United States Mint Tour Entrance and Gift Shop — Attraction in Denver

We arrived on a weekday at 9am (in November, when less tourists visit Denver, I assume) to get tickets - we were able to get tickets for the 12:00 tour. Fyi - tickets are free. It's a bit annoying that there are no tickets that you can purchase prior to the day of the tour and all tickets must be purchased in person. Parking in this area is a nightmare, even on weekdays in the "off-season." So you've got to park, go stand in line to get tickets, then come back later, park, and take the tour. Parking in this area is all paid, fyi.

So when you arrive at the tour, they make a big deal out of saying you must be there on time -- we stood outside for 24 mins waiting to just go through security. You can't bring any bags, your phone must be turned off (you can't take pics on this tour), and everything in your pockets needs to go through the scanner (along with your belt and anything metal you have on you). Once we got inside, the tour moved along pretty slowly (most ppl who were on our tour were senior citizens), it was pretty warm inside, and the tour guide's voice was just the perfect pitch to almost put us to sleep. Luckily (or not) we were forced to stand most of the tour because we didn't want to take any of the benches from one of the senior citizens in the group. I think the fact that we were standing most of the tour was the only reason we didn't fall asleep.

During the tour, you see machines that make pennies, quarters, nickels, etc. and you get to watch two short movies on the history of the Denver mint (and minting coins). It was essentially walking through a very small museum, and having to stop for 20 mins at a time so the guide could speak. At the very end of the tour, you walk by an area where there are three gold bars behind glass and other security measures, so it's not like you're going to get to touch gold or anything like that.

If you decide to stop in the gift shop, it's got a bunch of overpriced tourist items that you can find (mostly) at other nearby shops for cheaper, or online.

Long story short, I'd pass on this tour. You go through far more effort than it's worth to get on the tour, and the tour itself...

Showed up at 6:16am on July 16th (peak tourist season) and there were 12 people waiting in line. By the time the ticket office opened, there were probably 60-70 people waiting for tickets, 50% of which showed up between 6:45 and 7.

It's hard to say whether each of these people were getting one ticket or 5. The final people in line may not have made it in.

A worker came out around 6:20 to start taking everyone's orders early. This is in case any of the time slots fill up, they can let the other people waiting in line know so they don't have to continue standing there. Very cool.

They do this in-person ticket method because they used to do it online, but because it's free they had people all over the country reserving tickets and not showing up. This lowered their no-show rate from 90% to less than 5%.

Based on my own experience, I'd say you should try getting a hotel nearby and walking over to the line around 6:30. You could probably wait until 6:45 if you don't care what time...

I visited in winter. Check schedule as it varies by demand and holidays. It is closed Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Mondays do get more of the weekend visitors.

But since it was December, even though half the visitors on my tour were on flights that afternoon, still only 29 of the 50 spots were filled for the 730 am tour. I did not have to get there at 630 am I guess but I did avoid rush hour traffic. Your ticket is free. You can get up to 5 tickets.

Private Parking at paid lots on 13th just 2 blocks away, but still not a large lot. $15.

First you go thru security, no bags or purses at all.

First half hour is viewing exhibits, and rest rooms. Then a series of viewing rooms. The Denver mint makes coins, not prints bills. I would not recommend under age 12 as it is not that dynamic. Took about an hour. Then there is a gift shop. If you are interested it is worth it, if you are not, you will find it boring, it's not Disney...