Origin
Denver, CO
Night in Denver on Sunday
Local time
10:03 PM
MDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Denver, CO to La Salle, CO
Drive Time
1h 13m
Distance
56.8 mi
91 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 8m
★
6 AM
1h 14m
8 AM
1h 25m
10 AM
1h 18m
12 PM
1h 17m
3 PM
1h 18m
5 PM
1h 25m
8 PM
1h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Denver, CO
MINEIA MARTINS
Trip Overview
The drive from Denver, CO to La Salle, CO covers 56.8 miles and takes about 1h 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Heartland Expressway, County Road 49, County Road 44 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 28.3 miles on Heartland Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.61 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
28.4 miles from Denver, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 35m into the drive .
Drive Character
The drive from Denver, CO to La Salle, CO covers 56.8 miles and takes about 1h 13m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Heartland Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 28.3 miles.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
5,276 ft
4,679 ft
Total Climb
236 ft
Total Descent
833 ft
Highest Point
5,276 ft
Elevation Range
597 ft
Notable High Points
5,210 ft at ~4.7 miles
+47 ft prominence
5,113 ft at ~11.8 miles
+13 ft prominence
5,120 ft at ~21.3 miles
+35 ft prominence
4,913 ft at ~37.9 miles
+9 ft prominence
4,849 ft at ~45 miles
+4 ft prominence
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near Park Avenue West.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 56.8 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 1.2 miles (Park Avenue West): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
1.2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
Park Avenue West
Turn left onto Park Avenue West toward I 25
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 25
6
2.2 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp toward I 25 North, I 70: Fort Collins, Limon, Grand Junction
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 25 North, I 70: Fort Collins, Limon, G...
8
5.5 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the exit toward I 76: Grand Junction, Fort Morgan, 70th Avenue
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 216A-B
Toward I 76: Grand Junction, Fort Morgan, 70th...
7
12.6 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
I 76 / Heartland Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76 / Heartland Expressway toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
7
34.4 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Take the exit toward Kersey Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 34
Toward Kersey Road
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Denver, CO to La Salle, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Morgan along the way.
Fort Morgan
5.5 mi in
|
~11m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Heartland Expressway | 28.3 mi | 29m |
| County Road 49 | 14.1 mi | 16m |
| County Road 44 | 5 mi | 7m |
| North Valley Highway | 3 mi | 4m |
| County Road 39 | 2.3 mi | 5m |
| Park Avenue West | 1 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| North Lincoln Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Heartland Expressway
— 28.3 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Denver, CO and La Salle, CO.
1
Start on this road
379 ft
·
29 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
62 ft
·
11 sec
3
Turn left onto I 70 Business; US 40; US 287
362 ft
·
14 sec
·
East Colfax Avenue
4
Turn right onto North Lincoln Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Lincoln Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
Continue on 20th Street
500 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
Toward I 25
Use the left lane.
8
Take the ramp
458 ft
·
11 sec
Toward I 25 North, I 70: Fort Collins, Limon, Grand Junction
Use the right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 25 North: Fort Collins
10
Merge onto I 25
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
Exit 216A-B
Toward I 76: Grand Junction, Fort Morgan, 70th Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 216A
Toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
13
Merge onto I 76
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Heartland Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
22 mi
·
21 min
·
Heartland Expressway
Toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 34
Toward Kersey Road
Use the slight right lane.
16
Turn left onto CR 49
14 mi
·
16 min
·
County Road 49
17
Turn left onto County Road 44
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
County Road 44
18
Turn right onto County Road 39
2.3 mi
·
5 min
·
County Road 39
19
Continue on Main Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
20
Arrive at destination
Main Street
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 28.4 miles from Denver, CO, or about 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28.3 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 56.8 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 28.4 miles or 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near La Salle, 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 56.8 miles and 1h 13m.
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.
The longest stretch is on Heartland Expressway for about 28.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 28.4 mi from Denver, CO · 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 56.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.4 miles from Denver, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in La Salle, CO
The final approach into La Salle, 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 La Salle, 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
$8.61 one way
$17.21 round trip
$3.85/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.08 | $9.13 | $18.27 |
| premium | $4.43 | $9.91 | $19.83 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $12.62 | $25.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17 | 0 | $5.96 | $2.73 |
| Efficient EV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.97 | $2.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.7 | 0 | $7.95 | $3.64 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
La Salle, CO
Night in La Salle on Sunday
Local time
10:03 PM
MDT
Current temp
35°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
31 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 13m 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 La Salle, CO covers 56.8 miles and takes about 1h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Heartland Expressway, County Road 49, County Road 44. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 28.4 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 $8.61 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 16 significant decision points across 56.8 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 1.2 miles (Park Avenue West): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Denver, CO to La Salle, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Morgan along the way.
High-altitude sections with notable climbs. The route ranges from 4,679 ft to 5,276 ft elevation with about 236 ft of total climbing. There are 5 notable high points along the way.
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