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Trip from Boulder, CO to Lincoln Park, CO

Data updated 3 hours ago

Drive Time

3h

Distance

143.8 mi

231 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$22

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

10 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min
4 AM
2h 49m ★
6 AM
3h 0m
8 AM
3h 23m
10 AM
3h 8m
12 PM
3h 6m
3 PM
3h 10m
5 PM
3h 22m
8 PM
2h 54m

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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city in and county seat of Boulder County, Colorado, United States

Boulder, CO

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Lincoln Park, CO, CO

Lincoln Park, CO

Julio Valdivia

Trip Overview

The drive from Boulder, CO to Lincoln Park, CO covers 143.8 miles and takes about 3h behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on North Valley Highway, South Nevada Avenue, Denver–Boulder Turnpike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 68.1 miles on North Valley Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.67 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

71.9 miles from Boulder, CO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 23m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

Expect a 3h drive with frequent turns across 143.8 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Valley Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 68.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Arapahoe Avenue.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 143.8 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: near the start (Arapahoe Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 18 miles (US 36 / Denver–Boulder Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 20 miles (US 36 / Denver–Boulder Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 21 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.
6
18 mi into trip | ~22m in | US 36 / Denver–Boulder Turnpike

Keep slight right at fork onto US 36 / Denver–Boulder Turnpike

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
20 mi into trip | ~25m in | US 36 / Denver–Boulder Turnpike

Keep slight right at fork onto US 36 / Denver–Boulder Turnpike toward I 25: Denver, Fort Collins

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 25: Denver, Fort Collins
6
21.1 mi into trip | ~26m in

Take the exit toward I 25 south: Denver

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 25 south: Denver
8
97.9 mi into trip | ~1h 52m in

Take the exit toward CO 115 South: Tejon Street, Nevada Avenue

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 140 Toward CO 115 South: Tejon Street, Nevada Avenu...

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 Boulder, CO to Lincoln Park, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Collins along the way.

Fort Collins

20 mi in | ~25m | via US 36

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
North Valley Highway 68.1 mi 1h 15m
South Nevada Avenue 33.1 mi 44m
Denver–Boulder Turnpike 19.7 mi 23m
CO 115 11.9 mi 20m
Monument Valley Freeway 7.8 mi 9m
28th Street 0.8 mi 1m
Arapahoe Avenue 0.6 mi 1m
I 25 0.4 mi <1m
Longest stretch: North Valley Highway — 68.1 mi, about 1h 15m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Boulder, CO and Lincoln Park, 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 onto US 36

3.4 mi · 4 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight right at fork onto US 36

1.7 mi · 1 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike
7

Keep slight right at fork onto US 36

2.6 mi · 3 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike
8

Keep slight right at fork onto US 36

2.4 mi · 2 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike
9

Keep slight right at fork onto US 36

2.2 mi · 2 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike
10

Keep slight right at fork onto US 36

1.9 mi · 2 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike
11

Keep slight right at fork onto US 36

2.5 mi · 2 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike
12

Keep slight right at fork onto US 36

2.0 mi · 2 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight right at fork onto US 36

1.1 mi · 1 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Toward I 25: Denver, Fort Collins Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 47 sec
Toward I 25 south: Denver Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Continue on I 25

0.4 mi · 33 sec · I 25
Toward I 25 south: Denver
16

Merge onto I 25; US 87

68 mi · 1 hr 15 min · North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Continue on I 25

7.8 mi · 9 min · Monument Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 140 Toward CO 115 South: Tejon Street, Nevada Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Turn right onto CO 115

33 mi · 44 min · South Nevada Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
20

Enter roundabout onto CO 115

106 ft · 2 sec · CO 115
21

Continue on CO 115

5.5 mi · 9 min · CO 115
Use the straight lane.
22

Turn slight right onto CO 115

6.4 mi · 10 min · CO 115
23

Turn right onto Birch Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Birch Street
24

At end of road, turn left onto Grand Avenue

0.1 mi · 31 sec · Grand Avenue
25

Turn right onto Logan Street

237 ft · 10 sec · Logan Street
26

Arrive at destination

Logan Street

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 71.9 miles from Boulder, CO, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68.1 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 80 miles or 1h 32m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 71.9 miles or 1h 23m 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 19m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lincoln Park, 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 143.8 miles and 3h.

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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on North Valley Highway for about 68.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 71.9 mi from Boulder, CO · 1h 23m into the drive

county seat of Douglas County, Colorado, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Castle Rock, CO

72 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

Colorado Springs, CO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Castle Rock, CO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 71.9 miles from Boulder, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before North Valley Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 68.1 miles.

Arriving in Lincoln Park, CO

The final approach into Lincoln Park, 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 Lincoln Park, CO.

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

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

National Monument

Beneath a grassy mountain valley in central Colorado lies one of the richest and most diverse fossil deposits in the world. Petrified redwood stumps up to 14 feet wide and thousands of detailed fossil...

24 mi from route ~61 min detour $10 near mile 94.2
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$21.67 one way

$43.33 round trip

$3.83/gal 25.4 MPG avg 50 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.05 $22.94 $45.88
premium $4.39 $24.88 $49.75
diesel $5.61 $31.75 $63.50

Estimated Tolls: $1.38

Denver–Boulder Turnpike (19.7 mi) $1.38

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

$22

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 50.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

10 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Twenty Ninth Street - Tesla Supercharger

Boulder, CO

Tesla

10 DCFC

Gloss Auto Wash & Detail - Tesla Supercharger

Boulder, CO

Tesla

8 DCFC

Macerich Twenty Ninth Street Mall (Boulder, CO)

Boulder, CO

Electrify America

4 DCFC

Niwot- Cottonwood Square Shopping Center

Niwot, CO

EVGATEWAY

4 DCFC

Whole Foods Boulder (Pearl) A1

Boulder, CO

eVgo Network

2 DCFC

CSG EV BOULDER PL4

Boulder, CO

ChargePoint Network

1 DCFC

CSG EV BOULDER PL3

Boulder, CO

ChargePoint Network

1 DCFC

CSG EV BOULDER PL1

Boulder, CO

ChargePoint Network

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 4 Tesla: 2 Non-Networked: 1 eVgo Network: 1 Electrify America: 1 EVGATEWAY: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 43.1 0 $15.10 $6.90
Efficient EV 36 0 $12.58 $5.75
EV Truck/SUV 57.5 0 $20.13 $9.20

Gas CO2

50 kg

EV CO2

17 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 data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Boulder, CO

Evening in Boulder on Tuesday

Local time

8:44 PM

MDT

Current temp

40°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lincoln Park, CO

Evening in Lincoln Park on Tuesday

Local time

8:44 PM

MDT

Current temp

42°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

2 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

3h 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 Lincoln Park, CO covers 143.8 miles and takes about 3h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Valley Highway, South Nevada Avenue, Denver–Boulder Turnpike. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 71.9 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 $21.67 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 is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 143.8 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: near the start (Arapahoe Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 18 miles (US 36 / Denver–Boulder Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 20 miles (US 36 / Denver–Boulder Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Boulder, CO to Lincoln Park, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Collins along the way.

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