Origin
Greeley, CO
Evening in Greeley on Thursday
Local time
6:04 PM
MDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Greeley, CO to Derby, CO
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
53.9 mi
87 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Greeley, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Derby, CO
@coldbeer
Trip Overview
This 53.9-mile drive from Greeley to Derby, Colorado, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 5 minutes. Designed as a single-day excursion, it offers a convenient way to travel within the Mountain West region. With an estimated fuel cost of $8, this route is quite economical. The journey primarily utilizes I-76, County Road 49, and 18th Street, providing a mixed driving experience. Given its manageable length and duration, it's an ideal option for a quick transit or a day trip without the need for an overnight stay.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 53.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (47%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The character of this drive is a mix, with 47% of the journey on highways. You'll experience a significant stretch of 24.4 miles on I-76, offering a chance for consistent speed. Following that, the route transitions to County Road 49 and 18th Street, which will likely offer a different pace and feel. This blend means you’ll get both the efficiency of interstate travel and the more local feel of secondary roads as you approach your destination. The profile is best described as a mixed drive, reflecting these changes in road type.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 76 is the longest continuous segment at about 24.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near US 34 Business / 10th Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 53.9 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.3 miles (US 34 Business / 10th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (US 34 Business; US 85 Business / 8th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles (US 34 Business / 18th Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 34 Business / 10th Street
Turn left onto US 34 Business / 10th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
1.3 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 34 Business; US 85 Business / 8th Avenue
Turn right onto US 34 Business; US 85 Business / 8th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
2.2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
US 34 Business / 18th Street
Turn left onto US 34 Business / 18th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
52.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
|
US 6; US 85
Take the exit onto US 6; US 85 toward US 6 West, US 85 South: Commerce City
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 9
Toward US 6 West, US 85 South: Commerce City
6
53.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
|
East 77th Avenue
Turn left onto East 77th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 76 | 24.4 mi | 25m |
| County Road 49 | 21.9 mi | 25m |
| 18th Street | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| US 6 | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| 10th Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| East 18th Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| 8th Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Kimberly Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 76
— 24.4 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Greeley, CO and Derby, CO.
1
Start on 19th Avenue
262 ft
·
18 sec
·
19th Avenue
2
Turn left onto US 34 Business
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
9th Street
3
Turn left onto 21st Avenue
495 ft
·
29 sec
·
21st Avenue
4
Turn left onto US 34 Business
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
10th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
Turn right onto US 34 Business; US 85 Business
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
8th Avenue
Use the right lane.
6
Turn left onto US 34 Business
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
18th Street
Use the left lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto East 18th Street
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
East 18th Street
8
Continue on East 18th Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East 18th Street
9
Turn right onto CR 49
22 mi
·
25 min
·
County Road 49
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 76 West
11
Merge onto I 76
24 mi
·
25 min
·
I 76
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit onto US 6; US 85
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
US 6; US 85
Exit 9
Toward US 6 West, US 85 South: Commerce City
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn left onto East 77th Avenue
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
East 77th Avenue
Use the left lane.
14
Turn left onto Kimberly Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Kimberly Street
15
Arrive at destination
Kimberly Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 27 mi from Greeley, CO · 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27 miles from Greeley, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Derby, CO
The final approach into Derby, 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
$8.12 one way
$16.24 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $8.60 | $17.20 |
| premium | $4.39 | $9.32 | $18.65 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.90 | $23.80 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.66 | $2.59 |
| Efficient EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.72 | $2.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.6 | 0 | $7.55 | $3.45 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Derby, CO
Evening in Derby on Thursday
Local time
6:04 PM
MDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
80°F
La Salle, CO
27 mi in
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
1 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
1h 5m 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 Greeley, CO to Derby, CO covers 53.9 miles and takes about 1h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 76, County Road 49, 18th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 27 miles from Greeley, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.12 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 53.9 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (US 34 Business / 10th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (US 34 Business; US 85 Business / 8th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles (US 34 Business / 18th Street): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Greeley, CO to Derby, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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