Origin
Highlands Ranch, CO
Late night in Highlands Ranch on Saturday
Local time
4:46 AM
MDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Highlands Ranch, CO to Loveland, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 28m
Distance
66.1 mi
106 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 22m
★
6 AM
1h 28m
8 AM
1h 42m
10 AM
1h 33m
12 PM
1h 32m
3 PM
1h 34m
5 PM
1h 41m
8 PM
1h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Highlands Ranch, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Loveland, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Highlands Ranch to Loveland is 66.1 miles and takes about 1 hour 28 minutes via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Colorado, connecting two points in the Mountain West region. Expect a local feel with frequent turns, rather than a straightforward highway cruise. It's a manageable distance, making it ideal for a single-day excursion without feeling rushed. Consider this route if you prefer a more engaged driving experience over a simple interstate journey.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 28m. Total distance: 66.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m 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 by its 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, meaning you'll navigate a series of local roads and highways. While it has a 100% highway share, the nature of the drive suggests frequent changes in direction and speed. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 27.3 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, offering a brief period of more consistent travel. You'll experience a mix of road types as you transition between South Valley Highway and North Valley Highway, requiring your attention to navigation and traffic.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 27.3 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
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 66.1 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.1 miles (East Thistle Ridge Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (South University Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.2 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 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.
6
23.2 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
I 25 / North Valley Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25 / North Valley Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
27.5 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
I 25 / North Valley Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25 / North Valley Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
60.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
Keep slight left at fork toward SH 402: Loveland and Greeley Canal
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 255
Toward SH 402: Loveland and Greeley Canal
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 Loveland, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Sh 402: Loveland And Greeley Canal along the way.
Sh 402: Loveland And Greeley Canal
60.1 mi in
|
~1h 16m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 27.3 mi | 27m |
| South Valley Highway | 12.7 mi | 17m |
| North Valley Highway | 9.6 mi | 11m |
| South University Boulevard | 9.2 mi | 16m |
| 14th Street Southeast | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| South Lincoln Avenue | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| East State Highway 402 | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Venneford Ranch Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 27.3 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Highlands Ranch, CO and Loveland, 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
13 mi
·
17 min
·
South Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
5.3 mi
·
5 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on I 25
27 mi
·
27 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 255
Toward SH 402: Loveland and Greeley Canal
11
Keep slight left at fork
214 ft
·
5 sec
Exit 255
Toward SH 402: Loveland and Greeley Canal
12
Enter roundabout onto CO 402
252 ft
·
14 sec
·
East State Highway 402
13
Continue on CO 402
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
East State Highway 402
14
Enter roundabout onto CO 402
144 ft
·
8 sec
·
East State Highway 402
15
Continue on CO 402
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
East State Highway 402
16
Continue on CO 402
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
14th Street Southeast
17
Take the ramp
183 ft
·
5 sec
18
Merge onto US 287
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South Lincoln Avenue
19
Turn left onto East 6th Street
501 ft
·
23 sec
·
East 6th Street
20
Arrive at destination
East 6th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 33 mi from Highlands Ranch, CO · 49m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33 miles from Highlands Ranch, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Loveland, CO
The final approach into Loveland, 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
$9.96 one way
$19.92 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $10.54 | $21.09 |
| premium | $4.39 | $11.43 | $22.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.59 | $29.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.8 | 0 | $6.94 | $3.17 |
| Efficient EV | 16.5 | 0 | $5.78 | $2.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.4 | 0 | $9.25 | $4.23 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Loveland, CO
Late night in Loveland on Saturday
Local time
4:46 AM
MDT
Current temp
44°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
33 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 28m 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 Loveland, CO covers 66.1 miles and takes about 1h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, South Valley Highway, North Valley Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33 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 $9.96 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 66.1 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.1 miles (East Thistle Ridge Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (South University Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.2 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Highlands Ranch, CO to Loveland, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Sh 402: Loveland And Greeley Canal 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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