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Trip from Arvada, CO to Hayden, CO

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 51m

Distance

178.2 mi

287 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$27

one way

EV Charging

Fair

2 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
3h 38m ★
6 AM
3h 51m
8 AM
4h 17m
10 AM
4h 0m
12 PM
3h 58m
3 PM
4h 1m
5 PM
4h 16m
8 PM
3h 44m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Arvada, CO, CO

Arvada, CO

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Hayden, CO, CO

Hayden, CO

Thirdman

Trip Overview

The drive from Arvada, CO to Hayden, CO covers 178.2 miles and takes about 3h 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 70, Park Avenue, CO 9 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 61.1 miles on I 70. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.85 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.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

89.1 miles from Arvada, CO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 55m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 70 61.1 mi 1h 13m
Park Avenue 47.4 mi 1h 1m
CO 9 31.9 mi 43m
US 40 29.1 mi 36m
Blue River Parkway 5.3 mi 9m
Kipling Parkway 1 mi 1m
West 58th Avenue 0.8 mi 1m
Ralston Road 0.4 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 70 — 61.1 mi, about 1h 13m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Arvada, CO and Hayden, 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
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 lane.
7

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 45 sec
Toward I 70 West
8

Merge onto I 70

61 mi · 1 hr 13 min · I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 44 sec
Toward US 6 East, CO 9 North: Silverthorne, Dillon
10

Keep slight right at fork

296 ft · 7 sec
Toward CO 9 North: Silverthorne
11

Merge onto CO 9

5.3 mi · 9 min · Blue River Parkway
Use the straight lane.
12

Continue on CO 9

32 mi · 43 min · CO 9
Use the straight lane.
13

Turn left onto US 40

47 mi · 1 hr 1 min · Park Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
14

Continue on US 40

29 mi · 36 min · US 40
15

Arrive at destination

US 40

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 89.1 miles from Arvada, CO, or about 1h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.1 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 39 miles or 49m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 89.1 miles or 1h 55m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 10m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hayden, 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 178.2 miles and 3h 51m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Arvada, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 70 for about 61.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Silverthorne, CO, CO

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Silverthorne, CO

89 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

Boulder, CO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Kremmling, CO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 89.1 miles from Arvada, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 70 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 61.1 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 152.7

Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

Near the end, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 152.7

Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Argo Gold Mill and Tunnel

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 25.5

Idaho Springs, Colorado

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+13035672421

Visit website

Clear Creek White Water Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 12.7

Golden, Colorado

Hours: Open 24 hours

+13033848000

Visit website

Morrison Natural History Museum

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 12.7

Morrison, Colorado

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+13036971873

Visit website

Super Smash Rooms

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour

Westminster, Colorado

Hours: 1–7 pm

+13035580726

Visit website

Frisco Historic Park and Museum

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

4.6 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 63.6

Frisco, Colorado

Hours: Closed

+19706683428

Visit website

Colorado Adventure Center - Zipline & Ropes Course

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 38.2

Idaho Springs, Colorado

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+17207071885

Visit website

St Mary's Glacier Trailhead

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~12 min detour

5 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 38.2

Idaho Springs, Colorado

things to do in steamboat

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 152.7

Hours: Open 24 hours

+19708196501

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 9

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 64.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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

Turn right onto Ammons Street

Navigation decision point

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 straight / slight right lanes.
5
64 mi into trip | ~1h 19m in

Take the exit toward US 6 East, CO 9 North: Silverthorne, Dillon

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 6 East, CO 9 North: Silverthorne, Dil...
5
64.4 mi into trip | ~1h 20m in

Keep slight right at fork toward CO 9 North: Silverthorne

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward CO 9 North: Silverthorne
5
64.4 mi into trip | ~1h 20m in | CO 9 / Blue River Parkway

Merge onto CO 9 / Blue River Parkway

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

Use the straight lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$26.85 one way

$53.70 round trip

$3.83/gal 25.4 MPG avg 62 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.05 $28.43 $56.86
premium $4.39 $30.83 $61.65
diesel $5.61 $39.34 $78.69

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$27

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$52–$77

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 62.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 53.5 0 $18.71 $8.55
Efficient EV 44.6 0 $15.59 $7.13
EV Truck/SUV 71.3 0 $24.95 $11.40

Gas CO2

62 kg

EV CO2

21 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Arvada, CO

Morning in Arvada on Saturday

Local time

11:35 AM

MDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Hayden, CO

Morning in Hayden on Saturday

Local time

11:35 AM

MDT

Current temp

34°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

12 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

3h 51m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This is a 3h 51m highway drive covering 178.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 70 and Park Avenue. The longest continuous stretch is about 61.1 miles on I 70.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 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 61.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and Park Avenue. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Ammons Street.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 178.2 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (Ammons Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.9 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 64 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Arvada, CO to Hayden, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Dillon along the way.

Dillon

64 mi in | ~1h 19m

About the Cities

Starting in Arvada, CO

Full guide →

Arvada is a city of about 125,000 in the Denver Metropolitan Area of the U.S. state of Colorado. A former farming community in Jefferson and Adams counties, the city is now a residential suburb of Denver. Olde Town Arvada lies 7 miles (11 km) northwest of the Colorado State Capitol and 9 miles (14 km) east of the Front Range foothills.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 51m. Total distance: 178.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Arvada, CO to Hayden, CO covers 178.2 miles and takes about 3h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 70, Park Avenue, CO 9. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 89.1 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 $26.85 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 178.2 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (Ammons Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.9 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 64 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

On the drive from Arvada, CO to Hayden, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Dillon along the way.

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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Explore More

Return Trip

Hayden, CO to Arvada, CO

Plan the drive back the other way.

178.4 mi 3h 51m

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