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Trip from Alma, CO to Highland Park, CO

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 23m

Distance

54.9 mi

88 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 20 min
4 AM
1h 17m ★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 27m
3 PM
1h 29m
5 PM
1h 36m
8 PM
1h 20m

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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Downtown Alma, CO, CO

Alma, CO

ThisIsEngineering

Downtown Highland Park, CO, CO

Highland Park, CO

Eclipse Chasers

Trip Overview

Alma, CO to Highland Park, CO is 54.9 miles and takes about 1h 23m via US 285, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This one-day trip stays within Colorado, connecting two points in the Mountain West region. Expect a drive primarily on US 285, offering a straightforward journey with minimal complications. Given its short duration and moderate fuel cost, this route is ideal for a relaxed day trip, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. It's a practical choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently within the state.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 285 42 mi 55m
CR 43A 6.7 mi 16m
North Main Street 6 mi 11m
P72 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 285 — 42 mi, about 55m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Alma, CO and Highland Park, CO.

1

Start on CO 9

6.0 mi · 11 min · North Main Street
2

Turn left onto US 285

39 mi · 51 min · US 285
3

Continue on US 285

2.9 mi · 4 min · US 285
4

Turn left onto CR 43A

6.7 mi · 16 min · CR 43A
5

Turn right

371 ft · 16 sec
6

Continue on P72

0.1 mi · 25 sec · P72
7

Arrive at destination

P72

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Georgetown, CO, CO

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Georgetown, CO

27 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

Breckenridge, CO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Georgetown, CO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 27.4 miles from Alma, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

3 of 3

3 decision points cluster between mile 48 and 54.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
48 mi into trip | ~1h 7m in | CR 43A

Turn left onto CR 43A

Navigation decision point

3
54.7 mi into trip | ~1h 23m in

Turn right

Navigation decision point

3
54.8 mi into trip | ~1h 23m in | P72

Continue onto P72

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$8.27 one way

$16.54 round trip

$3.83/gal 25.4 MPG avg 19 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.05 $8.76 $17.52
premium $4.39 $9.50 $18.99
diesel $5.61 $12.12 $24.24

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 19.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 16.5 0 $5.76 $2.64
Efficient EV 13.7 0 $4.80 $2.20
EV Truck/SUV 22 0 $7.69 $3.51

Gas CO2

19 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (68% 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 as of Apr 18, 2026

Origin

Alma, CO

Morning in Alma on Sunday

Local time

8:36 AM

MDT

Current temp

11°F

Partly Cloudy

WNW 14 mph 5% chance Live forecast

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 18 at 2:58AM MDT until April 18 at 7:00PM MDT by NWS Goodland KS

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 18 at 1:05AM MDT until April 18 at 8:00AM MDT by NWS Goodland KS

Destination

Highland Park, CO

Morning in Highland Park on Sunday

Local time

8:36 AM

MDT

Current temp

31°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

34°F

Georgetown, CO

27 mi in

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

20 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

1h 23m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

This route leans heavily into highway driving, with 76% of the journey on major roads like US 285. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 42 miles along US 285, providing a good opportunity for consistent speed. The profile is described as a 'Highway-focused drive,' suggesting a generally smooth and predictable experience with fewer turns and distractions. While predominantly highway, segments on CR 43A and North Main Street will introduce you to local road conditions before reaching your destination. This blend offers a balance between efficient travel and a touch of local flavor.

76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
7 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 42 mi on US 285.

How Hard Is This Drive?

1/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 285 and CR 43A. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 48 miles in near CR 43A.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Alma, CO to Highland Park, CO is easy. At 1h 23m with 76% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 48 miles (CR 43A): Navigation decision point; at 54.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 54.8 miles (P72): Navigation decision point.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 23m. Total distance: 54.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (76%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 42 miles on US 285. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 48 miles (CR 43A): Navigation decision point; at 54.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 54.8 miles (P72): Navigation decision point.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Highland Park, CO before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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