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Trip from Denver, CO to Black Forest, CO

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

1h 18m

Distance

64.2 mi

103 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 19 min
4 AM
1h 12m ★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 31m
10 AM
1h 23m
12 PM
1h 22m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 15m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

consolidated city-county and capital of Colorado, United States

Denver, CO

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Black Forest, CO, CO

Black Forest, CO

Justin Wolfert

Trip Overview

The drive from Denver, CO to Black Forest, CO covers 64.2 miles and takes about 1h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on East Colfax Avenue, Grant Street, East Speer Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.67 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

32.1 miles from Denver, CO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 39m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a 1h 18m drive with frequent turns across 64.2 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Colfax Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Denver, CO to Black Forest, CO is easy. At 1h 18m 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 Denver, CO to Black Forest, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
East Colfax Avenue Unavailable Refreshing
Grant Street Unavailable Refreshing
East Speer Boulevard Unavailable Refreshing
Logan Street Unavailable Refreshing
East Buchtel South Boulevard Unavailable Refreshing
I 25 South Unavailable Refreshing
South Valley Highway Unavailable Refreshing
Interquest Parkway Unavailable Refreshing

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

Longest stretch: East Colfax Avenue — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on the route

377 ft · 29 sec · the route
2

Turn right

62 ft · 9 sec
3

Turn right onto East Colfax Avenue

358 ft · 14 sec · East Colfax Avenue
4

Turn right onto Grant Street

1.1 mi · 2 min · Grant Street
5

Turn left onto East Speer Boulevard

453 ft · 13 sec · East Speer Boulevard
6

Turn right onto Logan Street

1.8 mi · 3 min · Logan Street
7

Turn left onto East Buchtel South Boulevard

0.3 mi · 39 sec · East Buchtel South Boulevard
8

Continue on East Buchtel South Boulevard

0.2 mi · 17 sec · East Buchtel South Boulevard
9

Take the ramp slight left toward I 25 South

0.8 mi · 1 min · I 25 South
10

Keep slight left to continue on I 25 South

0.2 mi · 25 sec · I 25 South
11

Merge slight left onto South Valley Highway

52 mi · 54 min · South Valley Highway
12

Take the exit slight right toward Interquest Parkway

0.7 mi · 1 min · Interquest Parkway
13

Continue on Interquest Parkway

2.8 mi · 4 min · Interquest Parkway
14

Turn right onto Shoup Road

4.3 mi · 7 min · Shoup Road
15

Turn left onto Black Forest Road

82 ft · 2 sec · Black Forest Road
16

Arrive at your 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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 32.1 miles from Denver, CO, or about 39m 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 64.2 miles or 1h 18m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 32.1 miles or 39m 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 6m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Black Forest, CO than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Denver, 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 Denver, CO

This is one driving day of about 64.2 miles and 1h 18m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Denver, 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.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 32.1 mi from Denver, CO · 39m into the drive

county seat of Douglas County, Colorado, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Castle Rock, CO

32 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

Colorado Springs, CO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 64.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Castle Rock, CO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 32.1 miles from Denver, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Black Forest, CO

The final approach into Black Forest, 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 Black Forest, 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

$9.67 one way

$19.35 round trip

$3.83/gal 25.4 MPG avg 23 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.05 $10.24 $20.48
premium $4.39 $11.11 $22.21
diesel $5.61 $14.17 $28.35

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$10

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$35–$60

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 22.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 19.3 0 $6.74 $3.08
Efficient EV 16.1 0 $5.62 $2.57
EV Truck/SUV 25.7 0 $8.99 $4.11

Gas CO2

22 kg

EV CO2

8 kg (64% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 10 hours ago

Origin

Denver, CO

Morning in Denver on Wednesday

Local time

6:09 AM

MDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Black Forest, CO

Morning in Black Forest on Wednesday

Local time

6:09 AM

MDT

Current temp

42°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

4 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

1h 18m 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 Denver, CO to Black Forest, CO covers 64.2 miles and takes about 1h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Colfax Avenue, Grant Street, East Speer Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 32.1 miles from Denver, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.67 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.
The drive from Denver, CO to Black Forest, CO is easy. At 1h 18m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Denver, CO to Black Forest, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Denver, CO to Black Forest, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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