Origin
Highlands Ranch, CO
Afternoon in Highlands Ranch on Friday
Local time
12:35 PM
MDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Highlands Ranch, CO to Commerce City, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
39m
Distance
23.2 mi
37 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Good
6 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 36m
★
6 AM
0h 40m
8 AM
0h 46m
10 AM
0h 42m
12 PM
0h 41m
3 PM
0h 42m
5 PM
0h 46m
8 PM
0h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Highlands Ranch, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Commerce City, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 23.2-mile drive from Highlands Ranch to Commerce City in Colorado is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 39 minutes. Expect a fuel cost of around $4 for this journey. The route primarily utilizes local roads, with a small highway share, suggesting a more urban or suburban travel experience. Given its short duration and minimal highway travel, it's an ideal option for a quick transit between these two points within the Mountain West region. This trip is best suited for getting from point A to point B efficiently without extensive scenic detours.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 39m. Total distance: 23.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll be navigating through city streets and making frequent turns rather than cruising on open highways. While there's a 6% highway share, the majority of your travel will be on South University Boulevard, South Valley Highway, and North Vasquez Boulevard. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 9.2 miles on South University Boulevard. This type of drive often involves managing traffic signals and varying speed limits, offering a more engaged driving experience compared to a simple interstate cruise.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South University Boulevard is the longest continuous segment at about 9.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Thistle Ridge Road.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 23.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 39m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Thistle Ridge Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (South University Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 17.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Thistle Ridge Road
Turn right onto East Thistle Ridge Road
Navigation decision point
5
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
South University Boulevard
Turn left onto South University Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
17.9 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the exit toward I 70: Limon, Grand Junction
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.
Exit 214A
Toward I 70: Limon, Grand Junction
8
20.5 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
US 6; US 85
Take the exit onto US 6; US 85 toward US 6, US 85: Vasquez Boulevard
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.
Exit 276A
Toward US 6, US 85: Vasquez Boulevard
6
22.9 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
Dexter Street
Turn left onto Dexter Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
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 Highlands Ranch, CO to Commerce City, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Grand Junction along the way.
Grand Junction
17.9 mi in
|
~30m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South University Boulevard | 9.2 mi | 16m |
| South Valley Highway | 7.4 mi | 9m |
| North Vasquez Boulevard | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| I 70 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Grand Army of the Republic Highway | 1 mi | 1m |
| Venneford Ranch Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| US 6 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Thistle Ridge Road | 0.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
South University Boulevard
— 9.2 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Highlands Ranch, CO and Commerce City, CO.
1
Start on South Wild Iris Run
351 ft
·
18 sec
·
South Wild Iris Run
2
Turn right onto East Thistle Ridge Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
East Thistle Ridge Road
3
Turn left onto Venneford Ranch Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Venneford Ranch Road
4
Turn left onto South University Boulevard
9.2 mi
·
16 min
·
South University Boulevard
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 25
7.4 mi
·
9 min
·
South Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 214A
Toward I 70: Limon, Grand Junction
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Toward I 70
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
10
Merge onto I 70
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 70
11
Take the exit onto US 6; US 85
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
US 6; US 85
Exit 276A
Toward US 6, US 85: Vasquez Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn left onto US 6; US 85
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
North Vasquez Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Turn left onto Dexter Street
0.2 mi
·
52 sec
·
Dexter Street
Use the left lane.
14
Turn left
0.1 mi
·
53 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.50 one way
$6.99 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $3.70 | $7.40 |
| premium | $4.39 | $4.01 | $8.03 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.12 | $10.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7 | 0 | $2.44 | $1.11 |
| Efficient EV | 5.8 | 0 | $2.03 | $0.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.3 | 0 | $3.25 | $1.48 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Commerce City, CO
Afternoon in Commerce City on Friday
Local time
12:35 PM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
31 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
39m 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 Highlands Ranch, CO to Commerce City, CO covers 23.2 miles and takes about 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South University Boulevard, South Valley Highway, North Vasquez Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 11.6 miles from Highlands Ranch, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.50 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 is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 23.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 39m.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Thistle Ridge Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (South University Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 17.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Highlands Ranch, CO to Commerce City, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Grand Junction 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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