Origin
Broomfield, CO
Afternoon in Broomfield on Saturday
Local time
1:19 PM
MDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Broomfield, CO to Salida, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 24m
Distance
150 mi
241 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 12m
★
6 AM
3h 24m
8 AM
3h 49m
10 AM
3h 33m
12 PM
3h 30m
3 PM
3h 34m
5 PM
3h 47m
8 PM
3h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Broomfield, CO
Owen.outdoors
Salida, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Broomfield, CO to Salida, CO covers 150 miles and takes about 3h 24m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West 3rd Avenue, Nickel Street, CO 121 South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.60 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
75 miles from Broomfield, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 42m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West 3rd Avenue | — | — |
| Nickel Street | — | — |
| CO 121 South | — | — |
| US 36 East | — | — |
| Denver–Boulder Turnpike | — | — |
| CO 95 South | — | — |
| Sheridan Boulevard | — | — |
| I 76 West | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West 3rd Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Broomfield, CO and Salida, CO.
1
Start on the route
190 ft
·
16 sec
·
the route
2
At the end of the road, turn right onto West 3rd Avenue
272 ft
·
20 sec
·
West 3rd Avenue
3
Turn left onto Nickel Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Nickel Street
4
Turn right
141 ft
·
3 sec
5
Keep slight left to continue on CO 121 South
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
CO 121 South
6
Turn straight
0.4 mi
·
1 min
7
Turn left onto US 36 East: Denver
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
US 36 East: Denver
8
Merge slight left onto Denver–Boulder Turnpike
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
9
Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
10
Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike
0.8 mi
·
53 sec
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
11
Take the exit slight right toward CO 95 South: Sheridan Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
CO 95 South: Sheridan Boulevard
12
Turn right onto Sheridan Boulevard
4.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Sheridan Boulevard
13
Take the ramp slight right toward I 76 West
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
I 76 West
14
Merge slight left onto Heartland Expressway
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Heartland Expressway
15
Merge slight left
8.7 mi
·
9 min
16
Take the exit slight right toward CO 470 East: Colorado Springs
0.7 mi
·
51 sec
·
CO 470 East: Colorado Springs
17
Merge slight left
5.1 mi
·
5 min
18
Take the exit slight right toward US 285 South: Fairplay
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 285 South: Fairplay
19
Merge slight left
101 mi
·
2 hr 13 min
20
At the end of the road, turn left
11 mi
·
17 min
21
Continue straight
3.1 mi
·
5 min
22
Turn left
7.0 mi
·
9 min
23
Turn right onto Mesa Lane
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Mesa Lane
24
Turn left onto Crestone Avenue
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Crestone Avenue
25
Continue on Crestone Avenue
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
Crestone Avenue
26
At the end of the road, turn right onto Poncha Boulevard
302 ft
·
14 sec
·
Poncha Boulevard
27
Turn left onto West 5th Street
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
West 5th Street
28
Turn right onto I Street
151 ft
·
7 sec
·
I Street
29
Arrive at your destination
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 75 miles from Broomfield, CO, or about 1h 42m into the drive.
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 33 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75 miles or 1h 42m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Salida, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Broomfield, 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 Broomfield, CO
This is one driving day of about 150 miles and 3h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Broomfield, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
75 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 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 75 miles from Broomfield, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.60 one way
$45.20 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
53 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $23.93 | $47.86 |
| premium | $4.39 | $25.95 | $51.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $33.12 | $66.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 45 | 0 | $15.75 | $7.20 |
| Efficient EV | 37.5 | 0 | $13.13 | $6.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 60 | 0 | $21.00 | $9.60 |
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (65% 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
Salida, CO
Afternoon in Salida on Saturday
Local time
1:19 PM
MDT
Current temp
72°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
3 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 24m 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?
150 mi in 3h 24m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: West 3rd Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Broomfield, CO to Salida, CO is easy. At 3h 24m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Broomfield, CO to Salida, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
About the Cities
Starting in Broomfield, CO
Full guide →Broomfield is a combined city and county of about 77,000 in the Denver Metropolitan Area of the western U.S. state of Colorado. Broomfield lies 14 miles (23 km) northwest of Denver and 12 miles (19 km) southeast of Boulder. The only other combined city and county in Colorado is the City and County of Denver, the state capital.
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 24m. Total distance: 150 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Broomfield, CO to Salida, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Salida, CO, but most travelers stay overnight.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Salida, CO
More trips to Salida, CO
Explore more options from Broomfield, CO or browse trips ending in Salida, CO.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CO road trips.