Origin
Fountain, CO
Late night in Fountain on Friday
Local time
3:19 AM
MDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fountain, CO to Boulder, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 52m
Distance
111.5 mi
179 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 44m
★
6 AM
1h 52m
8 AM
2h 8m
10 AM
1h 58m
12 PM
1h 56m
3 PM
1h 59m
5 PM
2h 8m
8 PM
1h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fountain, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Boulder, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Fountain, CO to Boulder, CO covers 111.5 miles and takes about 1h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Indiana Avenue, South Santa Fe Avenue, I 25 North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.80 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
55.8 miles from Fountain, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 52m. Total distance: 111.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 52m drive with frequent turns across 111.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Indiana Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Fountain, CO to Boulder, CO is easy. At 1h 52m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Fountain, CO to Boulder, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Indiana Avenue | — | — |
| South Santa Fe Avenue | — | — |
| I 25 North | — | — |
| Ronald Reagan Highway | — | — |
| Monument Valley Freeway | — | — |
| US 36 West | — | — |
| Denver–Boulder Turnpike | — | — |
| 28th Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West Indiana Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fountain, CO and Boulder, CO.
1
Start on South Main Street
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
South Main Street
2
Turn right onto West Indiana Avenue
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
West Indiana Avenue
3
At the end of the road, turn left onto South Santa Fe Avenue
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
South Santa Fe Avenue
4
Take the ramp slight right toward I 25 North: Colo Springs
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
I 25 North: Colo Springs
5
Merge slight left onto Ronald Reagan Highway
11 mi
·
11 min
·
Ronald Reagan Highway
6
Continue on Monument Valley Freeway
8.5 mi
·
9 min
·
Monument Valley Freeway
7
Continue on Ronald Reagan Highway
69 mi
·
1 hr 16 min
·
Ronald Reagan Highway
8
Take the exit slight left toward US 36 West: Westminster, Boulder
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
US 36 West: Westminster, Boulder
9
Merge slight right onto Denver–Boulder Turnpike
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
10
Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
11
Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
12
Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
13
Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
14
Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
15
Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
16
Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
17
Keep slight left to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
18
Continue on 28th Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
28th Street
19
Turn left onto Arapahoe Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Arapahoe Avenue
20
Turn right onto 19th Street
144 ft
·
11 sec
·
19th Street
21
Turn left
89 ft
·
5 sec
22
Arrive at your 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 55.8 miles from Fountain, CO, or about 56m 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 25 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.8 miles or 56m 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 31m
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 Fountain, CO so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Fountain, CO
This is one driving day of about 111.5 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Fountain, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 55.8 mi from Fountain, CO · 56m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
56 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 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 55.8 miles from Fountain, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.80 one way
$33.60 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
39 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $17.79 | $35.57 |
| premium | $4.39 | $19.29 | $38.58 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $24.62 | $49.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 33.4 | 0 | $11.71 | $5.35 |
| Efficient EV | 27.9 | 0 | $9.76 | $4.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 44.6 | 0 | $15.61 | $7.14 |
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Destination
Boulder, CO
Late night in Boulder on Friday
Local time
3:19 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
29 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 52m 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 Fountain, CO to Boulder, CO covers 111.5 miles and takes about 1h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Indiana Avenue, South Santa Fe Avenue, I 25 North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 55.8 miles from Fountain, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.80 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.
The drive from Fountain, CO to Boulder, CO is easy. At 1h 52m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Fountain, CO to Boulder, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Fountain, CO to Boulder, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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