Origin
Mead, CO
Morning in Mead on Saturday
Local time
9:03 AM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mead, CO to Westminster, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
39m
Distance
30.9 mi
50 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
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.
Mead, CO
Mikhail Nilov
Westminster, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Mead, CO to Westminster, CO is 30.9 miles and takes about 39m via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This quick trip stays within the Mountain West region, connecting two points in Colorado. Expect a local, turn-heavy drive that's more about navigating neighborhoods and local roads than open highway cruising. It's a straightforward journey, perfect for a short day trip or an easy relocation without needing an overnight stay.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 39m. Total distance: 30.9 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 drive is characterized as a "Turn-heavy local drive," meaning you'll be making frequent turns and navigating through more populated areas rather than long, open stretches. With a highway share of only 3, the majority of your time will be spent on local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 17.3 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, offering a brief period of faster travel before you transition back to more intricate local routes. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience with constant adjustments.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 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 17.3 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 1.1 miles in near I 25 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
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 11 decision points packed into just 30.9 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 1.1 miles (I 25 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 19 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 26 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
5
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 25 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Merge onto I 25 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
19 mi into trip
|
~20m 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.
7
26 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Take the exit toward Thornton Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 220
Toward Thornton Parkway
7
26.3 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Thornton Parkway West, Water World, Thornton Park-n-Ride
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Thornton Parkway West, Water World, Thor...
6
30.3 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
Lowell Boulevard
Turn left onto Lowell Boulevard
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.
Between Mead, CO and Westminster, CO, road signs point toward Thornton Parkway West, Water World and Thornton Park-N-Ride.
Thornton Parkway West
26.3 mi in
|
~29m
Water World
26.3 mi in
|
~29m
Thornton Park-N-Ride
26.3 mi in
|
~29m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 17.3 mi | 17m |
| North Valley Highway | 7.6 mi | 8m |
| Federal Boulevard | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Thornton Parkway | 1 mi | 2m |
| West 92nd Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| Welker Avenue | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| West 80th Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Lowell Boulevard | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 17.3 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mead, CO and Westminster, CO.
1
Start on 3rd Street
27 ft
·
6 sec
·
3rd Street
2
Turn left onto Welker Avenue
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Welker Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
4
Merge onto I 25
17 mi
·
17 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on I 25
0.6 mi
·
36 sec
·
North Valley Highway
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
7.0 mi
·
8 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 220
Toward Thornton Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
210 ft
·
4 sec
Toward Thornton Parkway West, Water World, Thornton Park-n-Ride
9
Turn straight onto Thornton Parkway
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Thornton Parkway
10
Continue on West 92nd Avenue
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West 92nd Avenue
11
Turn left onto US 287
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Federal Boulevard
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto West 80th Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West 80th Avenue
Use the right lane.
13
Turn left onto Lowell Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Lowell Boulevard
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto West 77th Avenue
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
West 77th Avenue
15
Turn right onto Newton Street
114 ft
·
5 sec
·
Newton Street
16
Arrive at destination
Newton Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.66 one way
$9.31 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $4.93 | $9.86 |
| premium | $4.39 | $5.35 | $10.69 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.82 | $13.64 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.3 | 0 | $3.24 | $1.48 |
| Efficient EV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.70 | $1.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.4 | 0 | $4.33 | $1.98 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Westminster, CO
Morning in Westminster on Saturday
Local time
9:03 AM
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
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 Mead, CO to Westminster, CO covers 30.9 miles and takes about 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, North Valley Highway, Federal Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 15.5 miles from Mead, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.66 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 11 decision points packed into just 30.9 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 1.1 miles (I 25 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 19 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 26 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Mead, CO and Westminster, CO, road signs point toward Thornton Parkway West, Water World and Thornton Park-N-Ride.
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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