Origin
Colorado City, CO
Late night in Colorado City on Wednesday
Local time
12:17 AM
MDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Colorado City, CO to Arvada, CO
Data updated 1 hour ago
Drive Time
2h 46m
Distance
148.4 mi
239 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 36m
★
6 AM
2h 47m
8 AM
3h 9m
10 AM
2h 55m
12 PM
2h 52m
3 PM
2h 56m
5 PM
3h 8m
8 PM
2h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Colorado City, CO
gabesdotphotos photographer
Arvada, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Colorado City, CO to Arvada, CO covers 148.4 miles and takes about 2h 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Ronald Reagan Highway, John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway, South Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 87.8 miles on Ronald Reagan Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.36 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
74.2 miles from Colorado City, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 21m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 46m drive with frequent turns across 148.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Ronald Reagan Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 87.8 miles.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
6,917 ft
4,844 ft
Total Climb
2,225 ft
Total Descent
2,733 ft
Highest Point
6,917 ft
~95.4 mi in
Elevation Range
2,073 ft
Notable High Points
6,917 ft at ~95.4 miles
+179 ft prominence
6,397 ft at ~116.6 miles
+6 ft prominence
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Bent Brothers Boulevard.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 148.4 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Bent Brothers Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 141 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 142.5 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Bent Brothers Boulevard
At end of road, turn left onto Bent Brothers Boulevard
Navigation decision point
8
141 mi into trip
|
~2h 34m in
Take the exit toward I 70: Limon, Grand Junction
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 214A
Toward I 70: Limon, Grand Junction
5
142.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 36m in
|
I 70
Merge onto I 70
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
145.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 40m in
Take the exit toward CO 95: Sheridan Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 271A
Toward CO 95: Sheridan Boulevard
5
146.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 42m in
|
Ralston Road
Turn left onto Ralston Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
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 Colorado City, CO to Arvada, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Grand Junction along the way.
Grand Junction
141 mi in
|
~2h 34m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan Highway | 87.8 mi | 1h 34m |
| John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway | 31.3 mi | 31m |
| South Freeway | 10.4 mi | 13m |
| Monument Valley Freeway | 8.5 mi | 9m |
| I 70 | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| CO 165 | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Ralston Road | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Sheridan Boulevard | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Highway
— 87.8 mi, about 1h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colorado City, CO and Arvada, CO.
1
Start on this road
166 ft
·
17 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn left onto Bent Brothers Boulevard
169 ft
·
13 sec
·
Bent Brothers Boulevard
3
Turn left onto CO 165
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
CO 165
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 25 North: Pueblo
5
Merge onto I 25
18 mi
·
18 min
·
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
6
Continue on I 25
10 mi
·
13 min
·
South Freeway
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on I 25
13 mi
·
12 min
·
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 25
23 mi
·
23 min
·
Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 25; US 24
8.5 mi
·
9 min
·
Monument Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 25
65 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 214A
Toward I 70: Limon, Grand Junction
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway
0.6 mi
·
42 sec
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Toward I 70
13
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 70 West: Grand Junction
14
Merge onto I 70
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 271A
Toward CO 95: Sheridan Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn right onto CO 95
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Sheridan Boulevard
Use the right lane.
17
Turn left onto Ralston Road
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Ralston Road
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto Ammons Street
227 ft
·
13 sec
·
Ammons Street
19
Turn left
41 ft
·
3 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 74.2 miles from Colorado City, CO, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.8 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 74.2 miles or 1h 21m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arvada, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Colorado City, 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 Colorado City, CO
This is one driving day of about 148.4 miles and 2h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Colorado City, 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 Ronald Reagan Highway for about 87.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 74.2 mi from Colorado City, CO · 1h 21m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
74 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 74.2 miles from Colorado City, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Ronald Reagan Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 87.8 miles.
Arriving in Arvada, CO
The final approach into Arvada, 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 Arvada, 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
$22.36 one way
$44.72 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
52 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $23.67 | $47.35 |
| premium | $4.39 | $25.67 | $51.34 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $32.76 | $65.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 44.5 | 0 | $15.58 | $7.12 |
| Efficient EV | 37.1 | 0 | $12.99 | $5.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 59.4 | 0 | $20.78 | $9.50 |
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (67% 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
Arvada, CO
Late night in Arvada on Wednesday
Local time
12:17 AM
MDT
Current temp
46°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
25 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
2h 46m 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 Colorado City, CO to Arvada, CO covers 148.4 miles and takes about 2h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Ronald Reagan Highway, John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway, South Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 74.2 miles from Colorado City, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.36 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 148.4 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Bent Brothers Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 141 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 142.5 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Colorado City, CO to Arvada, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Grand Junction along the way.
High-altitude sections with notable climbs. The route ranges from 4,844 ft to 6,917 ft elevation with about 2,225 ft of total climbing. There are 2 notable high points along the way.
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