Origin
Longmont, CO
Morning in Longmont on Saturday
Local time
11:24 AM
MDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Longmont, CO to Castlewood, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 6m
Distance
51.1 mi
82 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Sparse
1 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Longmont, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Castlewood, CO
Liudmyla Shalimova
Trip Overview
The drive from Longmont, CO to Castlewood, CO covers 51.1 miles and takes about 1h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Valley Highway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, Highway 119 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 30.2 miles on North Valley Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.70 one way before food or hotel costs.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Valley Highway | 30.2 mi | 37m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 11.9 mi | 11m |
| Highway 119 | 3 mi | 3m |
| 3rd Avenue | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| East Ken Pratt Boulevard | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| South Uinta Street | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| West I 25 Frontage Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East Arapahoe Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
North Valley Highway
— 30.2 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Longmont, CO and Castlewood, CO.
1
Start on this road
63 ft
·
6 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto 5th Avenue
0.2 mi
·
47 sec
·
5th Avenue
3
Turn right onto Collyer Street
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Collyer Street
4
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
3rd Avenue
5
Turn left onto CO 119
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
East Ken Pratt Boulevard
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on CO 119
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Highway 119
7
Take the exit onto West I 25 Frontage Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West I 25 Frontage Road
Toward I 25 South
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 25
12 mi
·
11 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 25
0.6 mi
·
36 sec
·
North Valley Highway
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
8.8 mi
·
10 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
21 mi
·
26 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Take the exit onto CO 88
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
CO 88
Exit 197
Toward CO 88: Arapahoe Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto CR 42
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
East Arapahoe Road
14
Turn left onto South Uinta Street
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
South Uinta Street
Use the left lane.
15
At end of road, turn right onto South Tamarac Court
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
South Tamarac Court
16
Turn right onto East Fremont Avenue
0.2 mi
·
56 sec
·
East Fremont Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
East Fremont Drive
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.6 miles from Longmont, 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 49.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
5th Avenue
Turn right onto 5th Avenue
Navigation decision point
8
6.8 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
West I 25 Frontage Road
Take the exit onto West I 25 Frontage Road toward I 25 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 25 South
6
19.9 mi into trip
|
~24m 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 / slight right lanes.
6
28.7 mi into trip
|
~34m 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 / slight left lanes.
7
49.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
|
CO 88
Take the exit onto CO 88 toward CO 88: Arapahoe Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 197
Toward CO 88: Arapahoe Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.70 one way
$15.40 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $8.15 | $16.30 |
| premium | $4.39 | $8.84 | $17.68 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.28 | $22.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.3 | 0 | $5.37 | $2.45 |
| Efficient EV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.47 | $2.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.4 | 0 | $7.15 | $3.27 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Castlewood, CO
Morning in Castlewood on Saturday
Local time
11:24 AM
MDT
Current temp
77°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
2 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 6m 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?
51.1 mi in 1h 6m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 7% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 30.2 mi on North Valley Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 early in the drive near 5th Avenue.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 51.1 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: near the start (5th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 6.8 miles (West I 25 Frontage Road): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.9 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 6m. Total distance: 51.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 30.2 miles on North Valley Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Castlewood, CO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (5th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 6.8 miles (West I 25 Frontage Road): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.9 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Castlewood, CO before heading back.
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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