Origin
Fort Lupton, CO
Evening in Fort Lupton on Sunday
Local time
5:15 PM
MDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fort Lupton, CO to Boulder, CO
Drive Time
48m
Distance
28.5 mi
46 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 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 57m
8 PM
0h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Boulder, CO
Dmitriy Piskarev
Trip Overview
The drive from Fort Lupton, CO to Boulder, CO covers 28.5 miles and takes about 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 1st Street, Diagonal Highway, Foothills Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 20.3 miles on 1st Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.32 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
14.3 miles from Fort Lupton, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 24m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 48m drive with frequent turns across 28.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 9 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
1st Street is the longest continuous segment at about 20.3 miles.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
5,256 ft
4,907 ft
Total Climb
400 ft
Total Descent
50 ft
Highest Point
5,256 ft
~26.2 mi in
Elevation Range
349 ft
Notable High Points
4,998 ft at ~4.8 miles
+1 ft prominence
5,035 ft at ~10.7 miles
+27 ft prominence
How Hard Is This Drive?
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. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near US 85 Business; CO 52 / 1st Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 48m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (US 85 Business; CO 52 / 1st Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 20.7 miles (CO 119 / Diagonal Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.9 miles (CO 7 / Arapahoe Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 5 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 85 Business; CO 52 / 1st Street
Turn right onto US 85 Business; CO 52 / 1st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
20.7 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
CO 119 / Diagonal Highway
Merge onto CO 119 / Diagonal Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
26.9 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
CO 7 / Arapahoe Avenue
Turn right onto CO 7 / Arapahoe Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
28.5 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
19th Street
Turn right onto 19th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
28.5 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Street | 20.3 mi | 34m |
| Diagonal Highway | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| Foothills Parkway | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Arapahoe Avenue | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Mc Kinley Avenue | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| IBM Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 19th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
1st Street
— 20.3 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Lupton, CO and Boulder, CO.
1
Start on Mc Kinley Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Mc Kinley Avenue
2
Turn right onto US 85 Business; CO 52
20 mi
·
34 min
·
1st Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Continue on IBM Drive
381 ft
·
17 sec
·
IBM Drive
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
4
Merge onto CO 119
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Diagonal Highway
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on CO 157
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Foothills Parkway
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn right onto CO 7
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Arapahoe Avenue
Use the straight lane.
7
Turn right onto 19th Street
143 ft
·
11 sec
·
19th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Turn left
87 ft
·
4 sec
9
Arrive at destination
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 14.3 miles from Fort Lupton, CO, or about 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.3 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 28.5 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 14.3 miles or 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 40m
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 Fort Lupton, 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 Fort Lupton, CO
This is one driving day of about 28.5 miles and 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Fort Lupton, 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 1st Street for about 20.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 14.3 mi from Fort Lupton, CO · 24m 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 28.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 14.3 miles from Fort Lupton, 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
$4.32 one way
$8.64 round trip
$3.85/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.08 | $4.58 | $9.16 |
| premium | $4.43 | $4.97 | $9.95 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $6.33 | $12.66 |
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: 10 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 | 8.5 | 0 | $2.99 | $1.37 |
| Efficient EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.49 | $1.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.99 | $1.82 |
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
5:15 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
2 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
48m 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 Fort Lupton, CO to Boulder, CO covers 28.5 miles and takes about 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 1st Street, Diagonal Highway, Foothills Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 14.3 miles from Fort Lupton, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.32 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 straightforward 48m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (US 85 Business; CO 52 / 1st Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 20.7 miles (CO 119 / Diagonal Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.9 miles (CO 7 / Arapahoe Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Fort Lupton, CO to Boulder, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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