Origin
Glenwood Springs, CO
Afternoon in Glenwood Springs on Monday
Local time
1:08 PM
MDT
Current temp
30°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Glenwood Springs, CO to Boulder, CO
Drive Time
2h 59m
Distance
168.9 mi
272 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 48m
★
6 AM
3h 0m
8 AM
3h 22m
10 AM
3h 7m
12 PM
3h 5m
3 PM
3h 9m
5 PM
3h 21m
8 PM
2h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Glenwood Springs, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Boulder, CO
Dmitriy Piskarev
Trip Overview
The drive from Glenwood Springs, CO to Boulder, CO covers 168.9 miles and takes about 2h 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West 6th Street, Laurel Street, Grand Army of the Republic Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.59 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
84.4 miles from Glenwood Springs, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 29m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 59m drive with frequent turns across 168.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West 6th Street 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.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Glenwood Springs, CO to Boulder, CO is easy. At 2h 59m 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 Glenwood Springs, CO to Boulder, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West 6th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Laurel Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Grand Army of the Republic Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Gerald R | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 40 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Hogback Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lariat Loop Scenic Byway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
West 6th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Glenwood Springs, CO and Boulder, CO.
1
Start on Pine Street
121 ft
·
7 sec
·
Pine Street
2
Turn right onto West 6th Street
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
West 6th Street
3
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Laurel Street
144 ft
·
3 sec
·
Laurel Street
4
Exit the roundabout onto Laurel Street
446 ft
·
24 sec
·
Laurel Street
5
Take the exit left
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
6
Merge slight left onto Grand Army of the Republic Highway
13 mi
·
16 min
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
7
Continue on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
8
Continue on Gerald R. Ford Memorial Highway
61 mi
·
1 hr 5 min
·
Gerald R. Ford Memorial Highway
9
Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway
68 mi
·
1 hr 20 min
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
10
Take the exit slight right toward US 40, I 70 Business East, CH 93: Golden, Morrison
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
US 40, I 70 Business East, CH 93: Golden, Morrison
11
Turn left onto Hogback Road
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Hogback Road
12
Continue on Lariat Loop Scenic Byway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Lariat Loop Scenic Byway
13
Turn left onto Heritage Road
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Heritage Road
14
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Heritage Road
105 ft
·
2 sec
·
Heritage Road
15
Exit the roundabout onto Heritage Road
489 ft
·
10 sec
·
Heritage Road
16
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Heritage Road
49 ft
·
1 sec
·
Heritage Road
17
Exit the roundabout onto Heritage Road
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Heritage Road
18
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Heritage Road
128 ft
·
3 sec
·
Heritage Road
19
Exit the roundabout onto Heritage Road
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Heritage Road
20
Turn slight right onto Heritage Road
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Heritage Road
21
Turn left onto Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
22
Continue straight
19 mi
·
30 min
23
Turn right onto University Avenue
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
University Avenue
24
Continue on 17th Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
17th Street
25
Turn right onto Athens Street
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Athens Street
26
Turn left onto 19th Street
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
19th Street
27
Turn left
89 ft
·
5 sec
28
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 84.4 miles from Glenwood Springs, CO, or about 1h 29m 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 80 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.4 miles or 1h 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 27m
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 Glenwood Springs, 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 Glenwood Springs, CO
This is one driving day of about 168.9 miles and 2h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Glenwood Springs, 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.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 84.4 mi from Glenwood Springs, CO · 1h 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
84 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 84.4 miles from Glenwood Springs, 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
$25.59 one way
$51.19 round trip
$3.85/gal
25.4 MPG avg
59 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.08 | $27.16 | $54.31 |
| premium | $4.43 | $29.48 | $58.96 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $37.52 | $75.05 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 50.7 | 0 | $17.73 | $8.11 |
| Efficient EV | 42.2 | 0 | $14.78 | $6.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 67.6 | 0 | $23.65 | $10.81 |
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Boulder, CO
Afternoon in Boulder on Monday
Local time
1:08 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
10 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
2h 59m 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 Glenwood Springs, CO to Boulder, CO covers 168.9 miles and takes about 2h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West 6th Street, Laurel Street, Grand Army of the Republic Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 84.4 miles from Glenwood Springs, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.59 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Glenwood Springs, CO to Boulder, CO is easy. At 2h 59m 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 Glenwood Springs, CO to Boulder, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Glenwood Springs, CO to Boulder, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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