Origin
Westminster, CO
Late night in Westminster on Wednesday
Local time
1:04 AM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Sign in
No account yet?
Create accountData updated 0 seconds 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
Loading...
station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Westminster, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Colorado City, CO
gabesdotphotos photographer
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...
Expect a 2h 46m drive with frequent turns across 146.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
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.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto West 77th Avenue
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn right onto Lowell Boulevard
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto US 287 / Federal Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 25 / Ronald Reagan Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward 13th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
| 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 |
Step-by-step road directions between Westminster, CO and Colorado City, CO.
Start on Newton Street
Turn left onto West 77th Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Lowell Boulevard
Turn left onto West 72nd Avenue
Turn right onto US 287
Turn left onto North Speer Boulevard
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 25
Continue on I 25
Continue on I 25; US 24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 25
Continue on I 25
Continue on I 25
Take the exit
Merge onto I 25; US 50
Take the exit
Continue on this road
Merge onto I 25; US 50 Bus
Continue on I 25
Take the exit
Turn right onto CO 165
Turn right onto Bent Brothers Boulevard
Turn right
Arrive at destination
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.
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.
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.
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
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
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 checkTop up before North Valley Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 63 miles.
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.
Regular Gas
$22.01 one way
$44.03 round trip
| 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.
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Westminster on Wednesday
Local time
1:04 AM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Colorado City on Wednesday
Local time
1:04 AM
MDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Westminster, CO or browse trips ending in Colorado City, CO.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CO road trips.
Explore maps for Westminster, CO or Colorado City, CO on MapSof.net.