Need a weekend escape? After studying weekend flight pricing and availability patterns out of Denver International Airport (DEN), we've put together the top 8 cheapest nonstop roundtrip destinations reachable on a 3-day weekend. All flights on this list are direct and roundtrip—no connections, no wasted travel time.
Here's what we found. The top 8 cheapest weekend destinations from Denver:
- Phoenix, AZ (PHX)
- Las Vegas, NV (LAS)
- North Platte, NE (LBF)
- Durango, CO (DRO)
- Salt Lake City, UT (SLC)
- Portland, OR (PDX)
- Billings, MT (BIL)
- Seattle, WA (SEA)
1) Phoenix, AZ (PHX) for $150
Our study indicates that Phoenix appeared in nearly every search with both Thu–Sun and Fri–Mon fares well covered. The Fri–Mon fares win on price, and the 7:05 pm Thursday departure is the most common time we've tracked despite the Friday fares being cheaper. Strong availability, easy to find last-minute.
Top things to do: Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix delivers intense desert beauty—the Camelback Mountain hike, the Desert Botanical Garden showcasing native plants, and the Roosevelt Row Arts District's murals create an aesthetic experience. Rideshares and cars work; the sprawl is real but manageable. The food scene has evolved significantly with serious culinary ambition. Check out our Weekend Guide to Phoenix for even more travel ideas.
2) Las Vegas, NV (LAS) for $150
Based on flight data from our analysis, Vegas from DEN is the most dependable cheap weekend flight on this entire list. Vegas appeared in every single search with both Thu–Sun and Fri–Mon fares fully represented. The Fri–Mon fares are cheaper, and the 7:05 pm Friday departure is essentially the default flight for this route. Easy to find and consistently priced well.
Top things to do: Las Vegas, NV
Vegas is sensory overload by design—the Strip's architectural spectacle, the Bellagio fountain shows, and the Fremont Street vintage neon each tell Vegas stories. Monorail and rideshares make walking enough; everything is compact. The food culture surprises with legitimate sophistication and world-class restaurants. Check out our Weekend Guide to Las Vegas for even more travel ideas.
3) North Platte, NE (LBF) for $200
Our flight research demonstrates that North Platte barely showed up in our research. North Platte is a rare find from DEN, appearing just a couple of times across both schedules. But the price when it surfaces is legitimately excellent. The 8:34 pm Friday departure is the one to watch. A genuine sleeper pick if you spot it.
Top things to do: North Platte, NE
North Platte is a genuine Great Plains escape—the Platte River offers wildlife viewing and kayaking, the historic downtown preserves frontier character, and the open sky delivers starry nights. A rental car is essential; the town is small and walkable. The agricultural culture means excellent farm stands and authentic prairie hospitality.
4) Durango, CO (DRO) for $200
Data from our study shows that Durango only appeared a couple of times across our research, split evenly between the two schedules. The Fri–Mon fares are cheaper when both show up. The 7:43 pm Friday departure is the one to grab. Low frequency, high reward.
Top things to do: Durango, CO
Durango is an outdoor adventure hub and charming mountain town—the San Juan Mountains offer hiking and mountain biking trails, the historic downtown has genuine character with galleries and restaurants, and the Durango-Silverton narrow-gauge railway offers scenic rides. A rental car or shuttle handles transportation; downtown is walkable. The adventure culture blends with artistic community. Check out our Weekend Guide to Durango for even more travel ideas.
5) Salt Lake City, UT (SLC) for $200
Based on our 2026 flights study, Salt Lake City is consistently available from DEN. Salt Lake City appeared across nearly all our research with both Thu–Sun and Fri–Mon fares well represented. The Fri–Mon fares are cheaper, and the 7:20 pm Thursday departure is the most common time despite the Friday fares being the better deal. A reliable, predictable route.
Top things to do: Salt Lake City, UT
Salt Lake City blends mountain access with surprising urban culture—the Wasatch Range provides world-class skiing and summer hiking, Temple Square offers cultural history, and the Avenues neighborhood delivers local restaurants and galleries. Public transit and rideshares work; downtown is walkable and compact. The outdoor recreation access rivals any western city.
6) Portland, OR (PDX) for $200
Our flights study reveals that Portland from DEN is one of the most available cheap weekend routes on this list. Portland appeared in every search with both Thu–Sun and Fri–Mon fares fully covered. The Thursday-departing fares actually win on price here, which is worth emphasizing. The 7:15 pm Thursday departure is the most common time we've tracked, and Thursday tends to be the cheaper option on this route.
Top things to do: Portland, OR
Portland is a creative city built for walking—Powell's Books and the Pearl District galleries, the Forest Park urban trails, and neighborhood breweries offer endless exploration. Bicycles and public transit handle everything; a car is optional. The food philosophy prioritizes local and seasonal; the results are genuinely exceptional. Check out our Weekend Guide to Portland for even more travel ideas.
7) Billings, MT (BIL) for $200
According to data from our study, Billings surfaces with moderate frequency from DEN. Thursday-departing fares appear more often than Friday, but the Fri–Mon fares edge out on price when both are available. The 7:30 pm Thursday departure is the most common time we've seen. A good find when you want a quick Montana escape.
Top things to do: Billings, MT
Billings is a gateway to Big Sky Montana—the nearby Beartooth Highway and Gallatin Range offer dramatic mountain scenery, the historic downtown has character and local restaurants, and outdoor recreation dominates the culture. A rental car is necessary; the town is compact. The wide-open spaces and genuine frontier hospitality create authentic Montana experience.
8) Seattle, WA (SEA) for $250
Statistically speaking, Seattle is a near-constant cheap weekend flight from DEN. Seattle appeared in nearly every search with solid coverage across both Thu–Sun and Fri–Mon schedules. The Fri–Mon fares are cheaper, and the 8:54 pm Friday departure is the most common time in our research. Dependable and consistently available.
Top things to do: Seattle, WA
Seattle offers green climate and genuine urban energy—Pike Place Market, Elliott Bay waterfront, and the surrounding mountains create Pacific Northwest atmosphere. Public transit and bicycles dominate transportation; a car is optional downtown. The coffee culture is authentic, and the creative energy feels genuine. Check out our Weekend Guide to Seattle for even more travel ideas.
Ready to escape Denver for a weekend?
On Skyweekend, you could find cheap, last-minute weekend flights from Denver to anywhere across the US. Our flights are roundtrip and perfectly-timed for a weekend getaway. Explore flights.
