United States Air Force Academy

Go to home page
National Character & Leadership Symposium

Travel, Directions & Lodging

NCLS shuttle van parked in front of bus stop.

Airport Shuttles

Transportation from Colorado Springs Airport will be available on Wednesday, February 21st. Shuttles will depart the airport for the Academy every 1.5 hours beginning at 11 a.m. and concluding at 10 p.m. Arriving participants who indicated they require transportation to the Academy can find shuttle personnel outside the baggage claim area.

On Saturday, February 24th, shuttles will again be available to transport participants from the Academy to the Colorado Springs Airport. Saturday shuttles will depart the Cadet Area for the Falcon Club at 4 a.m., 6 a.m., 8 a.m., and 10:30 a.m. They will depart the Falcon Club at 4:15 a.m., 6:15 a.m., 8:15 a.m., and 10:45 a.m. respectively and arrive at the Colorado Springs Airport approximately 45 minutes later.

Shuttles will not run to or from Colorado Springs Airport on Thursday, February 22nd, or Friday, February 23rd. Transportation will not be provided to or from Denver International Airport or other local locations. Participants will be required to coordinate their own travel arrangements.

Driving Instructions

North and South gates are open from 0530-2200 for Visitor access.

If you are a non-DOD ID card holder please print and display in your windshield the NCLS pass you received in the pre-arrival email. Be prepared to show your driver’s license, vehicle registration, and proof of insurance to the security guards. Inform them that you are participating in NCLS. Gate guards will have a complete list of all NCLS attendees and will allow you to enter the base once your credentials have been verified.

If you are a non-DOD ID card holder and plan to access the base outside the open visiting hours of 0530-2200, please let us know your specific arrival and departure times so that we can plan for your access to the Academy grounds.

Please note: All community participants, visiting students and faculty, and distinguished guests must check-in and receive their badges at the Falcon Club before traversing to Arnold Hall.

Get directions and maps of the Colorado Springs area and the USAF Academy.

Lodging

All visiting faculty and guests will be required to make their own lodging reservations. There are several hotels within 3.5 miles from the Academy. Alternatively, USAFA’s Rampart lodge may have limited rooms available that will be released to the public after February 15th.

On Base Transportation

As visitor parking in the cadet area during the symposium is prohibited, we will provide transportation from the Falcon Club to the cadet area throughout the symposium. Bus stops will be located outside of Arnold Hall, Fairchild Hall, and the Falcon Club.  These shuttles will run continuously from 7:45 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. each day of the symposium. NCLS guests staying off base are responsible for their own transportation to the Falcon Club each day. Adequate parking is available at the Falcon Club for individuals wishing to drive their personal or rental vehicles.

There will be a shuttle service available from Arnold Hall to the Falcon Club on both days of the Symposium for dinner periods from 4:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m on Thursday and 4:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Friday.

Parking

Parking in the Cadet Area is restrictive and there is limited public parking available at Arnold Hall. All guests are required to check-in at Falcon Club and take the shuttle into the Cadet Area.