Origin
Ponderosa Park, CO
Afternoon in Ponderosa Park on Saturday
Local time
12:07 PM
MDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ponderosa Park, CO to Boulder, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 29m
Distance
62.3 mi
100 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 23m
★
6 AM
1h 30m
8 AM
1h 43m
10 AM
1h 34m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 43m
8 PM
1h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ponderosa Park, CO
Dianna Sarmiento
Boulder, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Ponderosa Park, CO to Boulder, CO covers 62.3 miles and takes about 1h 29m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Denver–Boulder Turnpike, South Parker Road, I 225 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 20.1 miles on Denver–Boulder Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.39 one way before food or hotel costs.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Denver–Boulder Turnpike | 20.1 mi | 23m |
| South Parker Road | 12.2 mi | 18m |
| I 225 | 7.5 mi | 8m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 6.6 mi | 8m |
| Hilltop Road | 4.7 mi | 8m |
| Flintwood Road | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| Ponderosa Lane | 1.8 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
— 20.1 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ponderosa Park, CO and Boulder, CO.
1
Start on Verdos Drive
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Verdos Drive
2
Turn right onto Ponderosa Lane
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Ponderosa Lane
3
At end of road, turn right onto CR 65
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Flintwood Road
4
Turn straight onto CR 71
4.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Hilltop Road
5
Continue on Hess Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Hess Road
6
Turn right onto CO 83
12 mi
·
18 min
·
South Parker Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
Take the exit
295 ft
·
7 sec
Toward I 225 South, I 225 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 225 North
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 225 North
Use the left / right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 225
7.5 mi
·
8 min
·
I 225
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 12A
Toward I 70 West: Denver
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Toward I 70 West: Denver
13
Merge onto I 70
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270
6.6 mi
·
8 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Exit 279A
Toward I 270 West: Boulder
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on US 36
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
16
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
17
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
18
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
23
Keep slight left at fork onto US 36
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
24
Continue on US 36
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
28th Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
25
Turn left onto Arapahoe Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Arapahoe Avenue
Use the left lane.
26
Turn right onto 19th Street
143 ft
·
11 sec
·
19th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
27
Turn left
87 ft
·
4 sec
28
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31.1 miles from Ponderosa Park, 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 225 decision points cluster between mile 22.8 and 34.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
22.8 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Take the exit toward I 225 South, I 225 North
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.
Toward I 225 South, I 225 North
8
22.9 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 225 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 225 North
8
23.1 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 225 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward I 225 North
8
30.9 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 West: Denver
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 12A
Toward I 70 West: Denver
8
34.1 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
I 270 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway toward I 270 West: Boulder
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 279A
Toward I 270 West: Boulder
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.39 one way
$18.77 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $9.94 | $19.88 |
| premium | $4.39 | $10.78 | $21.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.76 | $27.51 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.41
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
(20.1 mi)
$1.41
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$1
Total
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.7 | 0 | $6.54 | $2.99 |
| Efficient EV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.45 | $2.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.9 | 0 | $8.72 | $3.99 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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
Boulder, CO
Afternoon in Boulder on Saturday
Local time
12:07 PM
MDT
Current temp
58°F
Sunny
NE 7 mph
1% chance
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
15 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 29m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
62.3 mi in 1h 29m — 44% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: Denver–Boulder Turnpike.
44% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.1 mi on Denver–Boulder Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 22.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 62.3 miles you will encounter 22 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: at 22.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 29m. Total distance: 62.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (44%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.1 miles on Denver–Boulder Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.41 in tolls one way, starting with Denver–Boulder Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 Boulder, 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: at 22.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.1 miles: 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 Boulder, 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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