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Trip from Westminster, CO to Colorado City, CO

Data updated 2 hours ago

Drive Time

2h 46m

Distance

146.1 mi

235 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$22

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

20 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 35m ★
6 AM
2h 46m
8 AM
3h 8m
10 AM
2h 54m
12 PM
2h 52m
3 PM
2h 55m
5 PM
3h 7m
8 PM
2h 40m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Adams and Jefferson counties in Colorado, United States

Westminster, CO

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Colorado City, CO, CO

Colorado City, CO

gabesdotphotos photographer

Trip Overview

The drive from Westminster, CO to Colorado City, CO covers 146.1 miles and takes about 2h 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on North Valley Highway, John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway, Ronald Reagan Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 63 miles on North Valley Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.01 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

73.1 miles from Westminster, CO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 46m drive with frequent turns across 146.1 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Valley Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 63 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 early in the drive near West 77th Avenue.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 146.1 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: near the start (West 77th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Lowell Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (US 287 / Federal Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | West 77th Avenue

Turn left onto West 77th Avenue

Navigation decision point

5
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | Lowell Boulevard

At end of road, turn right onto Lowell Boulevard

Navigation decision point

6
1.3 mi into trip | ~3m in | US 287 / Federal Boulevard

Turn right onto US 287 / Federal Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
6
78.8 mi into trip | ~1h 33m in | I 25 / Ronald Reagan Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 25 / Ronald Reagan Highway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
118.4 mi into trip | ~2h 14m in

Take the exit toward 13th Street

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 99B Toward 13th Street

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
North Valley Highway 63 mi 1h 8m
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway 31.3 mi 31m
Ronald Reagan Highway 22.9 mi 23m
North Freeway 9.7 mi 11m
Monument Valley Freeway 8.8 mi 10m
Federal Boulevard 4.6 mi 9m
CO 165 2.5 mi 4m
Lowell Boulevard 0.6 mi 1m
Longest stretch: North Valley Highway — 63 mi, about 1h 8m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Westminster, CO and Colorado City, CO.

1

Start on Newton Street

114 ft · 11 sec · Newton Street
2

Turn left onto West 77th Avenue

0.2 mi · 40 sec · West 77th Avenue
3

At end of road, turn right onto Lowell Boulevard

0.6 mi · 1 min · Lowell Boulevard
4

Turn left onto West 72nd Avenue

0.5 mi · 50 sec · West 72nd Avenue
5

Turn right onto US 287

4.6 mi · 9 min · Federal Boulevard
Use the right lane.
6

Turn left onto North Speer Boulevard

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Speer Boulevard
Use the left lane.
7

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 37 sec
Toward I 25 South: Colorado Springs Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Merge onto I 25

63 mi · 1 hr 8 min · North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Continue on I 25

8.8 mi · 10 min · Monument Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on I 25; US 24

0.2 mi · 12 sec · Ronald Reagan Highway
11

Keep slight left at fork onto I 25

23 mi · 23 min · Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Continue on I 25

13 mi · 12 min · John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Continue on I 25

2.6 mi · 2 min · North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 32 sec
Exit 100B Toward 29th Street
15

Merge onto I 25; US 50

1.0 mi · 1 min · North Freeway
16

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 12 sec
Exit 99B Toward 13th Street Use the slight right lane.
17

Continue on this road

0.2 mi · 18 sec · this road
18

Merge onto I 25; US 50 Bus

6.1 mi · 7 min · North Freeway
Use the straight lane.
19

Continue on I 25

18 mi · 18 min · John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
20

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Toward CO 165 West: Colorado City, Rye
21

Turn right onto CO 165

2.5 mi · 4 min · CO 165
22

Turn right onto Bent Brothers Boulevard

169 ft · 9 sec · Bent Brothers Boulevard
23

Turn right

166 ft · 12 sec
24

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 73.1 miles from Westminster, CO, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63 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 80 miles or 1h 34m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 73.1 miles or 1h 26m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 16m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Westminster, 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 Westminster, CO

This is one driving day of about 146.1 miles and 2h 46m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Westminster, 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.
The longest stretch is on North Valley Highway for about 63 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 73.1 mi from Westminster, CO · 1h 26m into the drive

county seat of Douglas County, Colorado, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Castle Rock, CO

73 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

Colorado Springs, CO

Fuel and coffee

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

Colorado Springs, CO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 73.1 miles from Westminster, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before North Valley Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 63 miles.

Arriving in Colorado City, CO

The final approach into Colorado City, 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 Colorado City, CO.

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

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

National Monument

Beneath a grassy mountain valley in central Colorado lies one of the richest and most diverse fossil deposits in the world. Petrified redwood stumps up to 14 feet wide and thousands of detailed fossil...

25 mi from route ~62 min detour $10 near mile 75.6
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$22.01 one way

$44.03 round trip

$3.83/gal 25.4 MPG avg 51 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.05 $23.31 $46.61
premium $4.39 $25.27 $50.55
diesel $5.61 $32.26 $64.51

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$22

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$47–$72

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 51.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

20 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Lowe's - Tesla Supercharger

Northglenn, CO

Tesla

16 DCFC

Kum & Go - Tesla Supercharger

Westminster, CO

Tesla

8 DCFC

Residence Inn Arvada Denver West - Tesla Supercharger

Arvada, CO

Tesla

8 DCFC

Edgewater Public Market - Tesla Supercharger

Edgewater, CO

Tesla

8 DCFC

Lloyd King Center

Arvada, CO

eVgo Network

6 DCFC

Target T2225 (Edgewater, CO)

Edgewater, CO

Electrify America

6 DCFC

Walmart 1231 (Thornton, CO)

Thornton, CO

Electrify America

4 DCFC

O'Meara Ford

Northglenn, CO

EV Connect

4 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 7 Electrify America: 4 Tesla: 4 EV Connect: 1 Non-Networked: 1 GRAVITI_ENERGY: 1 eVgo Network: 1 7CHARGE: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 43.8 0 $15.34 $7.01
Efficient EV 36.5 0 $12.78 $5.84
EV Truck/SUV 58.4 0 $20.45 $9.35

Gas CO2

51 kg

EV CO2

17 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 1 hour ago

Origin

Westminster, CO

Night in Westminster on Tuesday

Local time

9:03 PM

MDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Colorado City, CO

Night in Colorado City on Tuesday

Local time

9:03 PM

MDT

Current temp

71°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

25 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

2h 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 Westminster, CO to Colorado City, CO covers 146.1 miles and takes about 2h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Valley Highway, John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway, Ronald Reagan Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 73.1 miles from Westminster, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.01 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.
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 demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 146.1 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: near the start (West 77th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Lowell Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (US 287 / Federal Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Westminster, CO to Colorado City, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Colorado City, CO to Westminster, CO

Plan the drive back the other way.

149 mi 2h 46m

Continue From Colorado City, CO

Centennial, CO 124.9 mi · 2h 16m

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