Origin
Denver, CO
Late night in Denver on Wednesday
Local time
2:15 AM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Denver, CO to Superior, CO
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
31m
Distance
21.1 mi
34 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 28m
★
6 AM
0h 31m
8 AM
0h 36m
10 AM
0h 33m
12 PM
0h 32m
3 PM
0h 33m
5 PM
0h 36m
8 PM
0h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Denver, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Superior, CO
Gustavo Galeano Maz
Trip Overview
This short 21.1-mile drive from Denver to Superior, Colorado, is an easy 31-minute trip, perfect for a single day. You'll primarily navigate the Denver–Boulder Turnpike and North Valley Highway, with about 64% of the journey on highways. With a modest estimated fuel cost of $3, this route offers a straightforward and efficient way to travel between these two locations within the Mountain West region. It's a quick hop, so no need to plan for an overnight stay; you can easily complete it in a few hours.
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
10.5 miles from Denver, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 17m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This drive leans heavily towards a highway-focused experience, with 64% of the route utilizing faster roads. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 13.5 miles on the Denver–Boulder Turnpike, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of your journey. While not exclusively highway, the majority of your time will be spent on these types of roads, suggesting a generally smooth and direct travel experience. Expect a practical, efficient drive rather than a winding, scenic exploration.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Denver–Boulder Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 13.5 miles.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
5,505 ft
5,157 ft
Total Climb
586 ft
Total Descent
365 ft
Highest Point
5,505 ft
~19.6 mi in
Elevation Range
348 ft
Notable High Points
5,216 ft at ~4.5 miles
+59 ft prominence
5,448 ft at ~12 miles
+38 ft prominence
5,435 ft at ~15.1 miles
+27 ft prominence
5,505 ft at ~19.6 miles
+8 ft prominence
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Denver–Boulder Turnpike and North Valley Highway. 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 22 significant decision points across 21.1 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 6.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 22 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
6.1 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward US 36 West: Westminster, Boulder
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 217A
Toward US 36 West: Westminster, Boulder
8
20.5 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Keep slight left at fork toward McCaslin Boulevard South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward McCaslin Boulevard South
7
20.8 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
East Coal Creek Drive
Turn right onto East Coal Creek Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Denver, CO and Superior, CO, road signs point toward Limon, Grand Junction and Boulder.
Limon
2.2 mi in
|
~6m
Grand Junction
2.2 mi in
|
~6m
Boulder
6.1 mi in
|
~12m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Denver–Boulder Turnpike | 13.5 mi | 15m |
| North Valley Highway | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| Park Avenue West | 1 mi | 2m |
| North Lincoln Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Broadway | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| South McCaslin Boulevard | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Coal Creek Drive | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
— 13.5 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Denver, CO and Superior, 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
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 217A
Toward US 36 West: Westminster, Boulder
Use the slight left lane.
12
Merge onto US 36
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
15
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
0.6 mi
·
40 sec
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
Toward CO 170 West: McCaslin Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork
216 ft
·
6 sec
Toward McCaslin Boulevard South
Use the left lane.
21
Turn slight left onto South McCaslin Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
South McCaslin Boulevard
Use the left lane.
22
Turn right onto East Coal Creek Drive
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
East Coal Creek Drive
Use the right lane.
23
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
2nd Avenue
24
Turn right
142 ft
·
10 sec
25
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given this is a short 31-minute drive, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid peak rush hour traffic out of Denver. With only 21.1 miles and no planned stops, you won't need to worry about extensive breaks, though there are ample opportunities for fuel along the main roads if needed. The estimated fuel cost is a low $3, making this a budget-friendly trip. Keep an eye out for the transition between the Denver–Boulder Turnpike and North Valley Highway as this marks a slight shift in the road's character.
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 10.5 miles from Denver, CO, or about 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 13.5 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 21.1 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 10.5 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Superior, 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 21.1 miles and 31m.
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 Denver–Boulder Turnpike for about 13.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 10.5 mi from Denver, CO · 17m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
11 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 21.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 10.5 miles from Denver, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Superior, CO
The final approach into Superior, 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 Superior, 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
$3.18 one way
$6.36 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $3.37 | $6.73 |
| premium | $4.39 | $3.65 | $7.30 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.66 | $9.32 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.94
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
(13.5 mi)
$0.94
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
$3
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.3 | 0 | $2.22 | $1.01 |
| Efficient EV | 5.3 | 0 | $1.85 | $0.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.95 | $1.35 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Superior, CO
Late night in Superior on Wednesday
Local time
2:15 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
31m 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 Superior, CO covers 21.1 miles and takes about 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Denver–Boulder Turnpike, North Valley Highway, Park Avenue West. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 10.5 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 $3.18 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 22 significant decision points across 21.1 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 6.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Denver, CO and Superior, CO, road signs point toward Limon, Grand Junction and Boulder.
High-altitude sections with notable climbs. The route ranges from 5,157 ft to 5,505 ft elevation with about 586 ft of total climbing. There are 4 notable high points along the way.
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