Welcome to ZDV
A Newcomer's Guide to Longmont and Colorado
Congratulations on your assignment to Denver Center. Whether you are coming from the Academy or transferring from another facility, this guide covers what new controllers ask about most: where to live near the facility, what Longmont is like, and the best of Colorado for your days off.
in Discounted Services for ZDV Air Traffic Controllers
As an air traffic controller, you receive over 30% in discounted services from New Horizons Real Estate on your move. Call or text us to see exactly what applies to you.
Claim Your Controller Discount Call or Text 720-432-8695ZDV at a Glance
Denver Air Route Traffic Control Center sits at 2211 17th Avenue in Longmont. It is one of 22 en route centers in the country, working IFR traffic across all or part of nine states.
Your neighbors on the scope: Salt Lake, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Albuquerque and Los Angeles Centers.
Living in Longmont
Longmont is a city of about 100,000 people in northeastern Boulder County, about 15 miles from Boulder and 34 miles from downtown Denver. Longs Peak fills the western skyline, and the city is known for its walkable historic Main Street, craft breweries and miles of greenway trail.
- City-run utilities: one bill covers electric, water, sewer and trash, and the city's NextLight fiber is a popular internet choice.
- Free local buses: several RTD routes inside the city are fare-free.
- Outdoors close by: the St. Vrain Greenway, Union Reservoir for paddling and fishing, and three city golf courses.
- Breweries: Left Hand Brewing and Oskar Blues both call Longmont home.
Local Favorites in Longmont
- Left Hand Brewing, with a summer beer garden
- Oskar Blues Tasty Weasel Taproom
- Rosalee's Pizzeria, East Coast-style pies
- Cheese Importers, a European-style cheese market
- Dry Land Distillers, craft spirits and cocktails
- Main Street dining, the Saturday farmers market and live shows at the historic Dickens Opera House
Hours and menus change; check before you go.
Get the full Longmont Relocation Guide: utilities, DMV deadlines, schools, neighborhoods by price, and a first-90-days checklist.
Longmont Relocation Guide Download the PDF Longmont Homes for SaleWhere Controllers Live
Shift work makes the commute matter. Many controllers live in Longmont itself, and these nearby towns are popular for an easy drive to the facility:
| Commute | Towns | Why people choose them |
|---|---|---|
| Minutes away | Longmont, Niwot, Hygiene | Shortest drive; Niwot and Hygiene add larger lots and a quieter feel |
| Short drive | Mead, Firestone, Frederick, Berthoud, Lyons, Gunbarrel | Newer neighborhoods, more house for the money, or small-town and foothills living |
| Longer drive | Erie, Boulder, Johnstown, Loveland, Lafayette, Louisville, Superior | Bigger-city amenities, top-rated schools or a midpoint for a spouse who works elsewhere |
Drive times vary with traffic, weather and shift times. Tell us your schedule and we will map real commutes for the homes you like.
Colorado: Things You Have to Do at Least Once
Most Popular Things to Do
Hiking and camping, skiing and snowboarding, mountain biking, fly fishing, whitewater rafting, rock climbing in Boulder Canyon and Eldorado Canyon, golf, and a craft beer scene with hundreds of breweries across the state. For the best of the outdoors, the Indian Peaks and Rocky Mountain National Park are both within about an hour of Longmont.
Best Restaurants
Colorado has its own Michelin Guide. As of the September 2026 awards, these Denver restaurants hold Michelin stars:
| Restaurant | Neighborhood | Michelin |
|---|---|---|
| The Wolf's Tailor | Sunnyside | Two stars |
| Beckon | Five Points | One star |
| Brutø | LoDo | One star |
| Alma Fonda Fina | Highland | One star |
| Mezcaleria Alma | Highland | One star |
| Margot | South Denver | One star |
| Kizaki | South Denver | One star |
| Milpero | Denver | One star (new in 2026) |
Closer to home, Frasca Food and Wine in Boulder earned a Michelin star in the first Colorado guide, and the Pearl Street Mall and Main Street Longmont are full of casual options.
Music Venues
- Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison
- Ball Arena, Denver, for arena tours
- Mission Ballroom, Denver
- Fillmore Auditorium, Ogden Theatre, Bluebird Theater and Gothic Theatre, Denver
- Boulder Theater, Fox Theatre and Chautauqua Auditorium, Boulder
- Planet Bluegrass, Lyons, home of RockyGrass and the Folks Festival
- Dickens Opera House, Longmont
- Live music at Longmont breweries such as Left Hand
Sports Teams
| Team | League | Home |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | NFL | Empower Field at Mile High, Denver |
| Denver Nuggets | NBA | Ball Arena, Denver |
| Colorado Avalanche | NHL | Ball Arena, Denver |
| Colorado Rockies | MLB | Coors Field, Denver |
| Colorado Rapids | MLS | Commerce City |
| Denver Summit FC | NWSL | Denver |
| Colorado Mammoth | NLL lacrosse | Ball Arena, Denver |
| Colorado Eagles | AHL hockey | Loveland |
| CU Buffaloes and CSU Rams | College | Boulder and Fort Collins |
Colorado 101 for Newcomers
- Altitude: drink more water than you think, go easy on alcohol at first and wear sunscreen year-round.
- Driver license and registration: you have 30 days to get a Colorado license and 90 days to register your vehicles. Each relocation guide below lists the local offices.
- Winter driving: Colorado's traction law applies on I-70 in the mountains in winter. Good tires matter.
- Weather: hail drives home insurance costs, and afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer.
in Discounted Services for ZDV Air Traffic Controllers
As an air traffic controller, you receive over 30% in discounted services from New Horizons Real Estate on your move. Call or text us to see exactly what applies to you.
Claim Your Controller Discount Call or Text 720-432-8695Relocation Guides for Every Nearby Town
Each guide covers utilities, DMV offices and deadlines, schools, neighborhoods by price and a first-90-days checklist you can print.
Boulder County
Carbon Valley and Weld County
Northern Colorado
Denver Metro
Welcome to Colorado
We help controllers find the right home, line up trusted lenders, inspectors and movers, and make the move as easy as possible around a training schedule. Reach Matthew Starr at 720-432-8695 or matt@newhorizonsre.com.
Claim Your Controller Discount Search Longmont HomesUpdated October 2026. New Horizons Real Estate is an independent real estate company and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the FAA. Discount eligibility and terms are available on request. ZDV facts from public sources; Michelin awards from the September 2026 Michelin Guide Colorado announcement. General information, not legal, tax or financial advice.
Header photo: downtown Longmont by David Shankbone, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
