Origin
Denver, CO
Afternoon in Denver on Saturday
Local time
12:57 PM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Denver, CO to Paonia, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 4m
Distance
228.8 mi
368 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 51m
★
6 AM
5h 4m
8 AM
5h 31m
10 AM
5h 14m
12 PM
5h 11m
3 PM
5h 15m
5 PM
5h 30m
8 PM
4h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Denver, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Paonia, CO
Erick Ortega
Trip Overview
The drive from Denver, CO to Paonia, CO covers 228.8 miles and takes about 5h 4m 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 8th Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.47 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
114.4 miles from Denver, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 32m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Colfax Avenue | — | — |
| Grant Street | — | — |
| East 8th Avenue | — | — |
| North Kalamath Street | — | — |
| West 6th Avenue Freeway | — | — |
| I 70 West | — | — |
| CO 82 East | — | — |
| Laurel Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
East Colfax Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Denver, CO and Paonia, 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
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Grant Street
5
Turn right onto East 8th Avenue
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
East 8th Avenue
6
Continue on North Kalamath Street
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
North Kalamath Street
7
Continue on West 6th Avenue Freeway
9.5 mi
·
11 min
·
West 6th Avenue Freeway
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 70 West: Grand Junction
0.7 mi
·
56 sec
·
I 70 West: Grand Junction
9
Merge slight left
145 mi
·
2 hr 45 min
10
Take the exit slight right toward CO 82 East: Glenwood Springs, Aspen
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
CO 82 East: Glenwood Springs, Aspen
11
Continue on Laurel Street
390 ft
·
15 sec
·
Laurel Street
12
Continue on Grand Avenue
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
Grand Avenue
13
Turn right onto 8th Street
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
8th Street
14
At the end of the road, turn left onto Midland Avenue
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Midland Avenue
15
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward 27th Street
177 ft
·
3 sec
·
27th Street
16
Exit the roundabout onto 27th Street
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
27th Street
17
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward 27th Street
85 ft
·
2 sec
·
27th Street
18
Exit the roundabout onto 27th Street
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
27th Street
19
Turn right onto Glen Avenue
9.8 mi
·
15 min
·
Glen Avenue
20
Turn right
1.1 mi
·
2 min
21
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
108 ft
·
2 sec
·
the route
22
Exit the roundabout
1.3 mi
·
2 min
23
Continue straight
56 mi
·
1 hr 31 min
24
Turn left onto Grand Avenue
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Grand Avenue
25
Turn left onto 3rd Street
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
3rd Street
26
Turn right onto Orchard Avenue
52 ft
·
2 sec
·
Orchard Avenue
27
Arrive at your 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 114.4 miles from Denver, CO, or about 2h 32m 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 50 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 114.4 miles or 2h 32m 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 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Paonia, 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 228.8 miles and 5h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Denver, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
114 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 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 114.4 miles from Denver, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.47 one way
$68.95 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
80 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $36.50 | $73.00 |
| premium | $4.39 | $39.58 | $79.16 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $50.52 | $101.03 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 68.6 | 0 | $24.02 | $10.98 |
| Efficient EV | 57.2 | 0 | $20.02 | $9.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 91.5 | 1 | $32.03 | $14.64 |
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Paonia, CO
Afternoon in Paonia on Saturday
Local time
12:57 PM
MDT
Current temp
74°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
28 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 4m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
228.8 mi in 5h 4m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: East Colfax Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 4m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Denver, CO to Paonia, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 4m. Total distance: 228.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Denver, CO to Paonia, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Paonia, CO before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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