Origin
Edwards, CO
Evening in Edwards on Sunday
Local time
5:06 PM
MDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive Time
2h 25m
Distance
118.2 mi
190 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Edwards, CO
RDNE Stock project
Broomfield, CO
Anastasia Shuraeva
Traveling from Edwards to Broomfield covers 118.2 miles across the Colorado Mountain West, making for an efficient journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 25 minutes. Because of the manageable distance and duration, this route is perfectly suited as a simple one-day trip without the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $18 on fuel, depending on your vehicle's efficiency. The path primarily utilizes the Gerald R. Ford Memorial Highway before transitioning onto the Denver–Boulder Turnpike and Sheridan Boulevard to reach your destination. It is a straightforward transit between the mountains and the Front Range, offering a practical way to navigate the region. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a change of scenery, the route provides a reliable connection that fits easily into a single day of travel.
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
59.1 miles from Edwards, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 11m into the drive .
Expect a drive that transitions from high-speed highway cruising to a more turn-heavy local feel as you approach your destination. The route is dominated by a 106-mile stretch along the Gerald R. Ford Memorial Highway, which accounts for the vast majority of your time behind the wheel. Only about 4% of this trip consists of secondary roads, meaning you will spend most of your journey on major thoroughfares. As you move away from the mountain corridor, the character of the pavement changes, requiring you to shift your focus from steady interstate speeds to navigating local turns on Sheridan Boulevard. This mix keeps the experience from feeling monotonous, though it remains a functional drive rather than a winding backroad adventure.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Edwards Access Road.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 118.2 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 0.1 miles (Edwards Access Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 106.9 miles (I 76 / Heartland Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 108.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Enter roundabout onto Edwards Access Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Keep slight left at fork onto I 76 / Heartland Expressway toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward CO 95: Sheridan Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left toward US 36 West: Boulder
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward US 36 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Gerald R. Ford Memorial Highway | 106 mi | 2h 6m |
| Sheridan Boulevard | 4.6 mi | 7m |
| Denver–Boulder Turnpike | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| Heartland Expressway | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Edwards Access Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| CO 121 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Midway Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Nickel Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Edwards, CO and Broomfield, CO.
Start on this road
Turn right onto Edwards Access Road
Enter roundabout onto Edwards Access Road
Continue on Edwards Access Road
Enter roundabout onto I 70 Business
Continue on I 70 Business
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 70
Keep slight left at fork onto I 76
Take the exit
Turn left onto CO 95
Turn left
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto US 36
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
Take the exit
Turn right onto CO 121
Continue on US 287
Turn right onto West Midway Boulevard
Turn right onto Nickel Street
Turn left onto West 3rd Avenue
Turn left
Arrive at destination
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though planning to avoid peak traffic near the Denver metro area is always a smart move. Because the entire 118.2-mile journey can be completed in under two and a half hours, you likely won't need to schedule formal stops unless you prefer to break up the drive. Keep your $18 fuel budget in mind and consider topping off your tank in Edwards before heading out to avoid paying higher prices along the highway. A helpful tip for this specific route is to stay alert as you transition off the Gerald R. Ford Memorial Highway; the shift from open interstate to the turn-heavy local roads of Sheridan Boulevard happens quickly, so be prepared to adjust your speed and navigation accordingly.
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.
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 80 miles or 1h 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.1 miles or 1h 11m 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 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Broomfield, CO than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Edwards, 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 Edwards, CO
This is one driving day of about 118.2 miles and 2h 25m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 59.1 mi from Edwards, CO · 1h 11m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
59 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 59.1 miles from Edwards, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Gerald R. Ford Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 106 miles.
The final approach into Broomfield, 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 Broomfield, CO.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$17.91 one way
$35.82 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.08 | $19.01 | $38.01 |
| premium | $4.43 | $20.63 | $41.26 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $26.26 | $52.52 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.24
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
$18
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 35.5 | 0 | $12.41 | $5.67 |
| Efficient EV | 29.6 | 0 | $10.34 | $4.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 47.3 | 0 | $16.55 | $7.56 |
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Edwards on Sunday
Local time
5:06 PM
MDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in Broomfield on Sunday
Local time
5:06 PM
MDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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