Origin
Brush, CO
Evening in Brush on Sunday
Local time
5:06 PM
MDT
Current temp
36°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Brush, CO to Denver, CO
Drive Time
1h 41m
Distance
91 mi
146 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 34m
★
6 AM
1h 42m
8 AM
1h 57m
10 AM
1h 47m
12 PM
1h 45m
3 PM
1h 48m
5 PM
1h 56m
8 PM
1h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brush, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Denver, CO
MINEIA MARTINS
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Brush to Denver, you can expect a straightforward 91-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 41 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single day, as it is a quick transition between two Mountain West locations within Colorado. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-76, making this a highly efficient route for commuters or travelers looking to reach the city without unnecessary detours. Budgeting around $14 for fuel should comfortably cover your gas needs for this distance. Since the drive is relatively short, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay, allowing you to easily complete the trip in one go.
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
45.5 miles from Brush, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a focused, highway-heavy experience, as 92% of this route is comprised of major roads. You will settle into a steady rhythm on I-76, which accounts for an uninterrupted stretch of 83.4 miles, allowing for consistent speeds across the Colorado landscape. As you move away from Brush, the drive transitions from open stretches onto the North Valley Highway and North Broadway as you enter the Denver area. The personality of this trip is defined by its utility and speed rather than technical twists or turns. You will spend almost the entire duration behind the wheel on high-speed interstate, making it a predictable and reliable drive.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 76 is the longest continuous segment at about 83.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 76 and North Valley Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near CO 71 / Colorado Avenue.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 91 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 0.1 miles (CO 71 / Colorado Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 84.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 87.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CO 71 / Colorado Avenue
Turn left onto CO 71 / Colorado Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
84.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
Take the exit toward I 25 South: Denver
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5
Toward I 25 South: Denver
8
87.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward 38th Avenue, Park Avenue, Downtown
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 213
Toward 38th Avenue, Park Avenue, Downtown
9
88.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 33m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Park Avenue, Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Park Avenue, Downtown
7
90.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 76 | 83.4 mi | 1h 24m |
| North Valley Highway | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| North Broadway | 1 mi | 3m |
| Colorado Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Park Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Park Avenue West | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| West 22nd Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| East 14th Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 76
— 83.4 mi, about 1h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brush, CO and Denver, CO.
1
Start on Clayton Street
185 ft
·
12 sec
·
Clayton Street
2
Turn left onto West Emerson Street
418 ft
·
25 sec
·
West Emerson Street
3
Turn left onto CO 71
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Colorado Avenue
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
5
Merge onto I 76
83 mi
·
1 hr 24 min
·
I 76
Use the none lane.
6
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
Exit 5
Toward I 25 South: Denver
Use the slight right lane.
7
Continue on this road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
this road
Toward I 25 south: Denver
8
Merge onto I 25; US 87
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 213
Toward 38th Avenue, Park Avenue, Downtown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
Toward Park Avenue, Downtown
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on Park Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Park Avenue
12
Turn straight onto Park Avenue West
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Park Avenue West
Use the none lane.
13
Continue on West 22nd Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West 22nd Street
Use the none lane.
14
Turn right onto North Broadway
1.0 mi
·
3 min
·
North Broadway
Use the none lane.
15
Turn left onto East 14th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
East 14th Avenue
Use the left lane.
16
Turn left
358 ft
·
27 sec
Use the straight / left lanes.
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Because this is a short, 91-mile trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. However, since the final leg of your journey involves navigating the North Valley Highway and North Broadway into Denver, try to avoid peak rush hours to ensure a smoother arrival. There are no mandatory stops required for this 1 hour and 41-minute drive, giving you the freedom to power through or pull off whenever you prefer. Since the longest stretch is over 83 miles on I-76, make sure your vehicle is fueled up before leaving Brush to avoid any mid-highway interruptions. Keep a close watch on traffic patterns as you transition from the interstate into the city streets to stay ahead of any congestion.
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 45.5 miles from Brush, CO, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.4 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 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.5 miles or 48m 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 17m
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 Brush, 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 Brush, CO
This is one driving day of about 91 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Brush, 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 I 76 for about 83.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 45.5 mi from Brush, CO · 48m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
46 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 45.5 miles from Brush, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 76 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 83.4 miles.
Arriving in Denver, CO
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.79 one way
$27.58 round trip
$3.85/gal
25.4 MPG avg
32 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.08 | $14.63 | $29.26 |
| premium | $4.43 | $15.88 | $31.76 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $20.22 | $40.43 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 27.3 | 0 | $9.56 | $4.37 |
| Efficient EV | 22.8 | 0 | $7.96 | $3.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 36.4 | 0 | $12.74 | $5.82 |
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Destination
Denver, CO
Evening in Denver on Sunday
Local time
5:06 PM
MDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
66°F
Brighton, CO
46 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
30 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
1h 41m 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 Brush, CO to Denver, CO covers 91 miles and takes about 1h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 76, North Valley Highway, North Broadway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 45.5 miles from Brush, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.79 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 91 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 0.1 miles (CO 71 / Colorado Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 84.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 87.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Brush, CO to Denver, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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