dr or 763 W 23rd Ave, Denver. When approaching from I-25, take Exit 211, follow 23rd Avenue east toward Water Street, and take the immediate spur onto Children's Museum Drive.
Post-Event Departure Route: Exiting onto I-25 North or South from 23rd Avenue is significantly faster than trying to route through downtown Denver. If heading toward LoDo, consider walking across the Platte River pedestrian bridges rather than driving across town during peak exit surges.