Trip from Monte Vista, CO to Arvada, CO

Drive Time

3h 42m

Distance

214.9 mi

346 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$33

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
3h 30m ★
6 AM
3h 43m
8 AM
4h 8m
10 AM
3h 51m
12 PM
3h 49m
3 PM
3h 53m
5 PM
4h 7m
8 PM
3h 35m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Monte Vista, CO, CO

Monte Vista, CO

Konevi

Downtown Arvada, CO, CO

Arvada, CO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Monte Vista, CO to Arvada, CO covers 214.9 miles and takes about 3h 42m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on South Broadway Street, Gunbarrel Road, 8th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.56 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

107.4 miles from Monte Vista, CO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 51m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 42m drive with frequent turns across 214.9 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Broadway Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 3h 42m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Monte Vista, CO to Arvada, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South Broadway Street Unavailable Refreshing
Gunbarrel Road Unavailable Refreshing
8th Street Unavailable Refreshing
US 285 North Unavailable Refreshing
I-70 Unavailable Refreshing
I 70 Unavailable Refreshing
I 70 East Unavailable Refreshing
CO 391 Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: South Broadway Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Monte Vista, CO and Arvada, CO.

1

Start on 2nd Avenue

423 ft · 16 sec · 2nd Avenue
2

Turn right onto South Broadway Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Broadway Street
3

Continue on Gunbarrel Road

34 mi · 40 min · Gunbarrel Road
4

Continue on 8th Street

0.3 mi · 43 sec · 8th Street
5

Turn straight

0.3 mi · 41 sec
6

Turn straight

40 mi · 50 min
7

Continue straight

11 mi · 14 min
8

Continue straight

9.7 mi · 12 min
9

Take the exit slight right toward US 285 North

0.2 mi · 22 sec · US 285 North
10

Merge slight left

74 mi · 1 hr 33 min
11

Continue straight

28 mi · 39 min
12

Take the exit slight right toward CO 470 West: West CO 470 to I-70

0.3 mi · 53 sec · CO 470 West: West CO 470 to I-70
13

Merge slight left

5.3 mi · 6 min
14

Take the exit slight right toward I 70: Grand Junction, Denver

0.2 mi · 16 sec · I 70: Grand Junction, Denver
15

Keep slight right to continue on I 70 East: Denver

0.8 mi · 1 min · I 70 East: Denver
16

Merge slight left

6.7 mi · 7 min
17

Take the exit slight right toward CO 391: Kipling Street

0.2 mi · 28 sec · CO 391: Kipling Street
18

Turn left onto Kipling Street

0.3 mi · 44 sec · Kipling Street
19

Continue on Kipling Parkway

1.0 mi · 1 min · Kipling Parkway
20

Turn right onto West 58th Avenue

0.8 mi · 1 min · West 58th Avenue
21

Continue on Ralston Road

0.2 mi · 40 sec · Ralston Road
22

Turn left onto Carr Street

0.1 mi · 20 sec · Carr Street
23

Turn right onto West 59th Avenue

0.2 mi · 36 sec · West 59th Avenue
24

Turn right onto Ammons Street

427 ft · 16 sec · Ammons Street
25

Turn right

43 ft · 3 sec
26

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 107.4 miles from Monte Vista, CO, or about 1h 51m into the drive.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 80 miles or 1h 22m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 107.4 miles or 1h 51m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 2m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arvada, CO than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Monte Vista, CO so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Monte Vista, CO

This is one driving day of about 214.9 miles and 3h 42m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Monte Vista, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 107.4 mi from Monte Vista, CO · 1h 51m into the drive

Downtown Applewood, CO, CO

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Applewood, CO

107 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.

Popular next leg

Applewood, CO to Arvada, CO

7.1 mi · 14m

Pacing Suggestions

Cripple Creek, CO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Applewood, CO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 107.4 miles from Monte Vista, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Arvada, CO

The final approach into Arvada, CO usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Arvada, CO.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$32.56 one way

$65.13 round trip

$3.85/gal 25.4 MPG avg 75 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.08 $34.55 $69.11
premium $4.43 $37.51 $75.01
diesel $5.64 $47.74 $95.49

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$33

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$58–$83

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 75.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 64.5 0 $22.56 $10.32
Efficient EV 53.7 0 $18.80 $8.60
EV Truck/SUV 86 1 $30.09 $13.75

Gas CO2

75 kg

EV CO2

25 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Monte Vista, CO

Afternoon in Monte Vista on Monday

Local time

2:27 PM

MDT

Current temp

23°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Arvada, CO

Afternoon in Arvada on Monday

Local time

2:27 PM

MDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

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

42 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

3h 42m 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 Monte Vista, CO to Arvada, CO covers 214.9 miles and takes about 3h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Broadway Street, Gunbarrel Road, 8th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 107.4 miles from Monte Vista, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $32.56 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 42m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Monte Vista, CO to Arvada, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Monte Vista, CO to Arvada, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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