Origin
Grand Junction, CO
Afternoon in Grand Junction on Thursday
Local time
12:26 PM
MDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Grand Junction, CO to Black Forest, CO
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
5h 48m
Distance
304.4 mi
490 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$46
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 36m
★
6 AM
5h 49m
8 AM
6h 15m
10 AM
5h 58m
12 PM
5h 55m
3 PM
5h 59m
5 PM
6h 14m
8 PM
5h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Grand Junction, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Black Forest, CO
Justin Wolfert
Trip Overview
The drive from Grand Junction, CO to Black Forest, CO covers 304.4 miles and takes about 5h 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 70 BUS, North Valley Highway, West 6th Avenue Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 230.5 miles on I 70 BUS. At current regular gas prices, budget about $45.86 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
152.2 miles from Grand Junction, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 54m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 48m. Total distance: 304.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 5h 48m highway drive covering 304.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 70 BUS and North Valley Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 230.5 miles on I 70 BUS.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 70 BUS is the longest continuous segment at about 230.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 BUS and North Valley Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.4 miles in near I 70 BUS.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 8 significant decision points across 304.4 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 6.4 miles (I 70 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 231.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 232.1 miles (US 6 / West 6th Avenue Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
6.4 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 70 BUS
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 BUS toward I 70 East: Denver
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 70 East: Denver
8
231.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 23m in
Take the exit toward US 6 East: 6th Avenue, Lakewood
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 261
Toward US 6 East: 6th Avenue, Lakewood
5
232.1 mi into trip
|
~4h 24m in
|
US 6 / West 6th Avenue Freeway
Merge onto US 6 / West 6th Avenue Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
240 mi into trip
|
~4h 33m in
|
US 6
Take the exit onto US 6 toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs
7
296.7 mi into trip
|
~5h 35m in
Take the exit toward Interquest Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 153
Toward Interquest Parkway
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Grand Junction, CO and Black Forest, CO, road signs point toward Lakewood and Colorado Springs.
Lakewood
231.8 mi in
|
~4h 23m
Colorado Springs
240 mi in
|
~4h 33m
|
via US 6
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 70 BUS | 230.5 mi | 4h 21m |
| North Valley Highway | 55.5 mi | 59m |
| West 6th Avenue Freeway | 7.9 mi | 9m |
| Shoup Road | 4.3 mi | 7m |
| Interquest Parkway | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| Pitkin Avenue | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| US 6 | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Black Forest Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 70 BUS
— 230.5 mi, about 4h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Grand Junction, CO and Black Forest, CO.
1
Start on I 70 BUS
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Pitkin Avenue
2
Continue on I 70 BUS
4.3 mi
·
7 min
·
I 70 BUS
3
Continue on I 70 BUS; US 6
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 70 BUS; US 6
4
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 BUS
225 mi
·
4 hr 12 min
·
I 70 BUS
Toward I 70 East: Denver
Use the slight right lane.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 261
Toward US 6 East: 6th Avenue, Lakewood
Use the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto US 6
7.9 mi
·
9 min
·
West 6th Avenue Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto US 6
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
·
US 6
Toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 25 South: Colorado Springs
9
Merge onto I 25
56 mi
·
59 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 153
Toward Interquest Parkway
Use the right lane.
11
Continue on Interquest Parkway
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Interquest Parkway
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto Shoup Road
4.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Shoup Road
13
Turn left onto CR 189
82 ft
·
1 sec
·
Black Forest Road
14
Arrive at destination
CR 189
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 152.2 miles from Grand Junction, CO, or about 2h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 230.5 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 67 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 152.2 miles or 2h 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Black Forest, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Grand Junction, 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 Grand Junction, CO
This is one driving day of about 304.4 miles and 5h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 67 miles from Grand Junction, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 70 BUS for about 230.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 152.2 mi from Grand Junction, CO · 2h 54m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
152 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 67 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 152.2 miles from Grand Junction, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 70 BUS if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 230.5 miles.
Arriving in Black Forest, CO
The final approach into Black Forest, 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 Black Forest, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.86 one way
$91.73 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
107 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $48.56 | $97.12 |
| premium | $4.39 | $52.66 | $105.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $67.21 | $134.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 106.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 91.3 | 1 | $31.96 | $14.61 |
| Efficient EV | 76.1 | 0 | $26.63 | $12.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 121.8 | 1 | $42.62 | $19.48 |
Gas CO2
107 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Black Forest, CO
Afternoon in Black Forest on Thursday
Local time
12:26 PM
MDT
Current temp
42°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
34 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 48m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Grand Junction, CO to Black Forest, CO covers 304.4 miles and takes about 5h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 70 BUS, North Valley Highway, West 6th Avenue Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 152.2 miles from Grand Junction, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $45.86 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 8 significant decision points across 304.4 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.4 miles (I 70 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 231.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 232.1 miles (US 6 / West 6th Avenue Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Grand Junction, CO and Black Forest, CO, road signs point toward Lakewood and Colorado Springs.
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