Origin
Westminster, CO
Evening in Westminster on Sunday
Local time
6:23 PM
MDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Westminster, CO to Parker, CO
Drive Time
46m
Distance
31.4 mi
51 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 42m
★
6 AM
0h 46m
8 AM
0h 54m
10 AM
0h 49m
12 PM
0h 48m
3 PM
0h 49m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Westminster, CO
AXP Photography
Parker, CO
Egor Komarov
Trip Overview
Traveling between Westminster and Parker covers 31.4 miles, a short trek that typically takes about 46 minutes to complete. Because this is a quick journey within the Mountain West region, you can easily handle the entire trip in a single day. You will primarily navigate via North Valley Highway, Federal Boulevard, and E-470, keeping your travel costs efficient with a fuel budget of just $5. This route functions perfectly as a direct transit rather than a multi-day excursion. Whether you are commuting or visiting friends, the simplicity of the trip allows for total flexibility in your schedule.
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
15.7 miles from Westminster, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 25m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features no highway share. You will spend your time navigating through local arteries, with the longest uninterrupted stretch being a 16.4-mile segment on North Valley Highway. The road's personality shifts as you transition between these local roads, requiring your full attention behind the wheel. Because you are not logging long hours on a major highway, the driving experience feels more like a series of connected local segments. Be prepared for a hands-on drive that keeps you engaged from start to finish.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 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 16.4 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 0.8 miles in near West 72nd Avenue.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 31.4 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: at 0.8 miles (West 72nd Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (US 287 / Federal Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
6
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
West 72nd Avenue
Turn left onto West 72nd Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
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.
8
23.2 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Take the exit toward E-470 North, CO 470 West: Limon, Grand Junction
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 194
Toward E-470 North, CO 470 West: Limon, Grand J...
8
23.3 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Keep slight left at fork toward E-470 North: Limon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 194
Toward E-470 North: Limon
7
28.6 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Take the exit toward CO 83
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 5
Toward CO 83
Towns Along This Route
Between Westminster, CO and Parker, CO, road signs point toward E-470 North, Grand Junction and E-470 North: Limon.
E-470 North
23.2 mi in
|
~34m
Grand Junction
23.2 mi in
|
~34m
E-470 North: Limon
23.3 mi in
|
~34m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Valley Highway | 16.4 mi | 20m |
| Federal Boulevard | 4.6 mi | 9m |
| E-470 | 4.4 mi | 4m |
| South Parker Road | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Lowell Boulevard | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| North Speer Boulevard | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| West 72nd Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| East Mainstreet | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
North Valley Highway
— 16.4 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Westminster, CO and Parker, 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
Use the none lane.
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
16 mi
·
20 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the none lane.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 194
Toward E-470 North, CO 470 West: Limon, Grand Junction
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 194
Toward E-470 North: Limon
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto E470
4.4 mi
·
4 min
·
E-470
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 5
Toward CO 83
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn slight right
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward CO 83 South: Parker Road
14
Merge onto CO 83
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
South Parker Road
Use the none lane.
15
Turn left onto East Mainstreet
0.2 mi
·
50 sec
·
East Mainstreet
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn left onto South Pikes Peak Drive
100 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Pikes Peak Drive
17
Arrive at destination
South Pikes Peak Drive
Trip Plan
Since this is a straightforward 46-minute drive with zero planned stops, you have the advantage of complete control over your departure time. You can easily fit this trip into a morning or afternoon window without needing to worry about rest breaks or refueling along the way. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, stay alert when transitioning from North Valley Highway onto Federal Boulevard or E-470 to ensure you remain on the correct path. Because the fuel cost is a low $5, you won't need to stress about gas station logistics or budget planning. Use the flexibility of this short distance to plan your arrival around local traffic patterns for the smoothest experience.
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 15.7 miles from Westminster, CO, or about 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 16.4 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 31.4 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 15.7 miles or 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Parker, 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 31.4 miles and 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.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on North Valley Highway for about 16.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 15.7 mi from Westminster, CO · 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 31.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.7 miles from Westminster, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Parker, CO
The final approach into Parker, 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 Parker, 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
$4.76 one way
$9.52 round trip
$3.85/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.08 | $5.05 | $10.10 |
| premium | $4.43 | $5.48 | $10.96 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $6.98 | $13.95 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.53
E-470
(4.4 mi)
$0.53
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 11 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.30 | $1.51 |
| Efficient EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.75 | $1.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.40 | $2.01 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Parker, CO
Evening in Parker on Sunday
Local time
6:23 PM
MDT
Current temp
38°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
28 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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 Parker, CO covers 31.4 miles and takes about 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Valley Highway, Federal Boulevard, E-470. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 15.7 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 $4.76 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 demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 31.4 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: at 0.8 miles (West 72nd Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (US 287 / Federal Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Westminster, CO and Parker, CO, road signs point toward E-470 North, Grand Junction and E-470 North: Limon.
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