The Denver Botanic Gardens are some of the largest and most diverse gardens in the world. Unsurprisingly, they’re a great place to bring your kids for an awesome educational experience, take a date, or simply enjoy a beautiful day outdoors.
With two distinct sites, more than 23 acres, and 43 unique gardens, the Denver Botanic Gardens can sometimes feel overwhelming. To take the stress out of appreciating the garden’s natural beauty, we’ve provided a handy guide, telling you everything you need to know about the gardens. From what art exhibits to see, when concerts are held, and practical information including parking and transportation, this is your guide to the Denver Botanic Gardens.
Exhibitions You Don’t Want to Miss
Are you an art lover? Then the Denver Botanic Gardens has plenty to offer you. Both the Chatfield Farms and York Street locations regularly host stunning outdoor and indoor exhibits featuring work from groundbreaking artists, including:
One Fell Swoop by Patrick Dougherty. This outdoor exhibit from the renowned artist places stunning, immersive sculptures woven from flexible saplings and branches right into the landscape at Chatfield Farms.
Seeing Red: Botanical Art & Illustration. From October to January of next year at the York Street location, Seeing Red is an augmented reality exhibition that pairs virtual works with existing features of the local landscape.
Sammy Seung-min Lee: Taking Root. On view from October 1, 2022, until February 5, 2023, this indoor exhibit at the York Street location presents beautiful food sculptures made of flora.
For a full list of current and upcoming exhibitions, check out the Denver Botanic Garden’s Art & Exhibition page.
Upcoming Events and Concerts at the Gardens
The Denver Botanic Gardens host a wide variety of special events throughout the year, including their Music at the Gardens series and a number of seasonal events, including the end-of-summer Fête des Fleurs and their Pumpkin Festival in October.
On top of that, there are fun concerts and other special events being added to the garden’s calendar all the time. For a full list of upcoming events, check out the Denver Botanic Garden’s Calendar.
Where is Denver Botanic Gardens?
The Denver Botanic Gardens has two main locations: Chatfield Farms and York Street. Each location offers a different experience and unique events, so it’s a good idea to plan ahead and figure out where you want to spend the most time.
The gardens’ Chatfield Farms location is located at 8500 West Deer Creek Canyon Road, and boasts 700 acres of native plant refuge and farmland, including a restored 1918 dairy barn and silo and a schoolhouse dating from 1874. For more information about how to purchase tickets, check out the Chatfield Farms location’s official information page. A map of the Chatfield Farms location can be found here.
The garden’s York Street location is located at 1007 York Street and presents a variety of gardens and exhibits on 24 acres. For more information about how to purchase tickets, check out the York Street location’s official information page. A map of the York Street location can be found here.
What Time Does the Denver Botanic Gardens Open?
The Chatfield Farms location is open from 9 AM to 4 PM every day of the week, while York Street is open from 9 AM to 8 PM every day of the week.
How Much are Tickets to Denver Botanic Gardens?
Pricing varies depending on the location you’re planning to visit. To purchase tickets, visit the garden’s Tickets & Log In page. Below, we’ll break down ticket pricing for both Chatfield Farms and York Street.
Chatfield Farms
- Members: Free
- Adults: $10
- Seniors (65+), Military & Veterans (w/ID): $7
- Children (3-15) and Students (w/ID): $7
- Children 2 and Under: Free
York Street Admission
- Members: Free
- Adults: $15
- Seniors (65+) & Military (w/ID): $11.50
- Children (3-15) & Students (w/ID): $11
- Children 2 and Under: Free
There are also a number of Free Days that pop up throughout the year on special dates on holidays. You’ll need to register in advance if you plan to attend on these days. For more information about Free Days, visit the garden’s Free Days page.
With a Denver CityPASS, you can save up to 40% on general admission tickets to the York Street location. For more information, visit CityPASS’s official website today.
How to get a Denver Botanic Gardens Membership
To sign up for a Denver Botanic Gardens Membership, visit the garden’s official Membership page. You’ll be able to learn about all the great benefits membership offers, and choose the plan that works best for you.
Where Can You Park at the Denver Botanic Gardens?
Where you’ll park at the Denver Botanic Gardens will depend on which location you’re visiting. But no matter where you end up, we’ll make sure parking is a breeze.
Chatfield Farms Parking and Transportation
At Chatfield Farms, parking is included free with admission. The parking lot is located near the Earl J. Sinnamon Visitor Center and opens at 8:50 AM. You typically won’t have any trouble finding a great parking spot.
There is a caveat: because Chatfield Farms is located out in the countryside, public transportation options aren’t available. Ride-sharing services may be unreliable, so it’s recommended you drive.
For more information, visit Chatfield Farms’ Parking, Transportation & Accessibility page.
York Street Parking and Transportation
At the York Street location, there is limited free parking available in the site’s parking complex, which is located between York Street and Josephine Street. There are a few restrictions you’ll want to be aware of:
- Vans will need to park on the upper deck of the complex. Due to height restrictions, vans should park on the top deck of the parking complex.
- RVs are not allowed in the parking complex.
There’s also limited street parking available in Cheesman Park and Congress Park. You can also plan ahead and look for other parking options in the surrounding area with a convenient app like ParkMobile.
Finally, you’ll have a few public transportation options at your disposal, including:
- RTD. You’ll use route #24 (York and Josephine Streets) or route #10 (12th Avenue) to reach the Denver Botanic Gardens.
- Bicycle Colorado and Bike Streets. Use these public bike services and forget about the stress of driving. There are plenty of bike racks available at the York Street main entrance.
Dining at the Denver Botanic Gardens
The Denver Botanic Gardens offer a number of on-site dining experiences, so you’ll be sure to find something you enjoy.
- Offshoots Café. Located in the main building by the Water-Smart Garden, this spot serves delicious breakfast in the morning, including pastries and deep dish quiche. It also boasts a full-service coffee bar.
- Hive Garden Bistro. Right next to the famous Monet Pool, Hive Garden Bistro offers more hearty fare, including burgers and sandwiches made to order with local ingredients.
- Copper Door Coffee Roasters. Located at the northeast corner of the Freyer, Copper Door Coffee Roasters offers breakfast sandwiches, burritos, oatmeal, pastries, and of course, some of the best coffee in the city.
For more information, including hours, check out the garden’s Dining page.
FAQs
Still have questions? Have no fear! We’ve brought together answers to some frequently asked questions about visiting the Denver Botanic Gardens below.
What is the Best Time to Visit the Gardens?
There are so many flowers at the Denver Botanic Gardens that something’s always blooming. April and May will generally have the most colorful blooms on display, from tulips to daffodils to roses and much, much more. Later in the summer, Japanese irises and water lilies will begin to make an appearance.
How Much Time to Spend at Denver Botanic Gardens?
On average, people will spend about 3.5 hours in the Denver Botanic Gardens. It usually takes 1.5 hours to walk through the gardens — though, of course, you’ll be making stops to admire the gorgeous greenery.
What are the Denver Botanic Gardens Known for?
The Denver Botanic Gardens are famous for having North America’s largest collection of cold- and temperate-climate plants from around the world, in addition to thousands of other species.
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