The drive from Delta, CO to Longmont, CO covers 301 miles and takes about 5h 57m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 70 BUS, US 50, US 287 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 234.5 miles on I 70 BUS.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $45.35 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
150.5 miles from Delta, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 57m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 57m. Total distance: 301 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 5h 57m highway drive covering 301 miles, with most of the trip on I 70 BUS and US 50. The longest continuous stretch is about 234.5 miles on I 70 BUS.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 70 BUS is the longest continuous segment at about 234.5 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
10,599 ft4,814 ft
Total Climb
6,057 ft
Total Descent
6,037 ft
Highest Point
10,599 ft
~193.5 mi in
Elevation Range
5,785 ft
Notable High Points
5,052 ft at ~21.5 miles+93 ft prominence
6,819 ft at ~129 miles+179 ft prominence
10,599 ft at ~193.5 miles+224 ft prominence
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 BUS and US 50. 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 US 50 / Main Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 301 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 (US 50 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 39.3 miles (I 70 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 272.7 miles (I 76 / Heartland Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 50 / Main Street
Turn right onto US 50 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
7
39.3 mi into trip|~52m in|I 70 BUS
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 BUS toward I 70 East: Denver
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 70 East: Denver
8
272.7 mi into trip|~5h 14m in|I 76 / Heartland Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 76 / Heartland Expressway toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Exit 269B
Toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
7
274 mi into trip|~5h 16m 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 1B
Toward CO 95: Sheridan Boulevard
6
278.9 mi into trip|~5h 24m in
Turn left toward US 36 West: Boulder
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward US 36 West: Boulder
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70 BUS
234.5 mi
4h 24m
US 50
27.7 mi
33m
US 287
17.3 mi
25m
32 Road
5.4 mi
9m
Main Street
5 mi
7m
Sheridan Boulevard
4.6 mi
7m
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
3.6 mi
4m
Heartland Expressway
1.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 70 BUS
— 234.5 mi, about 4h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Delta, CO and Longmont, CO.
1
Start on this road
187 ft·15 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto East 4th Street
0.1 mi·19 sec·East 4th Street
3
Turn right onto US 50
5.0 mi·7 min·Main Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
4
Continue on US 50
16 mi·18 min·US 50
5
Continue on US 50
12 mi·14 min·US 50
6
Continue on CO 141
5.4 mi·9 min·32 Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
Turn right onto I 70 BUS; US 6
0.3 mi·34 sec·I 70 BUS; US 6
8
Continue on I 70 BUS; US 6
0.8 mi·1 min·I 70 BUS; US 6
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 BUS
233 mi·4 hr 22 min·I 70 BUS
Toward I 70 East: DenverUse the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 76
1.3 mi·1 min·Heartland Expressway
Exit 269BToward I 76 East: Fort MorganUse the left lane.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 1BToward CO 95: Sheridan BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn left onto CO 95
4.6 mi·7 min·Sheridan Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Turn left
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward US 36 West: BoulderUse the left lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward US 36 West
15
Merge onto US 36
0.9 mi·1 min·Denver–Boulder Turnpike
16
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
1.9 mi·2 min·Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
0.8 mi·52 sec·Denver–Boulder Turnpike
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi·42 sec
Toward CO 121: Wadsworth ParkwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn right onto CO 121
0.2 mi·30 sec·CO 121
20
Continue on US 287
5.7 mi·8 min·US 287
Use the left lane.
21
Continue on US 287
0.2 mi·19 sec·US 287
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Continue on US 287; CO 7
11 mi·16 min·US 287; CO 7
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Turn right onto 5th Avenue
357 ft·19 sec·5th Avenue
24
Turn right onto Kimbark Street
169 ft·9 sec·Kimbark Street
25
Turn right
186 ft·15 sec
26
Turn right
109 ft·7 sec
27
Arrive at 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 150.5 miles from Delta, CO, or about 2h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 234.5 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 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 150.5 miles or 2h 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Longmont, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Delta, 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 Delta, CO
This is one driving day of about 301 miles and 5h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Delta, 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 I 70 BUS for about 234.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 150.5 mi from Delta, CO
· 2h 57m into the drive
The midpoint is around 150.5 miles from Delta, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 70 BUS if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 234.5 miles.
Arriving in Longmont, CO
The final approach into Longmont, 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 Longmont, CO.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
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.
Colorado National Monument
National Monument
Colorado National Monument preserves one of the grand landscapes of the American West. But this treasure is much more than a monument. Towering monoliths exist within a vast plateau and canyon panoram...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
$25
near mile 31.1
Big enough to be overwhelming, yet still intimate enough to feel the pulse of time. Come see some of the steepest cliffs, oldest rock, and craggiest spires in North America. Forces of nature and the G...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.35 one way
$90.70 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg105 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$48.02
$96.04
premium
$4.39
$52.07
$104.14
diesel
$5.61
$66.46
$132.91
Estimated Tolls: $0.24
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
(3.6 mi)$0.24
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
$45
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
90.3
1
$31.60
$14.45
Efficient EV
75.3
0
$26.34
$12.04
EV Truck/SUV
120.4
1
$42.14
$19.26
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Delta, CO
Morning
in Delta on Friday
Local time
10:51 AM
MDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Longmont, CO
Morning
in Longmont on Friday
Local time
10:51 AM
MDT
Current temp
79°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
1 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
5h 57m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Delta, CO to Longmont, CO covers 301 miles and takes about 5h 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 70 BUS, US 50, US 287. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 150.5 miles from Delta, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $45.35 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 301 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 (US 50 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 39.3 miles (I 70 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 272.7 miles (I 76 / Heartland Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Delta, CO to Longmont, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
