Origin
Hayden, CO
Morning in Hayden on Saturday
Local time
11:32 AM
MDT
Current temp
34°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hayden, CO to Denver, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 55m
Distance
180.7 mi
291 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 43m
★
6 AM
3h 56m
8 AM
4h 22m
10 AM
4h 5m
12 PM
4h 2m
3 PM
4h 6m
5 PM
4h 20m
8 PM
3h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hayden, CO
Thirdman
Denver, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Hayden, CO to Denver, CO covers 180.7 miles and takes about 3h 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, US 40, Colorado River Headwaters Scenic Byway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 55.1 miles on I 70. At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.23 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
90.4 miles from Hayden, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 57m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 70 | 55.1 mi | 1h 6m |
| US 40 | 47.4 mi | 1h |
| Colorado River Headwaters Scenic Byway | 30.6 mi | 40m |
| West Jefferson Avenue | 29.1 mi | 37m |
| West 6th Avenue Freeway | 10.1 mi | 14m |
| CO 9 | 5.6 mi | 9m |
| Tyler Avenue | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| North Lincoln Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 55.1 mi, about 1h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hayden, CO and Denver, CO.
1
Start on US 40
29 mi
·
37 min
·
West Jefferson Avenue
2
Continue on US 40
0.6 mi
·
50 sec
·
US 40
3
Continue on US 40
47 mi
·
1 hr
·
US 40
4
Turn right onto CO 9
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
South 6th Street
Use the right lane.
5
Continue on CO 9
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Tyler Avenue
6
Continue on CO 9
31 mi
·
40 min
·
Colorado River Headwaters Scenic Byway
7
Continue on CO 9
5.3 mi
·
9 min
·
CO 9
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 6
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
US 6
9
Take the exit onto CO 9
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
CO 9
Toward I 70 East
Use the left lane.
10
Merge onto I 70
55 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 261
Toward US 6 East: 6th Avenue, Lakewood
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto US 6
10 mi
·
14 min
·
West 6th Avenue Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn left onto North Lincoln Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
North Lincoln Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
14
Turn right onto East 14th Avenue
353 ft
·
17 sec
·
East 14th Avenue
Use the right lane.
15
Turn left
358 ft
·
27 sec
Use the straight / left lanes.
16
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 90.4 miles from Hayden, CO, or about 1h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.1 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 40 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90.4 miles or 1h 57m 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 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Denver, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hayden, 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 Hayden, CO
This is one driving day of about 180.7 miles and 3h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Hayden, 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 for about 55.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
90 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 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 90.4 miles from Hayden, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 76.5 and 180.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
76.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 38m in
|
CO 9 / South 6th Street
Turn right onto CO 9 / South 6th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
113.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 30m in
|
CO 9
Take the exit onto CO 9 toward I 70 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 70 East
8
169.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 37m 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
6
180.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 55m in
|
East 14th Avenue
Turn right onto East 14th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
180.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 55m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.23 one way
$54.45 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
63 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $28.83 | $57.65 |
| premium | $4.39 | $31.26 | $62.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $39.90 | $79.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 54.2 | 0 | $18.97 | $8.67 |
| Efficient EV | 45.2 | 0 | $15.81 | $7.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 72.3 | 0 | $25.30 | $11.56 |
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 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
Denver, CO
Morning in Denver on Saturday
Local time
11:32 AM
MDT
Current temp
46°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
12 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
3h 55m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a 3h 55m highway drive covering 180.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 70 and US 40. The longest continuous stretch is about 55.1 miles on I 70.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 70 is the longest continuous segment at about 55.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and US 40. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 76.5 miles in near CO 9 / South 6th Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 180.7 miles you will encounter 8 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 76.5 miles (CO 9 / South 6th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 113.9 miles (CO 9): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 169.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Hayden, CO to Denver, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Lakewood along the way.
Lakewood
169.3 mi in
|
~3h 37m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 55m. Total distance: 180.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Hayden, CO to Denver, CO covers 180.7 miles and takes about 3h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 70, US 40, Colorado River Headwaters Scenic Byway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 90.4 miles from Hayden, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.23 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 180.7 miles you will encounter 8 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 76.5 miles (CO 9 / South 6th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 113.9 miles (CO 9): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 169.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Hayden, CO to Denver, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Lakewood along the way.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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