Origin
Arvada, CO
Evening in Arvada on Sunday
Local time
5:05 PM
MDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Arvada, CO to Brush, CO
Drive Time
1h 37m
Distance
91 mi
146 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 30m
★
6 AM
1h 38m
8 AM
1h 52m
10 AM
1h 43m
12 PM
1h 41m
3 PM
1h 43m
5 PM
1h 51m
8 PM
1h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arvada, CO
RDNE Stock project
Brush, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick transition from the Denver suburbs to the Eastern Plains, the 91-mile trek from Arvada to Brush is a straightforward choice. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 37 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of roughly $14, it is an economical route that requires minimal planning for overnight stays. You will be traveling entirely within the Mountain West region, moving from the foothills toward the flatter terrain of Colorado’s high plains. Because the drive is relatively short, you have the flexibility to head out in the morning and easily return by evening if needed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
45.5 miles from Arvada, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip is defined by its efficiency, as 96% of your journey takes place on highways. You will spend the vast majority of your time on the Heartland Expressway, which accounts for a significant 87.5-mile stretch of the drive. The experience is largely a highway-focused endeavor, prioritizing speed and directness over winding scenic detours. You will navigate local transitions via Ralston Road and Colorado Avenue, but the character of the road quickly shifts to a consistent, high-speed pace once you merge onto the main expressway. Prepare for a steady, focused drive that allows you to cover the distance without the interruption of technical curves or frequent navigation changes.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Heartland Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 87.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Heartland Expressway and Ralston Road. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Allison Street.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 91 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Allison Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.1 miles (Ralston Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles (CO 95 / Sheridan Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Allison Street
At end of road, turn right onto Allison Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Ralston Road
Turn left onto Ralston Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
1.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
CO 95 / Sheridan Boulevard
Turn right onto CO 95 / Sheridan Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
2.2 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Turn left toward I 76 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 76 East
7
13.1 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
I 76 / Heartland Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76 / Heartland Expressway toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Heartland Expressway | 87.5 mi | 1h 29m |
| Ralston Road | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Colorado Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Sheridan Boulevard | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Clayton Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Howard Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Allison Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Ammons Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Heartland Expressway
— 87.5 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arvada, CO and Brush, CO.
1
Start on this road
41 ft
·
5 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Ammons Street
58 ft
·
7 sec
·
Ammons Street
3
Turn left
313 ft
·
25 sec
4
At end of road, turn right onto Allison Street
172 ft
·
13 sec
·
Allison Street
5
Turn left onto Ralston Road
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Ralston Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
Turn right onto CO 95
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Sheridan Boulevard
Use the right lane.
7
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Toward I 76 East
Use the left lane.
8
Merge onto I 76
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Heartland Expressway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
77 mi
·
1 hr 17 min
·
Heartland Expressway
Toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward CO 71: Brush, Snyder
11
Turn right onto CO 71
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Colorado Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn right onto Howard Street
398 ft
·
15 sec
·
Howard Street
13
Turn left onto Clayton Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Clayton Street
14
Arrive at destination
Clayton Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a sub-two-hour drive, you have plenty of freedom regarding your departure time, though starting early helps you avoid potential congestion near the metro area. Because there are no designated stops required for a trip of this length, you can complete the 91-mile run in one go without needing to build in lengthy rest breaks. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Arvada; although $14 should cover your transit, topping off early ensures you won't have to worry about finding a station once you hit the longer, uninterrupted segments of the Heartland Expressway. Use the simplicity of this route to your advantage by keeping your gear packed and ready to go for a seamless, no-fuss arrival in Brush.
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 45.5 miles from Arvada, CO, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.5 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 80 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.5 miles or 50m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brush, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Arvada, 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 Arvada, CO
This is one driving day of about 91 miles and 1h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Arvada, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Heartland Expressway for about 87.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 45.5 mi from Arvada, CO · 50m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
46 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 45.5 miles from Arvada, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Heartland Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 87.5 miles.
Arriving in Brush, CO
The final approach into Brush, 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 Brush, 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
$13.79 one way
$27.58 round trip
$3.85/gal
25.4 MPG avg
32 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.08 | $14.63 | $29.26 |
| premium | $4.43 | $15.88 | $31.76 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $20.22 | $40.43 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 27.3 | 0 | $9.56 | $4.37 |
| Efficient EV | 22.8 | 0 | $7.96 | $3.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 36.4 | 0 | $12.74 | $5.82 |
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (66% 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
Brush, CO
Evening in Brush on Sunday
Local time
5:05 PM
MDT
Current temp
36°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
66°F
Brighton, CO
46 mi in
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
29 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 37m 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 Arvada, CO to Brush, CO covers 91 miles and takes about 1h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Heartland Expressway, Ralston Road, Colorado Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 45.5 miles from Arvada, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.79 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 91 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Allison Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.1 miles (Ralston Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles (CO 95 / Sheridan Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Arvada, CO to Brush, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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