This 73.3-mile journey from Ault to Denver, Colorado, will take approximately 1 hour and 31 minutes. Primarily following the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and North Valley Highway, with a portion on Highway 14, this route is well-suited for a single-day trip. Expect to spend around $11 on fuel for this drive. The overall feel is that of a turn-heavy local drive, offering a straightforward transit between two points in the Mountain West region. It’s a convenient option if you're looking for a direct connection without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.7 miles from Ault, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
41.6 mi
41m
North Valley Highway
14.2 mi
17m
Highway 14
12.8 mi
20m
East Mulberry Street
1 mi
1m
North Broadway
1 mi
3m
Park Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Park Avenue West
0.5 mi
1m
West 22nd Street
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 41.6 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ault, CO and Denver, CO.
1
Start on CO 14
0.3 mi·1 min·1st Street
2
Continue on CO 14
13 mi·20 min·Highway 14
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on CO 14
1.0 mi·1 min·East Mulberry Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward I 25 South: Denver
5
Merge onto I 25
42 mi·41 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 25
0.6 mi·36 sec·North Valley Highway
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
8.8 mi·10 min·North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
4.8 mi·6 min·North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·28 sec
Exit 213Toward 38th Avenue, Park Avenue, DowntownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·11 sec
Toward Park Avenue, DowntownUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on Park Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·Park Avenue
12
Turn straight onto Park Avenue West
0.5 mi·1 min·Park Avenue West
13
Continue on West 22nd Street
0.4 mi·1 min·West 22nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn right onto North Broadway
1.0 mi·3 min·North Broadway
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn left onto East 14th Avenue
0.1 mi·29 sec·East 14th Avenue
Use the left lane.
16
Turn left
358 ft·27 sec
Use the straight / left lanes.
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 1 hour and 31 minutes, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, offering flexibility in your departure time. With only 73.3 miles to cover, you won't need to worry about splitting the drive. The estimated fuel cost is a modest $11, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before you leave Ault. Pay close attention to navigation, especially during the turn-heavy segments, to stay on track towards Denver. Planning for a brief stop midway might be comfortable, though not strictly necessary.
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 36.7 miles from Ault, CO, or about 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.6 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 16 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.7 miles or 46m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Denver, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ault, CO so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ault, CO
This is one driving day of about 73.3 miles and 1h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Ault, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 41.6 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 56.6 and 73.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
56.6 mi into trip|~1h 6m in|I 25 / North Valley Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25 / North Valley Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
65.4 mi into trip|~1h 16m in|I 25 / North Valley Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25 / North Valley Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
70.3 mi into trip|~1h 23m in
Take the exit toward 38th Avenue, Park Avenue, Downtown
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 213
Toward 38th Avenue, Park Avenue, Downtown
9
70.5 mi into trip|~1h 23m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Park Avenue, Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Park Avenue, Downtown
7
73.3 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.04 one way
$22.09 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$11.69
$23.39
premium
$4.39
$12.68
$25.36
diesel
$5.61
$16.18
$32.37
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22
0
$7.70
$3.52
Efficient EV
18.3
0
$6.41
$2.93
EV Truck/SUV
29.3
0
$10.26
$4.69
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Ault, CO
Late night
in Ault on Tuesday
Local time
2:56 AM
MDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Denver, CO
Late night
in Denver on Tuesday
Local time
2:56 AM
MDT
Current temp
35°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
56°F
Lafayette, CO
37 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
19 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
1h 31m 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 drive offers a blend of highway and local road experiences, with 17% of the total mileage on major highways. You'll encounter a turn-heavy local drive profile, meaning you should anticipate frequent changes in direction. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 41.6 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, providing a solid period of consistent travel. As you progress, the road will transition, reflecting its local nature and requiring your attention to navigation.
Only 17% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.6 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 56.6 miles in near I 25 / North Valley Highway.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.3 miles you will encounter 9 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 56.6 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 65.4 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 70.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Denver is the capital of the western U.S. state of Colorado and the dominant city of the Rocky Mountain Region. Founded in 1858 as the placer gold mining camp known as the Cherry Creek Diggings, the "Mile-High City" is today the most populous city within a 560-mile (900 km) radius and the center of the Front Range Urban Corridor of more than five million residents. Denver embraces its cowboy and mining past but also looks toward the future with a vibrant arts and performing arts scene, dozens of great outdoor festivals, and distinct neighborhoods each offering a unique experience. You'll find everything a cosmopolitan city has to offer including a spectacular view of and easy access to the beautiful Rocky Mountains, which arise only 12 miles (19 km) west of the Colorado State Capitol.
Top landmarks
•Denver Art Museum — museum in Denver, Colorado, United States
•Denver Mint — United States Mint branch in Denver, Colorado
•Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception — church in Colorado, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 31m. Total distance: 73.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41.6 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. 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 Denver, 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 56.6 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 65.4 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 70.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Denver, CO before heading back.
