Origin
Boulder, CO
Evening in Boulder on Sunday
Local time
5:05 PM
MDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Boulder, CO to Brush, CO
Drive Time
1h 53m
Distance
104.9 mi
169 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 45m
★
6 AM
1h 53m
8 AM
2h 10m
10 AM
1h 59m
12 PM
1h 58m
3 PM
2h 0m
5 PM
2h 9m
8 PM
1h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Boulder, CO
Dmitriy Piskarev
Brush, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Driving from Boulder to Brush covers 104.9 miles of Colorado terrain, typically taking about 1 hour and 53 minutes behind the wheel. This trip is perfectly manageable as a one-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight logistics. You should budget approximately $16 for fuel to complete the journey. The route primarily utilizes the Heartland Expressway, E-470, and Northwest Parkway to transition from the Mountain West foothills toward the eastern plains. Because this is a straightforward, highway-focused drive, it serves as an efficient connection between these two locations rather than a destination-heavy scenic tour.
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
52.4 miles from Boulder, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 59m into the drive .
Drive Character
You will spend 84% of your time on highways, making this a fast-paced, practical drive. The route is defined by a significant 70.6-mile stretch along the Heartland Expressway, which allows for consistent speeds and minimal interruptions. As you transition away from the Boulder area, the road character shifts into a more focused, high-speed transit experience. Expect a fairly uniform drive with few opportunities for technical turns or local detours. It is an ideal route if your priority is reaching Brush as quickly as possible without the complexity of winding mountain passes.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 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 70.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Heartland Expressway and E-470. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.7 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 104.9 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 9.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
9.7 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward Northwest Parkway, Interlocken Loop
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Northwest Parkway, Interlocken Loop
9
10 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Northwest Parkway, RTD Park-n-Ride, Louisville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the none lane.
Toward Northwest Parkway, RTD Park-n-Ride, Loui...
7
30.9 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Take the exit toward 120th Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 34
Toward 120th Avenue
7
31.5 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Turn left toward E 470 Toll North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward E 470 Toll North
7
32.3 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Take the exit toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 35
Toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
Towns Along This Route
Between Boulder, CO and Brush, CO, road signs point toward Rtd Park-N-Ride, Louisville and E 470 Toll North.
Rtd Park-N-Ride
10 mi in
|
~13m
Louisville
10 mi in
|
~13m
E 470 Toll North
31.5 mi in
|
~37m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Heartland Expressway | 70.6 mi | 1h 10m |
| E-470 | 11.7 mi | 11m |
| Northwest Parkway | 9.5 mi | 10m |
| Denver–Boulder Turnpike | 8.3 mi | 9m |
| 28th Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Arapahoe Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Colorado Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East 120th Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Heartland Expressway
— 70.6 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Boulder, CO and Brush, 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
Use the none lane.
5
Turn straight onto US 36
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Use the none lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Use the none lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
0.6 mi
·
41 sec
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Use the none lane.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
Toward Northwest Parkway, Interlocken Loop
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
221 ft
·
7 sec
Toward Northwest Parkway, RTD Park-n-Ride, Louisville
Use the none lane.
11
Turn left onto Interlocken Loop
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Interlocken Loop
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Continue on NW
9.5 mi
·
10 min
·
Northwest Parkway
Use the none lane.
13
Continue on E470
11 mi
·
11 min
·
E-470
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 34
Toward 120th Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn left onto East 120th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
East 120th Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
16
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Toward E 470 Toll North
Use the left lane.
17
Merge onto E470
0.5 mi
·
27 sec
·
E-470
18
Take the exit
1.1 mi
·
1 min
Exit 35
Toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto I 76
71 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
Heartland Expressway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward CO 71: Brush, Snyder
21
Turn right onto CO 71
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Colorado Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Turn right onto Howard Street
398 ft
·
15 sec
·
Howard Street
23
Turn left onto Clayton Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Clayton Street
24
Arrive at destination
Clayton Street
Trip Plan
Since the total drive time is under two hours, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete the entire 104.9-mile trip without needing to plan for formal rest stops, as there are zero required breaks. Make sure to fuel up before leaving Boulder, as the $16 estimate is based on typical efficiency for this specific highway-heavy mileage. Because the route relies so heavily on the Heartland Expressway, keep a close eye on your GPS for exit cues during the long uninterrupted stretches. Being prepared for high-speed highway travel will make this quick transition between regions feel much smoother.
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 52.4 miles from Boulder, CO, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.6 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 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.4 miles or 59m 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 33m
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 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 104.9 miles and 1h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Boulder, 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 70.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 52.4 mi from Boulder, CO · 59m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
52 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 52.4 miles from Boulder, 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 70.6 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
$15.90 one way
$31.79 round trip
$3.85/gal
25.4 MPG avg
37 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.08 | $16.87 | $33.73 |
| premium | $4.43 | $18.31 | $36.62 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $23.31 | $46.61 |
Estimated Tolls: $3.11
E-470
(11.7 mi)
$1.40
Northwest Parkway
(9.5 mi)
$1.14
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
(8.3 mi)
$0.57
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.5 | 0 | $11.01 | $5.04 |
| Efficient EV | 26.2 | 0 | $9.18 | $4.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 42 | 0 | $14.69 | $6.71 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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
52 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
4 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 53m 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 Brush, CO covers 104.9 miles and takes about 1h 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Heartland Expressway, E-470, Northwest Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 52.4 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 $15.90 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 demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 104.9 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 9.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Boulder, CO and Brush, CO, road signs point toward Rtd Park-N-Ride, Louisville and E 470 Toll North.
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