The drive from Boulder, CO to Avon, CO covers 117.7 miles and takes about 2h 29m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 70, South Foothills Highway, CO 93 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 92.7 miles on I 70.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.73 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
58.9 miles from Boulder, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 19m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 29m. Total distance: 117.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 29m highway drive covering 117.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 70 and South Foothills Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 92.7 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 25 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 92.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and South Foothills Highway. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Arapahoe Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
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 117.7 miles you will encounter 14 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 (Arapahoe Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Arapahoe Avenue
Turn left onto Arapahoe Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
9
1.6 mi into trip|~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Baseline Road, Broadway South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward Baseline Road, Broadway South
7
23.4 mi into trip|~37m in
Take the exit toward I 70 West: Grand Junction
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1
Toward I 70 West: Grand Junction
6
117.1 mi into trip|~2h 28m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Avon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Avon
6
117.1 mi into trip|~2h 28m in|Avon Road
Enter roundabout onto Avon Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
92.7 mi
1h 48m
South Foothills Highway
8.3 mi
12m
CO 93
7.5 mi
11m
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
2.9 mi
4m
Broadway
2.2 mi
4m
28th Street
0.8 mi
1m
Arapahoe Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Avon Road
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 92.7 mi, about 1h 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Boulder, CO and Avon, CO.
1
Start on this road
87 ft·6 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto 19th Street
143 ft·13 sec·19th Street
3
Turn left onto Arapahoe Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·Arapahoe Avenue
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
4
Turn right onto US 36
0.8 mi·1 min·28th Street
5
Turn straight
0.2 mi·18 sec
Toward Baseline Road
6
Keep slight left at fork
381 ft·15 sec
Toward Baseline Road, Broadway SouthUse the left lane.
7
Continue on 27th Way
0.3 mi·45 sec·27th Way
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
At end of road, turn left onto CO 93
2.2 mi·4 min·Broadway
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on CO 93
8.3 mi·12 min·South Foothills Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on CO 93
7.5 mi·11 min·CO 93
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Continue on US 6
2.9 mi·4 min·Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn right onto CO 470
0.6 mi·53 sec·CO 470
13
Take the exit
0.8 mi·58 sec
Exit 1Toward I 70 West: Grand JunctionUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 70
93 mi·1 hr 48 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward Avon
16
Keep slight left at fork
243 ft·6 sec
Toward Avon
17
Enter roundabout onto Avon Road
0.1 mi·14 sec·Avon Road
18
Continue on Avon Road
512 ft·10 sec·Avon Road
19
Enter roundabout onto Avon Road
153 ft·3 sec·Avon Road
20
Continue on Avon Road
278 ft·5 sec·Avon Road
21
Enter roundabout onto Avon Road
106 ft·2 sec·Avon Road
22
Continue on Avon Road
0.2 mi·21 sec·Avon Road
23
Enter roundabout onto Avon Road
295 ft·4 sec·Avon Road
24
Continue on Avon Road
74 ft·1 sec·Avon Road
25
Arrive at destination
Avon Road
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 58.9 miles from Boulder, CO, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 92.7 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 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.9 miles or 1h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Avon, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Boulder, 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 Boulder, CO
This is one driving day of about 117.7 miles and 2h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Boulder, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 70 for about 92.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 58.9 mi from Boulder, CO
· 1h 19m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.73 one way
$35.47 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$18.78
$37.55
premium
$4.39
$20.36
$40.72
diesel
$5.61
$25.99
$51.97
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.3
0
$12.36
$5.65
Efficient EV
29.4
0
$10.30
$4.71
EV Truck/SUV
47.1
0
$16.48
$7.53
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Boulder, CO
Late night
in Boulder on Friday
Local time
5:01 AM
MDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Avon, CO
Late night
in Avon on Friday
Local time
5:01 AM
MDT
Current temp
35°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
37 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
2h 29m 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 Boulder, CO to Avon, CO covers 117.7 miles and takes about 2h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 70, South Foothills Highway, CO 93. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 58.9 miles from Boulder, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.73 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 117.7 miles you will encounter 14 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 (Arapahoe Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Boulder, CO to Avon, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
