October 28, 2025
Getting From Here to There: The Looking Glass Commute
Looking Glass, the new home community in Parker, is the starting point for many professionals who commute to and from work in adjacent towns and cities. We decided to take a closer look at commuting distances and times, and solicit advice from the “veterans” who have been making the trips by car since moving in.
Major Employers Near Parker, Colorado
Parker is conveniently situated southeast of Denver and offers great access to a variety of large employers in the region (as well as to an array of restaurants, shopping malls and recreational/entertainment venues).
- Downtown Denver: Home to major employers such as DaVita, VF Corporation, Dish Network, and several financial institutions.
- DTC (Denver Tech Center): Known for technology, telecommunications, and business service companies including Comcast, Oracle, and Arrow Electronics.
- Centennial Medical Plaza and UC Health Parker Hospital: Significant healthcare employers in the immediate area, as well as
- Lockheed Martin Space Systems (Waterton Campus): A major aerospace employer located southwest of Parker.
- Anschutz Medical Campus (Aurora): A cluster of healthcare and research institutions.
Commuting Distances and Times
The following table summarizes the approximate commuting distances and typical drive times from Looking Glass in Parker to various large employers and adjacent towns and cities. Times are based on average traffic conditions and may vary during peak hours.
| Destination | Approximate Distance (miles) | Typical Drive Time (minutes) |
| Downtown Denver | 25 | 35-50 |
| Denver Tech Center (DTC) | 15 | 20-30 |
| Centennial | 13 | 18-25 |
| Aurora (Anschutz Medical Campus) | 22 | 30-40 |
| Castle Rock | 17 | 20-25 |
| Highlands Ranch | 17 | 25-35 |
| Lockheed Martin (Waterton Campus) | 28 | 35-45 |
| UC Health Parker Hospital | 4 | 7-10 |
| Englewood | 18 | 25-30 |
| Lone Tree | 11 | 15-20 |
Adjacent Towns and Cities
Residents of Looking Glass have access to a variety of neighboring towns and cities, each offering unique amenities, shopping, entertainment and employment opportunities:
- Castle Rock: A vibrant town to the south with retail, dining, and recreational activities – biking, hiking, trails and pickleball.
- Centennial: A growing suburb with business parks and family-friendly amenities.
- Lone Tree: A small city known for the Park Meadows Mall, light rail station, a variety of restaurants, the Lone Tree Arts Center and its proximity to DTC.
- Aurora: One of Colorado’s largest cities with diverse employment opportunities and healthcare options.
- Highlands Ranch: Popular for its schools and parks and 24-theater complex, located southwest of Parker.
Public Transportation Options
While most commuters in Parker (70 percent) rely on their own vehicles to get to and from jobs, some public transit options are available. The Regional Transportation District (RTD) offers bus routes connecting Parker with light rail stations in Lone Tree and Aurora, convenient for those working in downtown Denver or DTC. Commute times via public transit are typically longer due to transfers and wait times, ranging from 60 to 90 minutes for destinations like downtown Denver.
Level-Up Location: Looking Glass in Parker
The new homes in the master-planned community of Looking Glass are an easy commute to nearby employment centers and everything you might need for life in Parker. The neighborhoods give you access to paths and parks and the beautiful model homes from Dream Finders showcase the latest conveniences, systems and appliances. Ranch and two-story options, from the $600s.