Moving from San Diego to Denver

Quick facts about Denver

Denver is the capitol and the largest city in the state of Colorado. Located just about 12 miles away from the Rocky Mountains, Denver is often referred to as the “Mile High” city because its official elevation is exactly 5,280 feet –or exactly one mile—above sea level. The Denver metropolitan area is ranked as the 16^th largest metropolitan area in the country. Moving from San Diego, CA to beautiful Denver, CO will be the best decision you have ever made!

The benefits of Denver’s location

Denver’s location makes it a major center in the southwestern United States. It’s the crossroads for several interstates, a major international airport, and situated on a line between the central and Mountain Time zones. As the largest city in a 500 mile radius, Denver is a natural location for storage and distribution for all of the mountain states, southwest states, and many of the western states of the United States.

The major airport, Denver International Airport (DIA), is a major stop for several international flights, and many products are sent here from Mexico and other South American countries. DIA is the 10^th busiest airport on earth, and at 53 miles, it’s the largest airport in the US –actually physically larger than the island of Manhattan!

Denver’s location in the Mountain Time Zone makes it a perfect place for the telecommunications industry to communicate with Europe, Asia, and obviously all of the Americas in the same business day. While San Diego is known for its port, it is relatively isolated, especially compared to a crossroads city like Denver. Consider the fact that DIA is not only larger than the San Diego airport, but it is also busier. Denver also deals with a larger portion of the storage and distribution industry than San Diego, which should say something considering that San Diego is a few times larger than Denver.

The Denver economy

Having such a prime location for economic functions gives Denver quite a unique advantage over most other cities in the Southwest. With a GDP of over $156 billion in 2010, the Denver metropolitan area is the 18^th largest economic center in the country. The largest contributors to the Denver economy include both the federal and state government, and the logistics and mining industries. Its location next to the mineral rich Rocky Mountains has provided the area with considerable benefits. After the virtual collapse of the oil industry in the 1980s, the area of Denver became a prime location for the energy industry, and several energy corporations have set up headquarters in the Denver area including: Noble Energy, EnCana, and Anadarko. Denver is also home to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory which has made significant contributions to the renewable energy field including marine and hydrokinetic power technologies, and the most advanced wind energy turbines that are used in several Midwest states as well as Texas.

The Denver culture

With at least 27% of the population five and older speaking a language other than English, Denver is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the American mountain states. Largely due to its physical location, Denver’s incredible amount of diversity shows itself in its residents’ lifestyle. The city of Denver is home to several very notable museums and the second largest performing arts center after Lincoln Center in New York City. The neighborhood of LoDo is considered the most “alive” neighborhood in Denver with an impressive amount of bars, clubs, art galleries, and restaurants. With its proximity to the Rocky Mountains, Denver also has outdoor activities engrained in its culture. Compared to a city like San Diego, Denver may not have sunny beaches, and year round sunshine, but Denver does have skiing, hiking, and the highest mountains in the continental United States. As the birthplace of the Southwestern Omelet, Denver is also a significant area for Mexican cuisine, and is home to some of the most prominent new Mexican restaurants in the Southwest.

Denver’s Weather

Unlike San Diego, which has generally the same weather throughout the year, Denver has four very distinct seasons. The summer highs average in the mid to upper 80s, with a few days breaking 100 degrees in July, while winter lows can drop below 25 degrees and quickly snap from just cold to freezing within days. Although this weather is certainly much more different than San Diego, this also gives Denver more uniqueness. Overall, much like San Diego, Denver receives an average of 300 days of sunshine annually, much more than the average US city, also allowing more time for outdoor activities, and increasing the area’s attractiveness to solar power.

Moving to Denver?

Go U-Pack^®. With U-Pack, we do the driving and you do the saving. Our rates are affordable and we take care of the transportation so you don’t have to drive. Get a free moving quote and start saving today! Explore our locations here to find one near you. 

Welcome to beautiful Denver, CO!

Home to an incredibly ethnically diverse population, high level of culture, and situated as one of the most important crossroad cities in the United States, Denver is truly a great place to call home. Compared to the concrete jungle of San Diego, Denver is surrounded by picturesque mountains, forests, and foothills. Living in Denver, you will experience everything that a big city has to offer –restaurants, bars, museums, art galleries, clubs—while still being just a drive from some of the tallest mountains in North America. Make the move from San Diego, CA to Denver, CO, you will never regret it!