Origin
Parker, CO
Evening in Parker on Sunday
Local time
8:45 PM
MDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Parker, CO to Denver, CO
Drive Time
33m
Distance
23.5 mi
38 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 31m
★
6 AM
0h 33m
8 AM
0h 39m
10 AM
0h 35m
12 PM
0h 35m
3 PM
0h 36m
5 PM
0h 39m
8 PM
0h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Parker, CO
Egor Komarov
Denver, CO
MINEIA MARTINS
Trip Overview
Driving the 23.5 miles from Parker to Denver is a straightforward commute that typically takes about 33 minutes. Because of the short distance, this trip is perfectly suited as a quick day outing rather than an overnight excursion. You will navigate a mixed drive that utilizes a combination of I-25, E-470, and South Logan Street. Budgeting roughly $4 for fuel should be plenty for this quick jaunt through the Mountain West. Whether you are heading into the city for business or leisure, the route is efficient and predictable. It is an ideal distance for those who prefer to keep their travel time minimal while staying within Colorado.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
11.7 miles from Parker, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 15m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a varied experience behind the wheel, as this route is composed of 46% highway driving. You will encounter a mix of fast-paced interstate travel and slower local road navigation. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will face is 10.8 miles while cruising on I-25. As you transition from the suburban feel of Parker toward the density of Denver, the road character shifts from open highway segments to more urbanized surface streets. The drive maintains a functional pace throughout, allowing you to settle into a rhythm before reaching your destination.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 25 is the longest continuous segment at about 10.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.9 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 23.5 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 7.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
7.9 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward I 25: Denver, Colorado Springs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 1A
Toward I 25: Denver, Colorado Springs
9
8.1 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 25 North: Denver
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward I 25 North: Denver
8
19.5 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Take the exit toward Downing Street, Washington Street, Emerson Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 206
Toward Downing Street, Washington Street, Emers...
9
19.6 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Emerson Street, Washington Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Emerson Street, Washington Street
7
23.3 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
Sherman Street
Turn right onto Sherman Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Towns Along This Route
Between Parker, CO and Denver, CO, road signs point toward E470 Toll South and Colorado Springs.
E470 Toll South
2.6 mi in
|
~4m
Colorado Springs
7.9 mi in
|
~10m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 25 | 10.8 mi | 12m |
| E-470 | 4.9 mi | 4m |
| South Logan Street | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| South Parker Road | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| East Buchtel North Boulevard | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East Mainstreet | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East 13th Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Sherman Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 25
— 10.8 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Parker, CO and Denver, CO.
1
Start on South Pikes Peak Drive
100 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Pikes Peak Drive
2
Turn right onto East Mainstreet
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
East Mainstreet
3
Turn right onto CO 83
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
South Parker Road
Use the right lane.
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward E470 Toll South, I 25: Colorado Springs
5
Merge onto E470
4.9 mi
·
4 min
·
E-470
Use the none lane.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 1A
Toward I 25: Denver, Colorado Springs
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 1A
Toward I 25 North: Denver
Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.
8
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
this road
Exit 1A; 26
Toward I 25 North: Denver
9
Merge onto I 25
11 mi
·
12 min
·
I 25
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 206
Toward Downing Street, Washington Street, Emerson Street
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward Emerson Street, Washington Street
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on East Buchtel North Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Buchtel North Boulevard
13
Turn right onto South Logan Street
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
South Logan Street
Use the none lane.
14
Turn left onto East 13th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
East 13th Avenue
15
Turn right onto Sherman Street
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Sherman Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
At end of road, turn right
298 ft
·
21 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick 33-minute drive, you have significant flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete the entire 23.5-mile journey without needing any scheduled stops, as the trip is short enough to bypass the need for mid-way breaks. Keep a close eye on traffic patterns when merging onto I-25, as this is your longest stretch of highway. Given the $4 fuel estimate, you likely won't need to worry about refueling during the trip, but topping off before you leave Parker will save you time in the city. Embrace the simplicity of this short drive by focusing on your arrival rather than the transit itself.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 11.7 miles from Parker, CO, or about 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 10.8 miles.
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 23.5 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 11.7 miles or 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Denver, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Parker, 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 Parker, CO
This is one driving day of about 23.5 miles and 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Parker, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 25 for about 10.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 11.7 mi from Parker, CO · 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
12 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 23.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 11.7 miles from Parker, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Denver, CO
The final approach into Denver, 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 Denver, 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
$3.56 one way
$7.12 round trip
$3.85/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.08 | $3.78 | $7.56 |
| premium | $4.43 | $4.10 | $8.20 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $5.22 | $10.44 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.59
E-470
(4.9 mi)
$0.59
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.47 | $1.13 |
| Efficient EV | 5.9 | 0 | $2.06 | $0.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.29 | $1.50 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Denver, CO
Evening in Denver on Sunday
Local time
8:45 PM
MDT
Current temp
66°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
28 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
33m 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 Parker, CO to Denver, CO covers 23.5 miles and takes about 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 25, E-470, South Logan Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 11.7 miles from Parker, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.56 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 demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 23.5 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 7.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Parker, CO and Denver, CO, road signs point toward E470 Toll South and Colorado Springs.
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