Origin
Silverthorne, CO
Late night in Silverthorne on Friday
Local time
1:42 AM
MDT
Current temp
32°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Silverthorne, CO to Boulder, CO
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
1h 46m
Distance
78.3 mi
126 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 39m
★
6 AM
1h 47m
8 AM
2h 3m
10 AM
1h 52m
12 PM
1h 51m
3 PM
1h 53m
5 PM
2h 2m
8 PM
1h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Silverthorne, CO
Jacob Moore
Boulder, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Embarking on this 78.3-mile journey from Silverthorne to Boulder, Colorado, promises a straightforward 1 hour and 46-minute drive. Primarily utilizing I-70 and CO-93, with a segment of the Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway, this route is an easy day trip, fitting comfortably within a single day of travel. With an estimated fuel cost of around $12, it's an economical option for exploring between these two Mountain West destinations. The overall experience is a highway-focused drive, offering a practical and efficient way to transition between mountain towns and the Front Range urban corridor.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.2 miles from Silverthorne, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 46m. Total distance: 78.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This drive is predominantly a highway-focused experience, with 93% of the 78.3 miles covered on major roadways. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of 52.7 miles on I-70, offering a consistent pace. As you transition to CO-93, expect a change in scenery and potential for more varied traffic conditions. The inclusion of the Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway adds a touch of historical context to this otherwise efficient transit route, making for a dynamic, though largely highway-centric, drive.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 70 is the longest continuous segment at about 52.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and CO 93. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near CO 9.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.3 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.6 miles (CO 9): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 53.6 miles (I 70 BUS): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55.5 miles (CR 93 / Heritage Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
CO 9
Take the exit onto CO 9 toward I 70 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 70 East
8
53.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
I 70 BUS
Take the exit onto I 70 BUS toward US 40, I 70 Business East, CH 93: Golden, Morrison
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.
Exit 259
Toward US 40, I 70 Business East, CH 93: Golden...
6
55.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
|
CR 93 / Heritage Road
Enter roundabout onto CR 93 / Heritage Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
55.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
|
CR 93 / Heritage Road
Enter roundabout onto CR 93 / Heritage Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
78.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 46m in
|
19th Street
Turn left onto 19th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Silverthorne, CO and Boulder, CO, road signs point toward Ch 93: Golden and Morrison.
Ch 93: Golden
53.6 mi in
|
~1h 5m
|
via I 70 BUS
Morrison
53.6 mi in
|
~1h 5m
|
via I 70 BUS
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 70 | 52.7 mi | 1h 3m |
| CO 93 | 19.3 mi | 30m |
| Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Lariat Loop Scenic Byway | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Heritage Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Blue River Parkway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| CO 9 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| I 70 BUS | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 52.7 mi, about 1h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Silverthorne, CO and Boulder, CO.
1
Start on CO 9
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Blue River Parkway
Use the straight lane.
2
Continue on US 6
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
US 6
3
Take the exit onto CO 9
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
CO 9
Toward I 70 East
Use the left lane.
4
Merge onto I 70
53 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
·
I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit onto I 70 BUS
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
I 70 BUS
Exit 259
Toward US 40, I 70 Business East, CH 93: Golden, Morrison
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn left onto I 70 BUS; CR 93
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Hogback Road
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on I 70 BUS; US 40
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Lariat Loop Scenic Byway
Use the left lane.
8
Turn left onto CR 93
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
Heritage Road
Use the left lane.
9
Enter roundabout onto CR 93
104 ft
·
2 sec
·
Heritage Road
10
Continue on CR 93
489 ft
·
10 sec
·
Heritage Road
11
Enter roundabout onto CR 93
50 ft
·
1 sec
·
Heritage Road
12
Continue on CR 93
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Heritage Road
13
Enter roundabout onto CR 93
128 ft
·
2 sec
·
Heritage Road
14
Continue on CR 93
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Heritage Road
15
Turn slight right onto CR 93
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Heritage Road
16
Turn left onto US 6
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on CO 93
7.5 mi
·
10 min
·
CO 93
18
Continue on CO 93
12 mi
·
19 min
·
CO 93
Use the straight lane.
19
Turn right onto University Avenue
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
University Avenue
20
Continue on 17th Street
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
17th Street
21
Turn right onto Athens Street
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Athens Street
22
Turn left onto 19th Street
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
19th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
23
Turn left
87 ft
·
4 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given its short duration of under two hours, this route offers excellent flexibility. You can depart from Silverthorne at your leisure, as the 78.3-mile trip is easily manageable in one go. Plan for a fuel stop before you leave Silverthorne to ensure you have ample gas for the 52.7-mile stretch on I-70, as services might be more spread out. While there are no designated stops in the data, consider a brief pause for stretching or a snack in a town along CO-93 if needed. The estimated $12 fuel cost is a good baseline for budgeting your travel expenses.
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 39.2 miles from Silverthorne, CO, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 52.7 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 17 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.2 miles or 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Boulder, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Silverthorne, CO so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Silverthorne, CO
This is one driving day of about 78.3 miles and 1h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Silverthorne, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 70 for about 52.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 39.2 mi from Silverthorne, CO · 48m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
39 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 39.2 miles from Silverthorne, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Boulder, CO
The final approach into Boulder, 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
$11.80 one way
$23.59 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $12.49 | $24.98 |
| premium | $4.39 | $13.55 | $27.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.29 | $34.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.5 | 0 | $8.22 | $3.76 |
| Efficient EV | 19.6 | 0 | $6.85 | $3.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.3 | 0 | $10.96 | $5.01 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Destination
Boulder, CO
Late night in Boulder on Friday
Local time
1:42 AM
MDT
Current temp
72°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
40 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 46m 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 Silverthorne, CO to Boulder, CO covers 78.3 miles and takes about 1h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 70, CO 93, Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 39.2 miles from Silverthorne, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.80 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 78.3 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.6 miles (CO 9): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 53.6 miles (I 70 BUS): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55.5 miles (CR 93 / Heritage Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Between Silverthorne, CO and Boulder, CO, road signs point toward Ch 93: Golden and Morrison.
Data sources
The figures on this page are computed from open government and mapping datasets, not crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Full methodology, refresh cadence, and limitations are documented on the methodology page.
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