Origin
Akron, CO
Afternoon in Akron on Friday
Local time
12:25 PM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Akron, CO to Arvada, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 4m
Distance
115.4 mi
186 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 56m
★
6 AM
2h 5m
8 AM
2h 23m
10 AM
2h 11m
12 PM
2h 9m
3 PM
2h 12m
5 PM
2h 22m
8 PM
2h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Akron, CO
Mikhail Nilov
Arvada, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Akron, CO to Arvada, CO covers 115.4 miles and takes about 2h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 76, US Highway 34, Ralston Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 89.9 miles on I 76. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.39 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
57.7 miles from Akron, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 3m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 4m. Total distance: 115.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 4m highway drive covering 115.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 76 and US Highway 34. The longest continuous stretch is about 89.9 miles on I 76.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 76 is the longest continuous segment at about 89.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 76 and US Highway 34. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 22 miles in near I 76 Business; US 34 Spur / US Highway 6.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 4m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 22 miles (I 76 Business; US 34 Spur / US Highway 6): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.2 miles (I 76): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 113.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
22 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
I 76 Business; US 34 Spur / US Highway 6
Turn right onto I 76 Business; US 34 Spur / US Highway 6
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
23.2 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
I 76
Merge onto I 76
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
113.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 59m in
Take the exit toward CO 95: Sheridan Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1B
Toward CO 95: Sheridan Boulevard
5
113.5 mi into trip
|
~2h in
|
Ralston Road
Turn left onto Ralston Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
115.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 4m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 76 | 89.9 mi | 1h 31m |
| US Highway 34 | 21.2 mi | 24m |
| Ralston Road | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| US Highway 6 | 1 mi | 1m |
| West 1st Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Sheridan Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Adams Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Ammons Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 76
— 89.9 mi, about 1h 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Akron, CO and Arvada, CO.
1
Start on Adams Avenue
518 ft
·
24 sec
·
Adams Avenue
2
Turn right onto US 34
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West 1st Street
3
Continue on US 34
21 mi
·
24 min
·
US Highway 34
4
Turn right onto I 76 Business; US 34 Spur
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
US Highway 6
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
6
Merge onto I 76
90 mi
·
1 hr 31 min
·
I 76
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 1B
Toward CO 95: Sheridan Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn right onto CO 95
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Sheridan Boulevard
9
Turn left onto Ralston Road
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Ralston Road
Use the left lane.
10
Turn right onto Ammons Street
227 ft
·
13 sec
·
Ammons Street
11
Turn left
41 ft
·
3 sec
12
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 57.7 miles from Akron, CO, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.9 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 25 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.7 miles or 1h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arvada, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Akron, CO so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Akron, CO
This is one driving day of about 115.4 miles and 2h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Akron, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 76 for about 89.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 57.7 mi from Akron, CO · 1h 3m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
58 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 57.7 miles from Akron, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 76 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 89.9 miles.
Arriving in Arvada, CO
The final approach into Arvada, CO usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Arvada, CO.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.39 one way
$34.77 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
40 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $18.41 | $36.82 |
| premium | $4.39 | $19.96 | $39.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.48 | $50.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34.6 | 0 | $12.12 | $5.54 |
| Efficient EV | 28.9 | 0 | $10.10 | $4.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 46.2 | 0 | $16.16 | $7.39 |
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (65% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Arvada, CO
Afternoon in Arvada on Friday
Local time
12:25 PM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 4m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Akron, CO to Arvada, CO covers 115.4 miles and takes about 2h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 76, US Highway 34, Ralston Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 57.7 miles from Akron, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.39 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 2h 4m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 22 miles (I 76 Business; US 34 Spur / US Highway 6): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.2 miles (I 76): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 113.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Akron, CO to Arvada, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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