Origin
Westminster, CO
Late night in Westminster on Friday
Local time
4:16 AM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Westminster, CO to Derby, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
14m
Distance
7.6 mi
12 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 14m
★
6 AM
0h 15m
8 AM
0h 17m
10 AM
0h 16m
12 PM
0h 15m
3 PM
0h 16m
5 PM
0h 17m
8 PM
0h 14m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Westminster, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Derby, CO
@coldbeer
Trip Overview
This short 7.6-mile drive from Westminster to Derby, Colorado, is easily manageable in about 14 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. You'll primarily navigate on the Denver–Boulder Turnpike and Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a portion of East 74th Avenue also in the mix. With a fuel cost estimated at just $1, this route is incredibly budget-friendly. Given its brevity and the mixed drive profile, no overnight stay is necessary. Both your origin and destination are within the Mountain West region, so you won't be crossing any major geographical divides on this quick journey.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 14m. Total distance: 7.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (30%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a mixed drive on this short excursion, with about 30% of your travel time spent on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 1.8 miles on the Denver–Boulder Turnpike. While much of the route involves efficient travel on major arteries like the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, you'll also experience local road segments on East 74th Avenue. This blend means you'll transition between quicker highway speeds and more typical urban driving conditions as you progress from Westminster to Derby.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Denver–Boulder Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 1.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 0.8 miles in near West 74th Avenue.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 7.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 14m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (West 74th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (US 287 / Federal Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles (US 36 / Denver–Boulder Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
West 74th Avenue
Turn left onto West 74th Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
1.1 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 287 / Federal Boulevard
Turn left onto US 287 / Federal Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
8
2.3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
US 36 / Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36 / Denver–Boulder Turnpike toward I 25: Denver, Fort Collins
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 25: Denver, Fort Collins
7
5.9 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward CO 224
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 8
Toward CO 224
9
6 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Keep slight right at fork toward CO 224: Commerce City, 74th Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward CO 224: Commerce City, 74th Avenue
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Westminster, CO to Derby, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Collins along the way.
Fort Collins
2.3 mi in
|
~5m
|
via US 36
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Denver–Boulder Turnpike | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| East 74th Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Heartland Expressway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| West 76th Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| North Vasquez Boulevard | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Kimberly Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Irving Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
— 1.8 mi, about 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Westminster, CO and Derby, 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
·
41 sec
·
Irving Street
4
Turn left onto West 74th Avenue
0.2 mi
·
58 sec
·
West 74th Avenue
5
Turn left onto US 287
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Federal Boulevard
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
Toward US 36 East: Denver
Use the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto US 36
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Toward I 25: Denver, Fort Collins
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 270
0.6 mi
·
41 sec
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
1.2 mi
·
2 min
Exit 1
Toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
11
Merge onto I 76
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
·
Heartland Expressway
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 8
Toward CO 224
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward CO 224: Commerce City, 74th Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn straight onto CO 224
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East 74th Avenue
15
At end of road, turn left onto US 6; US 85
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
North Vasquez Boulevard
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto East 77th Avenue
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
East 77th Avenue
Use the right lane.
17
Turn left onto Kimberly Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Kimberly Street
18
Arrive at destination
Kimberly Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.15 one way
$2.29 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $1.21 | $2.42 |
| premium | $4.39 | $1.31 | $2.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.68 | $3.36 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.13
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
(1.8 mi)
$0.13
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Tolls
$0
Total
$1
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.3 | 0 | $0.80 | $0.36 |
| Efficient EV | 1.9 | 0 | $0.66 | $0.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3 | 0 | $1.06 | $0.49 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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
Derby, CO
Late night in Derby on Friday
Local time
4:16 AM
MDT
Current temp
79°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
33 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
14m 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 Derby, CO covers 7.6 miles and takes about 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Denver–Boulder Turnpike, East 74th Avenue, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 3.8 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 $1.15 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 is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 7.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 14m.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (West 74th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (US 287 / Federal Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles (US 36 / Denver–Boulder Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Westminster, CO to Derby, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Collins along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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