Trip.ovh

Trip from Boulder, CO to Denver, CO

Drive Time

36m

Distance

27.9 mi

Route Type

Turn-heavy local drive

Quick day trip

Trip Overview

The drive from Boulder, CO to Denver, CO covers 27.9 miles and takes about 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on 19th Street, Arapahoe Avenue, 28th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.79 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

0 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

13.9 miles from Boulder, CO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 18m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 36m drive with frequent turns across 27.9 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

19th Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
19th Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
Arapahoe Avenue	Unavailable	Refreshing
28th Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
Denver–Boulder Turnpike	Unavailable	Refreshing
I 25 south	Unavailable	Refreshing
North Valley Highway	Unavailable	Refreshing
38th Avenue	Unavailable	Refreshing
Park Avenue	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: 19th Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Boulder, CO and Denver, CO.

1

Start on the route

89 ft · 7 sec · the route

2

Turn right onto 19th Street

144 ft · 14 sec · 19th Street

3

Turn left onto Arapahoe Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · Arapahoe Avenue

4

Turn right onto 28th Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · 28th Street

5

Turn straight onto Denver–Boulder Turnpike

3.4 mi · 4 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike

6

Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike

1.7 mi · 1 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike

7

Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike

2.6 mi · 3 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike

8

Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike

2.4 mi · 2 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike

9

Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike

2.2 mi · 2 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike

10

Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike

1.9 mi · 2 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike

11

Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike

2.5 mi · 2 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike

12

Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike

2.0 mi · 2 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike

13

Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike

1.1 mi · 1 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike

14

Take the exit slight right toward I 25 south: Denver

0.5 mi · 47 sec · I 25 south: Denver

15

Continue on I 25 south: Denver

0.4 mi · 34 sec · I 25 south: Denver

16

Merge slight left onto North Valley Highway

2.8 mi · 3 min · North Valley Highway

17

Take the exit slight right toward 38th Avenue, Park Avenue, Downtown

0.3 mi · 29 sec · 38th Avenue, Park Avenue, Downtown

18

Keep slight left to continue on Park Avenue, Downtown

0.1 mi · 11 sec · Park Avenue, Downtown

19

Continue on Park Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · Park Avenue

20

Turn straight onto Park Avenue West

0.5 mi · 1 min · Park Avenue West

21

Continue on West 22nd Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · West 22nd Street

22

Turn right onto North Broadway

1.0 mi · 3 min · North Broadway

23

Turn left onto East 14th Avenue

0.1 mi · 30 sec · East 14th Avenue

24

Turn left

358 ft · 28 sec

25

Arrive at your destination

When to Leave

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 13.9 miles from Boulder, CO, or about 18m into the drive.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Drive Plan

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 27.9 miles or 36m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 13.9 miles or 18m 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 Denver, 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.

Trip Strategy

Day 1

Settle into the route from Boulder, CO

This is one driving day of about 27.9 miles and 36m.

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.

Best Stop Towns on This Route

These towns line up with the pace of this drive and give you clearer places to stop with a purpose.

Late stop town

Meal stop

Westminster, CO

14 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.

Travel Advice

Arrival Notes

The final approach into Denver, 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 Denver, CO.

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.

Stops Along the Way

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 13.9 mi from Boulder, CO

Commerce City, CO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 27.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Westminster, CO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 13.9 miles from Boulder, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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

Fuel & Cost

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
regular	$3.45	$3.79	$7.58
midgrade	$3.85	$4.23	$8.46
premium	$4.15	$4.56	$9.12
diesel	$3.75	$4.12	$8.24

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 9.8 kg one way.

Travel Intel

Local time and weather at both ends of the drive

Compare the departure city with the arrival city before you leave so the route feels predictable, not reactive.

Forecast data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

Boulder, CO

Late night in Boulder on Saturday

Local time

1:55 AM

MDT

Current temp

40°F

Forecast unavailable right now

MDT Live mapsof forecast

Destination

Denver, CO

Late night in Denver on Saturday

Local time

1:55 AM

MDT

Current temp

66°F

Forecast unavailable right now

MDT Live mapsof forecast

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

26 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

36m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Boulder, CO to Denver, CO covers 27.9 miles and takes about 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are 19th Street, Arapahoe Avenue, 28th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 13.9 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 $3.79 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.

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Next Route Ideas

Reverse Route

Denver, CO to Boulder, CO

Useful if you are planning the return drive and want the same trip in reverse.

27.9 mi 35m

Continue From Denver, CO

Denver, CO to Colorado Springs, CO 68.9 mi · 1h 13m Denver, CO to Loveland, CO 50.6 mi · 57m Denver, CO to Aurora, CO 15.5 mi · 25m Denver, CO to Lakewood, CO 7.9 mi · 15m

Explore more options from Boulder, CO or browse trips ending in Denver, CO .

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CO road trips .

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Explore maps and details for Boulder, CO or Denver, CO on MapSof.net.