Trip from Westminster, CO to Denver, CO

Drive Time

21m

Distance

10.6 mi

17 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$2

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 6 min
4 AM
0h 19m ★
6 AM
0h 21m
8 AM
0h 25m
10 AM
0h 22m
12 PM
0h 22m
3 PM
0h 22m
5 PM
0h 25m
8 PM
0h 20m

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

city in Adams and Jefferson counties in Colorado, United States

Westminster, CO

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Denver, CO, CO

Denver, CO

MINEIA MARTINS

Trip Overview

The drive from Westminster, CO to Denver, CO covers 10.6 miles and takes about 21m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on West 76th Avenue, Irving Street, West 74th Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $1.61 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

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

5.3 miles from Westminster, CO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 10m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 21m drive with frequent turns across 10.6 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West 76th Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Westminster, CO to Denver, CO is easy. At 21m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Westminster, CO to Denver, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
West 76th Avenue Unavailable Refreshing
Irving Street Unavailable Refreshing
West 74th Avenue Unavailable Refreshing
Federal Boulevard Unavailable Refreshing
US 36 East Unavailable Refreshing
Denver–Boulder Turnpike Unavailable Refreshing
I 25 south Unavailable Refreshing
North Valley Highway Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: West 76th Avenue — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Newton Street

0.1 mi · 39 sec · Newton Street
2

Turn left onto West 76th Avenue

0.4 mi · 1 min · West 76th Avenue
3

Turn right onto Irving Street

0.3 mi · 42 sec · Irving Street
4

Turn left onto West 74th Avenue

0.2 mi · 59 sec · West 74th Avenue
5

Turn left onto Federal Boulevard

0.1 mi · 24 sec · Federal Boulevard
6

Take the ramp slight right toward US 36 East: Denver

0.5 mi · 55 sec · US 36 East: Denver
7

Merge slight left onto Denver–Boulder Turnpike

0.5 mi · 36 sec · Denver–Boulder Turnpike
8

Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike

1.1 mi · 1 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike
9

Take the exit slight right toward I 25 south: Denver

0.5 mi · 47 sec · I 25 south: Denver
10

Continue on I 25 south: Denver

0.4 mi · 34 sec · I 25 south: Denver
11

Merge slight left onto North Valley Highway

2.8 mi · 3 min · North Valley Highway
12

Take the exit slight right toward 38th Avenue, Park Avenue, Downtown

0.3 mi · 29 sec · 38th Avenue, Park Avenue, Downtown
13

Keep slight left to continue on Park Avenue, Downtown

0.1 mi · 11 sec · Park Avenue, Downtown
14

Continue on Park Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · Park Avenue
15

Turn straight onto Park Avenue West

0.5 mi · 1 min · Park Avenue West
16

Continue on West 22nd Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · West 22nd Street
17

Turn right onto North Broadway

1.0 mi · 3 min · North Broadway
18

Turn left onto East 14th Avenue

0.1 mi · 30 sec · East 14th Avenue
19

Turn left

358 ft · 28 sec
20

Arrive at your 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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 5.3 miles from Westminster, CO, or about 10m into the drive.

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 10.6 miles or 21m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 5.3 miles or 10m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 17m

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 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 10.6 miles and 21m.

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.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 5.3 mi from Westminster, CO · 10m into the drive

city in Adams County, Colorado, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Commerce City, CO

5 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.

Popular next leg

Commerce City, CO to Denver, CO

8.3 mi · 19m

Pacing Suggestions

Commerce City, CO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 10.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Commerce City, CO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 5.3 miles from Westminster, 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

$1.61 one way

$3.21 round trip

$3.85/gal 25.4 MPG avg 4 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.08 $1.70 $3.41
premium $4.43 $1.85 $3.70
diesel $5.64 $2.35 $4.71

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$27–$52

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 3.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 3.2 0 $1.11 $0.51
Efficient EV 2.7 0 $0.93 $0.42
EV Truck/SUV 4.2 0 $1.48 $0.68

Gas CO2

4 kg

EV CO2

1 kg (75% 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 4 days ago

Origin

Westminster, CO

Afternoon in Westminster on Monday

Local time

2:46 PM

MDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Denver, CO

Afternoon in Denver on Monday

Local time

2:46 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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

21m 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 Denver, CO covers 10.6 miles and takes about 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West 76th Avenue, Irving Street, West 74th Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 5.3 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 $1.61 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.
The drive from Westminster, CO to Denver, CO is easy. At 21m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Westminster, CO to Denver, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Westminster, CO to Denver, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Denver, CO to Westminster, CO

Plan the drive back the other way.

10.3 mi 19m

Explore more options from Westminster, CO or browse trips ending in Denver, CO.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CO road trips.

Explore maps for Westminster, CO or Denver, CO on MapSof.net.