Origin
Ponderosa Park, CO
Evening in Ponderosa Park on Friday
Local time
7:57 PM
MDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ponderosa Park, 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
1h 9m
Distance
44.7 mi
72 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 4m
★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 13m
12 PM
1h 12m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ponderosa Park, CO
Dianna Sarmiento
Westminster, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Ponderosa Park, CO to Westminster, CO covers 44.7 miles and takes about 1h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Parker Road, I 225, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 12.2 miles on South Parker Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.73 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 9m. Total distance: 44.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m 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 1h 9m drive with frequent turns across 44.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Parker Road is the longest continuous segment at about 12.2 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 22.9 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 44.7 miles you will encounter 17 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 22.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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
8
43.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 287 North: Federal Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 287 North: Federal Boulevard
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Denver–Boulder Turnpike | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| Ponderosa Lane | 1.8 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
South Parker Road
— 12.2 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ponderosa Park, CO and Westminster, 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
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward US 287: Federal Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward US 287 North: Federal Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn straight onto US 287
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Federal Boulevard
19
Turn left onto West 80th Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West 80th Avenue
Use the left lane.
20
Turn left onto Lowell Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Lowell Boulevard
Use the left lane.
21
Turn right onto West 77th Avenue
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
West 77th Avenue
22
Turn right onto Newton Street
114 ft
·
5 sec
·
Newton Street
23
Arrive at destination
Newton Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.3 mi from Ponderosa Park, CO · 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.3 miles from Ponderosa Park, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Westminster, CO
The final approach into Westminster, 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
$6.73 one way
$13.47 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $7.13 | $14.26 |
| premium | $4.39 | $7.73 | $15.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.87 | $19.74 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.15
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
(2.1 mi)
$0.15
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$0
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.69 | $2.15 |
| Efficient EV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.91 | $1.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.9 | 0 | $6.26 | $2.86 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Evening in Westminster on Friday
Local time
7:57 PM
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
3 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 9m 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 Ponderosa Park, CO to Westminster, CO covers 44.7 miles and takes about 1h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Parker Road, I 225, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.3 miles from Ponderosa Park, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.73 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 44.7 miles you will encounter 17 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: 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; at 30.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Ponderosa Park, CO to Westminster, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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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