The drive from Grand Junction, CO to Superior, CO covers 255.7 miles and takes about 4h 55m 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, Denver–Boulder Turnpike, Sheridan Boulevard for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 238.4 miles on I 70 BUS.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $38.53 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
127.9 miles from Grand Junction, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 27m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 55m. Total distance: 255.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 4h 55m highway drive covering 255.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 70 BUS and Denver–Boulder Turnpike. The longest continuous stretch is about 238.4 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 21 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 238.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 BUS and Denver–Boulder Turnpike. 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 Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 255.7 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 239.7 miles (I 76 / Heartland Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 241.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key points
These 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
239.7 mi into trip|~4h 32m in|I 76 / Heartland Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 76 / Heartland Expressway toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Exit 269B
Toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
7
241.1 mi into trip|~4h 34m in
Take the exit toward CO 95: Sheridan Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1B
Toward CO 95: Sheridan Boulevard
8
255.1 mi into trip|~4h 53m in
Keep slight left at fork toward McCaslin Boulevard South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward McCaslin Boulevard South
7
255.4 mi into trip|~4h 54m in|East Coal Creek Drive
Turn right onto East Coal Creek Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70 BUS
238.4 mi
4h 30m
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
8.4 mi
9m
Sheridan Boulevard
4.6 mi
7m
Heartland Expressway
1.3 mi
1m
Pitkin Avenue
1.3 mi
2m
South McCaslin Boulevard
0.3 mi
<1m
East Coal Creek Drive
0.1 mi
<1m
2nd Avenue
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70 BUS
— 238.4 mi, about 4h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Grand Junction, CO and Superior, 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
233 mi·4 hr 22 min·I 70 BUS
Toward I 70 East: DenverUse the slight right lane.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 76
1.3 mi·1 min·Heartland Expressway
Exit 269BToward I 76 East: Fort MorganUse the left lane.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 1BToward CO 95: Sheridan BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn left onto CO 95
4.6 mi·7 min·Sheridan Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
Turn left
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward US 36 West: BoulderUse the left lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward US 36 West
10
Merge onto US 36
0.9 mi·1 min·Denver–Boulder Turnpike
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
1.9 mi·2 min·Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
2.1 mi·2 min·Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
2.9 mi·3 min·Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
0.6 mi·40 sec·Denver–Boulder Turnpike
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·30 sec
Toward CO 170 West: McCaslin BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork
216 ft·6 sec
Toward McCaslin Boulevard SouthUse the left lane.
17
Turn slight left onto South McCaslin Boulevard
0.3 mi·43 sec·South McCaslin Boulevard
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto East Coal Creek Drive
0.1 mi·34 sec·East Coal Creek Drive
Use the right lane.
19
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue
0.1 mi·25 sec·2nd Avenue
20
Turn right
142 ft·10 sec
21
Arrive at destination
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 127.9 miles from Grand Junction, CO, or about 2h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 238.4 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 56 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127.9 miles or 2h 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Superior, 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 255.7 miles and 4h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 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 238.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 127.9 mi from Grand Junction, CO
· 2h 27m into the drive
The midpoint is around 127.9 miles from Grand Junction, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 70 BUS if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 238.4 miles.
Arriving in Superior, CO
The final approach into Superior, 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 Superior, 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Colorado National Monument
National Monument
Colorado National Monument preserves one of the grand landscapes of the American West. But this treasure is much more than a monument. Towering monoliths exist within a vast plateau and canyon panoram...
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76.7
0
$26.85
$12.27
Efficient EV
63.9
0
$22.37
$10.23
EV Truck/SUV
102.3
1
$35.80
$16.36
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Grand Junction, CO
Morning
in Grand Junction on Saturday
Local time
10:21 AM
MDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Superior, CO
Morning
in Superior on Saturday
Local time
10:21 AM
MDT
Current temp
47°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 55m 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 Superior, CO covers 255.7 miles and takes about 4h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 70 BUS, Denver–Boulder Turnpike, Sheridan Boulevard. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 127.9 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 $38.53 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 17 significant decision points across 255.7 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 239.7 miles (I 76 / Heartland Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 241.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Grand Junction, CO to Superior, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
