Origin
Denver, CO
Evening in Denver on Sunday
Local time
5:14 PM
MDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Denver, CO to Boulder, CO
Drive Time
35m
Distance
27.9 mi
45 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 32m
★
6 AM
0h 36m
8 AM
0h 42m
10 AM
0h 38m
12 PM
0h 37m
3 PM
0h 38m
5 PM
0h 41m
8 PM
0h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Denver, CO
MINEIA MARTINS
Boulder, CO
Dmitriy Piskarev
Trip Overview
Traveling between Denver and Boulder is a quick trip covering 27.9 miles that typically takes about 35 minutes to complete. Because of the short distance and duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight logistics. You should budget approximately $4 for fuel to cover the journey through the Mountain West region. Navigating this path involves city streets rather than high-speed interstates, keeping you firmly within the local landscape. It is a straightforward commute that offers the flexibility to head back the same day or extend your stay as you see fit.
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
14 miles from Denver, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 17m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed highway experience, as this route features zero percent highway driving. You will spend your time navigating through city environments via East Colfax Avenue, North Lincoln Street, and 20th Street. Because the longest stretch of road is zero miles on East Colfax Avenue, you should remain alert for constant turns and transitions between local streets. The personality of this drive is strictly urban and focused, requiring your full attention as you move from the heart of Denver toward Boulder. It is a practical, utilitarian transit experience that relies on careful navigation through local corridors.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 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 Boulder, CO is easy. At 35m 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 Boulder, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Colfax Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Lincoln Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 20th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Broadway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Park Avenue West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 25 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Valley Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 36 West | 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 Boulder, CO.
1
Start on the route
377 ft
·
29 sec
·
the route
2
Turn right
62 ft
·
12 sec
3
Turn left onto East Colfax Avenue
361 ft
·
14 sec
·
East Colfax Avenue
4
Turn right onto North Lincoln Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Lincoln Street
5
Continue on 20th Street
502 ft
·
18 sec
·
20th Street
6
Turn right onto North Broadway
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Broadway
7
Turn left onto Park Avenue West
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Park Avenue West
8
Take the ramp slight right toward I 25 North, I 70: Fort Collins, Limon, Grand Junction
459 ft
·
11 sec
·
I 25 North, I 70: Fort Collins, Limon, Grand Junction
9
Keep slight left to continue on I 25 North: Fort Collins
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
I 25 North: Fort Collins
10
Merge slight right onto North Valley Highway
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
North Valley Highway
11
Take the exit slight left toward US 36 West: Westminster, Boulder
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
US 36 West: Westminster, Boulder
12
Merge slight right onto Denver–Boulder Turnpike
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
13
Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
14
Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
15
Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
16
Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
17
Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
18
Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
19
Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
20
Keep slight left to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
21
Continue on 28th Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
28th Street
22
Turn left onto Arapahoe Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Arapahoe Avenue
23
Turn right onto 19th Street
144 ft
·
11 sec
·
19th Street
24
Turn left
89 ft
·
5 sec
25
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a brief 35-minute drive, you have plenty of scheduling flexibility to work around peak traffic hours. You do not need to plan for any formal stops, as the distance is short enough to handle in one go without needing a break. Keep a close eye on your navigation apps, as the turn-heavy nature of these local streets can be tricky if you are unfamiliar with the area. Ensure your vehicle is ready to go with the $4 fuel budget in mind before you depart. Above all, stay focused on the specific sequence of East Colfax Avenue, North Lincoln Street, and 20th Street to ensure you stay on the most direct path to Boulder.
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 14 miles from Denver, CO, or about 17m 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 27.9 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 14 miles or 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Boulder, 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 27.9 miles and 35m.
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 14 mi from Denver, CO · 17m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
14 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 27.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 14 miles from Denver, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Boulder, CO
The final approach into Boulder, 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 Boulder, 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
$4.23 one way
$8.46 round trip
$3.85/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.08 | $4.49 | $8.97 |
| premium | $4.43 | $4.87 | $9.74 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $6.20 | $12.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.93 | $1.34 |
| Efficient EV | 7 | 0 | $2.44 | $1.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.91 | $1.79 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Boulder, CO
Evening in Boulder on Sunday
Local time
5:14 PM
MDT
Current temp
40°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
26 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
35m 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 Boulder, CO covers 27.9 miles and takes about 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Colfax Avenue, North Lincoln Street, 20th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 14 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 $4.23 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 Boulder, CO is easy. At 35m 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 Boulder, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Denver, CO to Boulder, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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