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Trip from Fort Morgan, CO to Boulder, CO

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 45m

Distance

95.6 mi

154 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Fair

2 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min
4 AM
1h 38m ★
6 AM
1h 45m
8 AM
2h 1m
10 AM
1h 51m
12 PM
1h 49m
3 PM
1h 52m
5 PM
2h 0m
8 PM
1h 41m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in and county seat of Morgan County, Colorado, United States

Fort Morgan, CO

Wikimedia Commons

city in and county seat of Boulder County, Colorado, United States

Boulder, CO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Fort Morgan, CO to Boulder, CO covers 95.6 miles and takes about 1h 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 76, E-470, Northwest Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 59.8 miles on I 76. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.40 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.

Midpoint

47.8 miles from Fort Morgan, CO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 76 59.8 mi 59m
E-470 12.6 mi 12m
Northwest Parkway 8.3 mi 9m
Denver–Boulder Turnpike 8.3 mi 9m
Buckley Road 2 mi 3m
Main Street 1 mi 2m
28th Street 0.8 mi 1m
Arapahoe Avenue 0.6 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 76 — 59.8 mi, about 59m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fort Morgan, CO and Boulder, CO.

1

Start on State Street

136 ft · 5 sec · State Street
2

Turn right onto East Kiowa Avenue

359 ft · 13 sec · East Kiowa Avenue
3

Turn right onto Main Street

1.0 mi · 2 min · Main Street
Use the straight lane.
4

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Toward I 76 West Use the left lane.
5

Merge onto I 76

60 mi · 59 min · I 76
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 35 sec
Exit 20 Toward 136th Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Turn right onto East 136th Avenue

0.2 mi · 32 sec · East 136th Avenue
8

Turn left onto Buckley Road

2.0 mi · 3 min · Buckley Road
Use the left lane.
9

Turn left onto East 120th Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · East 120th Avenue
10

Turn left

0.4 mi · 47 sec
Toward E 470 Toll North Use the left lane.
11

Merge onto E470

13 mi · 12 min · E-470
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Continue on NW

8.3 mi · 9 min · Northwest Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Toward US 36 West: Boulder Use the right lane.
14

Merge onto US 36

1.4 mi · 1 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike
15

Keep slight right at fork onto US 36

2.4 mi · 2 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Keep slight right at fork onto US 36

2.2 mi · 2 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike
17

Keep slight left at fork onto US 36

2.3 mi · 2 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
18

Continue on US 36

0.8 mi · 1 min · 28th Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
19

Turn left onto Arapahoe Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · Arapahoe Avenue
Use the left lane.
20

Turn right onto 19th Street

143 ft · 11 sec · 19th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
21

Turn left

87 ft · 4 sec
22

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 47.8 miles from Fort Morgan, CO, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.8 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 miles or 22m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 47.8 miles or 49m 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 23m

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 Morgan, CO so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Fort Morgan, CO

This is one driving day of about 95.6 miles and 1h 45m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Fort Morgan, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 76 for about 59.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Todd Creek, CO, CO

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Todd Creek, CO

48 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

Wiggins, CO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lochbuie, CO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 47.8 miles from Fort Morgan, 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Sushi Bistro TASUKI

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Boulder, Colorado

Near the end, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour Moderately mile 95.6

Hours: 5–9:30 pm

+13034479718

Visit website

San Miguel Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Fort Morgan, Colorado

0.1 mi

Chef's Da Chinese Restaurant

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Fort Morgan, Colorado

0.1 mi

Sushi Bistro TASUKI

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour Moderately mile 95.6

Boulder, Colorado

Hours: 5–9:30 pm

+13034479718

Visit website

San Miguel Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20

Fort Morgan, Colorado

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+19704278848

Visit website

Chef's Da Chinese Restaurant

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20

Fort Morgan, Colorado

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+19708674000

Visit website

Sonic Drive-In

3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Fort Morgan, Colorado

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

+19708673200

Visit website

Pepper's

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Fort Morgan, Colorado

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+19703702584

Visit website

Santiago's Mexican Restaurant

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Fort Morgan, Colorado

Hours: 6 am–8 pm

+19708672214

Visit website

Little Bamboo

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Fort Morgan, Colorado

Hours: 10:30 am–8:30 pm

+19708671827

Visit website

El Valle Restaurant

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Fort Morgan, Colorado

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+19707433421

7Charge Charging Station

2.5 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 61.5

Commerce City, Colorado

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, ~10 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 68.3

Commerce City, Colorado

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Pearl Street Mall

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 95.6

Boulder, Colorado

Hours: Open 24 hours

+13034493774

Chautauqua Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 95.6

Boulder, CO

Hours: 5 am–11 pm

+13034137200

Visit website

First Flatiron

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 95.6

Boulder, Colorado

Hours: 5 am–11 pm

Visit website

Little Monkey Bizness - Westminster

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 75.1

Westminster, Colorado

Hours: 9 am–1 pm

+13032529999

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 18

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 87.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
1.1 mi into trip | ~2m in

Take the ramp toward I 76 West

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward I 76 West
7
61.2 mi into trip | ~1h 2m in

Take the exit toward 136th Avenue

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 20 Toward 136th Avenue
7
64.3 mi into trip | ~1h 8m in

Turn left toward E 470 Toll North

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward E 470 Toll North
6
85.6 mi into trip | ~1h 31m in

Take the exit toward US 36 West: Boulder

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward US 36 West: Boulder
6
87.3 mi into trip | ~1h 33m in | US 36 / Denver–Boulder Turnpike

Keep slight right at fork onto US 36 / Denver–Boulder Turnpike

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$14.40 one way

$28.81 round trip

$3.83/gal 25.4 MPG avg 33 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.05 $15.25 $30.50
premium $4.39 $16.54 $33.08
diesel $5.61 $21.11 $42.21

Estimated Tolls: $3.09

E-470 (12.6 mi) $1.51
Northwest Parkway (8.3 mi) $1.00
Denver–Boulder Turnpike (8.3 mi) $0.58

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

$14

Tolls

$3

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$42–$67

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 33.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 28.7 0 $10.04 $4.59
Efficient EV 23.9 0 $8.36 $3.82
EV Truck/SUV 38.2 0 $13.38 $6.12

Gas CO2

33 kg

EV CO2

11 kg (67% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Fort Morgan, CO

Morning in Fort Morgan on Saturday

Local time

11:39 AM

MDT

Current temp

42°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Boulder, CO

Morning in Boulder on Saturday

Local time

11:39 AM

MDT

Current temp

72°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

30 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

1h 45m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

95.6 mi in 1h 45m, mostly highway — 59.8 mi of that is on I 76.

80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59.8 mi on I 76.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 76 and E-470. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in.

Driving Effort 9/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 95.6 miles you will encounter 18 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 61.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 64.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Fort Morgan, CO to Boulder, CO, road signs begin pointing toward E 470 Toll North along the way.

E 470 Toll North

64.3 mi in | ~1h 8m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 45m. Total distance: 95.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 59.8 miles on I 76. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $3.09 in tolls one way, starting with E-470. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Boulder, CO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 61.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 64.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Boulder, CO before heading back.

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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