Origin
Loveland, CO
Evening in Loveland on Friday
Local time
6:46 PM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Loveland, CO to Parker, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 26m
Distance
77 mi
124 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 19m
★
6 AM
1h 26m
8 AM
1h 39m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 29m
3 PM
1h 31m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Loveland, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Parker, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 77-mile drive from Loveland, CO to Parker, CO is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 26 minutes. The route primarily utilizes E-470 and Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a significant portion on main roads. You can expect a fuel cost of around $12 for this journey. Given its relatively short distance and duration, this drive offers flexibility for when you depart and how you pace your travel. Both Loveland and Parker are situated within the Mountain West region, so you'll remain in familiar territory throughout your journey.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 26m. Total distance: 77 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 26m 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
Expect a turn-heavy local drive, though it incorporates substantial highway segments. You'll spend about 100% of your time on highways, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 40.1 miles on E-470. This route blends efficient highway travel with more localized road sections, requiring your attention as you navigate through various road types. The character of the drive shifts as you transition between these different road environments.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
E-470 is the longest continuous segment at about 40.1 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 early in the drive near US 287 / North Cleveland Avenue.
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 77 miles you will encounter 11 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 (US 287 / North Cleveland Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 32.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 287 / North Cleveland Avenue
Turn right onto US 287 / North Cleveland Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
8
32.6 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Take the exit toward NW, E 470 Toll: Limon, Broomfield
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 228
Toward NW, E 470 Toll: Limon, Broomfield
8
32.8 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Keep slight left at fork toward E 470 Toll: Limon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 228
Toward E 470 Toll: Limon
7
73.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
Take the exit toward CO 83: Town of Parker
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 5
Toward CO 83: Town of Parker
5
74.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CO 83 South: Parker Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward CO 83 South: Parker Road
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Loveland, CO and Parker, CO, road signs point toward E 470 Toll: Limon and Broomfield.
E 470 Toll: Limon
32.6 mi in
|
~37m
Broomfield
32.6 mi in
|
~37m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| E-470 | 40.1 mi | 40m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 26.7 mi | 26m |
| 14th Street Southeast | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| South Parker Road | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| North Cleveland Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South Lincoln Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East State Highway 402 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East Mainstreet | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
E-470
— 40.1 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Loveland, CO and Parker, CO.
1
Start on East 6th Street
131 ft
·
9 sec
·
East 6th Street
2
Turn right onto US 287
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Cleveland Avenue
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
3
Continue on US 287
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Lincoln Avenue
4
Turn left onto CO 402
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
14th Street Southeast
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on CO 402
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
East State Highway 402
6
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Toward I 25 South
7
Merge onto I 25
27 mi
·
26 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 228
Toward NW, E 470 Toll: Limon, Broomfield
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 228
Toward E 470 Toll: Limon
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
this road
Exit 228
Toward E 470 Toll: Limon
11
Continue on E470
40 mi
·
40 min
·
E-470
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 5
Toward CO 83: Town of Parker
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
176 ft
·
6 sec
Toward CO 83 South: Parker Road
14
Turn left onto CO 83
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
South Parker Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn left onto East Mainstreet
0.2 mi
·
50 sec
·
East Mainstreet
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn left onto South Pikes Peak Drive
100 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Pikes Peak Drive
17
Arrive at destination
South Pikes Peak Drive
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 38.5 mi from Loveland, CO · 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
39 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 38.5 miles from Loveland, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Parker, CO
The final approach into Parker, 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
$11.60 one way
$23.20 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $12.28 | $24.57 |
| premium | $4.39 | $13.32 | $26.64 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.00 | $34.00 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.82
E-470
(40.1 mi)
$4.82
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Tolls
$5
Total
$16
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.1 | 0 | $8.08 | $3.70 |
| Efficient EV | 19.3 | 0 | $6.74 | $3.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.8 | 0 | $10.78 | $4.93 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Parker, CO
Evening in Parker on Friday
Local time
6:46 PM
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
33 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
1h 26m 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 Loveland, CO to Parker, CO covers 77 miles and takes about 1h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are E-470, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, 14th Street Southeast. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 38.5 miles from Loveland, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.60 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 77 miles you will encounter 11 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: near the start (US 287 / North Cleveland Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 32.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Loveland, CO and Parker, CO, road signs point toward E 470 Toll: Limon and Broomfield.
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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