Trip from Arvada, CO to Evergreen, CO

Drive Time

38m

Distance

26.3 mi

42 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 10 min
4 AM
0h 35m ★
6 AM
0h 38m
8 AM
0h 45m
10 AM
0h 40m
12 PM
0h 40m
3 PM
0h 41m
5 PM
0h 44m
8 PM
0h 36m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Arvada, CO, CO

Arvada, CO

RDNE Stock project

Trip Overview

If you are looking to escape the Denver suburbs for the mountains, the 26.3-mile trip from Arvada to Evergreen is an efficient way to transition between these Mountain West locales. The drive typically takes about 38 minutes, making it a perfect one-day excursion that requires no overnight stay. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-70, eventually transitioning to Evergreen Parkway and Bear Creek Road to reach your destination. Budgeting around $4 for fuel should cover this short distance, depending on your vehicle's efficiency. Because the route is so quick, it offers a great deal of flexibility for your schedule. Whether you are heading out for a quick change of scenery or a brief mountain getaway, this straightforward connection makes the journey simple and manageable.

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

13.1 miles from Arvada, CO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 17m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused experience, as 87% of your travel occurs on major thoroughfares. You will spend your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 15.1 miles on I-70 before shifting toward local roads. The transition from the interstate to Evergreen Parkway and Bear Creek Road signals a change in the pace of the drive as you move toward your destination. While the interstate portion provides a fast, efficient transit, the final segments offer a shift in character as you navigate toward the mountain town. Behind the wheel, you will notice a transition from high-speed, multi-lane travel to the more localized feel of the mountain approach.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 70 is the longest continuous segment at about 15.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and Evergreen Parkway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Ammons Street.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 38m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Ammons Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (Kipling Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles: Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Ammons Street

Turn right onto Ammons Street

Navigation decision point

4
1.3 mi into trip | ~3m in | Kipling Parkway

Turn left onto Kipling Parkway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
4
2.6 mi into trip | ~5m in

Take the ramp toward I 70 West

Navigation decision point

Toward I 70 West
5
2.9 mi into trip | ~5m in | I 70

Merge onto I 70

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
4
18 mi into trip | ~23m in | US 40

Take the exit onto US 40 toward CO 74: Evergreen Parkway

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward CO 74: Evergreen Parkway

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 70 15.1 mi 17m
Evergreen Parkway 6.2 mi 9m
Bear Creek Road 1.4 mi 3m
Kipling Parkway 1 mi 1m
West 58th Avenue 0.8 mi 1m
US 40 0.7 mi 1m
Ralston Road 0.4 mi 1m
Kipling Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 70 — 15.1 mi, about 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Arvada, CO and Evergreen, CO.

1

Start on this road

41 ft · 5 sec · this road
2

Turn right onto Ammons Street

227 ft · 9 sec · Ammons Street
3

Turn right onto Ralston Road

0.4 mi · 1 min · Ralston Road
4

Continue on West 58th Avenue

0.8 mi · 1 min · West 58th Avenue
Use the none lane.
5

Turn left onto Kipling Parkway

1.0 mi · 1 min · Kipling Parkway
Use the left lane.
6

Continue on CO 391

0.2 mi · 25 sec · Kipling Street
Use the left / none lanes.
7

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 45 sec
Toward I 70 West
8

Merge onto I 70

15 mi · 17 min · I 70
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit onto US 40

0.7 mi · 1 min · US 40
Toward CO 74: Evergreen Parkway
10

Continue on CO 74

6.2 mi · 9 min · Evergreen Parkway
Use the none lane.
11

Continue on CO 74

1.4 mi · 3 min · Bear Creek Road
12

Turn right

231 ft · 17 sec
13

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Since this is a quick 38-minute drive, you have the advantage of total flexibility in your departure time. You can easily complete the entire 26.3-mile distance without needing any planned stops along the way. Keep in mind that the majority of your time is spent on I-70, so staying alert for standard highway traffic patterns is your best bet for a smooth arrival. With a fuel budget of only $4, you won't need to stress about refueling mid-trip, allowing you to focus on the road ahead. Use the simplicity of this short route to your benefit by leaving whenever it best suits your personal schedule.

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 13.1 miles from Arvada, CO, or about 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 15.1 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 26.3 miles or 38m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 13.1 miles or 17m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 30m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Evergreen, 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 26.3 miles and 38m.

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 I 70 for about 15.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 13.1 mi from Arvada, CO · 17m into the drive

Downtown Applewood, CO, CO

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Applewood, CO

13 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

Applewood, CO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 26.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Applewood, CO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 13.1 miles from Arvada, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Evergreen, CO

The final approach into Evergreen, 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 Evergreen, 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

$3.99 one way

$7.97 round trip

$3.85/gal 25.4 MPG avg 9 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.08 $4.23 $8.46
premium $4.43 $4.59 $9.18
diesel $5.64 $5.84 $11.69

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$4

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$29–$54

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 9.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 7.9 0 $2.76 $1.26
Efficient EV 6.6 0 $2.30 $1.05
EV Truck/SUV 10.5 0 $3.68 $1.68

Gas CO2

9 kg

EV CO2

3 kg (67% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Arvada, CO

Evening in Arvada on Sunday

Local time

7:36 PM

MDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Evergreen, CO

Evening in Evergreen on Sunday

Local time

7:36 PM

MDT

Current temp

32°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

33 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

38m 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 Evergreen, CO covers 26.3 miles and takes about 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 70, Evergreen Parkway, Bear Creek 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 13.1 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 $3.99 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 38m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Ammons Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (Kipling Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles: Navigation decision point.
The route from Arvada, CO to Evergreen, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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