If you are planning a quick transition from the Denver suburbs to the Eastern Plains, the 91-mile trek from Arvada to Brush is a straightforward choice. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 37 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of roughly $14, it is an economical route that requires minimal planning for overnight stays. You will be traveling entirely within the Mountain West region, moving from the foothills toward the flatter terrain of Colorado’s high plains. Because the drive is relatively short, you have the flexibility to head out in the morning and easily return by evening if needed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.5 miles from Arvada, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Heartland Expressway
87.5 mi
1h 29m
Ralston Road
1.8 mi
3m
Colorado Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Sheridan Boulevard
0.3 mi
<1m
Clayton Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Howard Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Allison Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Ammons Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Heartland Expressway
— 87.5 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arvada, CO and Brush, CO.
1
Start on this road
41 ft·5 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Ammons Street
58 ft·7 sec·Ammons Street
3
Turn left
313 ft·25 sec
4
At end of road, turn right onto Allison Street
172 ft·13 sec·Allison Street
5
Turn left onto Ralston Road
1.8 mi·3 min·Ralston Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
Turn right onto CO 95
0.3 mi·34 sec·Sheridan Boulevard
Use the right lane.
7
Turn left
0.4 mi·56 sec
Toward I 76 EastUse the left lane.
8
Merge onto I 76
11 mi·12 min·Heartland Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
77 mi·1 hr 17 min·Heartland Expressway
Toward I 76 East: Fort MorganUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward CO 71: Brush, Snyder
11
Turn right onto CO 71
0.5 mi·1 min·Colorado Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn right onto Howard Street
398 ft·15 sec·Howard Street
13
Turn left onto Clayton Street
0.1 mi·15 sec·Clayton Street
14
Arrive at destination
Clayton Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a sub-two-hour drive, you have plenty of freedom regarding your departure time, though starting early helps you avoid potential congestion near the metro area. Because there are no designated stops required for a trip of this length, you can complete the 91-mile run in one go without needing to build in lengthy rest breaks. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Arvada; although $14 should cover your transit, topping off early ensures you won't have to worry about finding a station once you hit the longer, uninterrupted segments of the Heartland Expressway. Use the simplicity of this route to your advantage by keeping your gear packed and ready to go for a seamless, no-fuss arrival in Brush.
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 45.5 miles from Arvada, CO, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.5 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 20 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.5 miles or 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brush, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Arvada, CO so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Arvada, CO
This is one driving day of about 91 miles and 1h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Arvada, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Heartland Expressway for about 87.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 13.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Allison Street
At end of road, turn right onto Allison Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Ralston Road
Turn left onto Ralston Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
1.9 mi into trip|~4m in|CO 95 / Sheridan Boulevard
Turn right onto CO 95 / Sheridan Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
2.2 mi into trip|~5m in
Turn left toward I 76 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 76 East
7
13.1 mi into trip|~18m in|I 76 / Heartland Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76 / Heartland Expressway toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.71 one way
$27.42 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$14.52
$29.03
premium
$4.39
$15.74
$31.48
diesel
$5.61
$20.09
$40.18
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.3
0
$9.56
$4.37
Efficient EV
22.8
0
$7.96
$3.64
EV Truck/SUV
36.4
0
$12.74
$5.82
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (66% 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 19, 2026
Origin
Arvada, CO
Late night
in Arvada on Tuesday
Local time
2:45 AM
MDT
Current temp
35°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Brush, CO
Late night
in Brush on Tuesday
Local time
2:45 AM
MDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
33°F
Brighton, CO
46 mi in
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
24 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 37m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is defined by its efficiency, as 96% of your journey takes place on highways. You will spend the vast majority of your time on the Heartland Expressway, which accounts for a significant 87.5-mile stretch of the drive. The experience is largely a highway-focused endeavor, prioritizing speed and directness over winding scenic detours. You will navigate local transitions via Ralston Road and Colorado Avenue, but the character of the road quickly shifts to a consistent, high-speed pace once you merge onto the main expressway. Prepare for a steady, focused drive that allows you to cover the distance without the interruption of technical curves or frequent navigation changes.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 87.5 mi on Heartland Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Heartland Expressway and Ralston Road. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Allison Street.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 91 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Allison Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.1 miles (Ralston Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles (CO 95 / Sheridan Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
Arvada is a city of about 125,000 in the Denver Metropolitan Area of the U.S. state of Colorado. A former farming community in Jefferson and Adams counties, the city is now a residential suburb of Denver. Olde Town Arvada lies 7 miles (11 km) northwest of the Colorado State Capitol and 9 miles (14 km) east of the Front Range foothills.
Top landmarks
•Arvada Flour Mill — historic mill in Arvada, Colorado, USA
•Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities — art center in Arvada, Colorado
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 37m. Total distance: 91 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 87.5 miles on Heartland Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Brush, CO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 0.1 miles (Allison Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.1 miles (Ralston Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles (CO 95 / Sheridan Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Brush, CO before heading back.
