Driving from Boulder to Brush covers 104.9 miles of Colorado terrain, typically taking about 1 hour and 53 minutes behind the wheel. This trip is perfectly manageable as a one-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight logistics. You should budget approximately $16 for fuel to complete the journey. The route primarily utilizes the Heartland Expressway, E-470, and Northwest Parkway to transition from the Mountain West foothills toward the eastern plains. Because this is a straightforward, highway-focused drive, it serves as an efficient connection between these two locations rather than a destination-heavy scenic tour.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.4 miles from Boulder, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Heartland Expressway
70.6 mi
1h 10m
E-470
11.7 mi
11m
Northwest Parkway
9.5 mi
10m
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
8.3 mi
9m
28th Street
0.8 mi
1m
Arapahoe Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Colorado Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
East 120th Avenue
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Heartland Expressway
— 70.6 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Boulder, CO and Brush, CO.
1
Start on this road
87 ft·6 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto 19th Street
143 ft·13 sec·19th Street
3
Turn left onto Arapahoe Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·Arapahoe Avenue
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
4
Turn right onto US 36
0.8 mi·1 min·28th Street
5
Turn straight onto US 36
3.4 mi·4 min·Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
1.7 mi·1 min·Denver–Boulder Turnpike
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
2.6 mi·3 min·Denver–Boulder Turnpike
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
0.6 mi·41 sec·Denver–Boulder Turnpike
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·28 sec
Toward Northwest Parkway, Interlocken LoopUse the slight right lane.
Exit 34Toward 120th AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn left onto East 120th Avenue
0.1 mi·27 sec·East 120th Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
16
Turn left
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward E 470 Toll NorthUse the left lane.
17
Merge onto E470
0.5 mi·27 sec·E-470
18
Take the exit
1.1 mi·1 min
Exit 35Toward I 76 East: Fort MorganUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto I 76
71 mi·1 hr 10 min·Heartland Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward CO 71: Brush, Snyder
21
Turn right onto CO 71
0.5 mi·1 min·Colorado Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Turn right onto Howard Street
398 ft·15 sec·Howard Street
23
Turn left onto Clayton Street
0.1 mi·15 sec·Clayton Street
24
Arrive at destination
Clayton Street
Trip Plan
Since the total drive time is under two hours, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete the entire 104.9-mile trip without needing to plan for formal rest stops, as there are zero required breaks. Make sure to fuel up before leaving Boulder, as the $16 estimate is based on typical efficiency for this specific highway-heavy mileage. Because the route relies so heavily on the Heartland Expressway, keep a close eye on your GPS for exit cues during the long uninterrupted stretches. Being prepared for high-speed highway travel will make this quick transition between regions feel much smoother.
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 52.4 miles from Boulder, CO, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.6 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 23 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.4 miles or 59m 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 33m
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 Boulder, CO so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Boulder, CO
This is one driving day of about 104.9 miles and 1h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Boulder, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Heartland Expressway for about 70.6 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 9.7 and 32.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
9.7 mi into trip|~13m in
Take the exit toward Northwest Parkway, Interlocken Loop
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Northwest Parkway, Interlocken Loop
7
10 mi into trip|~13m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Northwest Parkway, RTD Park-n-Ride, Louisville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 34
Toward 120th Avenue
7
31.5 mi into trip|~37m in
Turn left toward E 470 Toll North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward E 470 Toll North
7
32.3 mi into trip|~38m in
Take the exit toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 35
Toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.81 one way
$31.61 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$16.73
$33.47
premium
$4.39
$18.15
$36.29
diesel
$5.61
$23.16
$46.32
Estimated Tolls: $3.11
E-470
(11.7 mi)$1.40
Northwest Parkway
(9.5 mi)$1.14
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
(8.3 mi)$0.57
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
$16
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.5
0
$11.01
$5.04
Efficient EV
26.2
0
$9.18
$4.20
EV Truck/SUV
42
0
$14.69
$6.71
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 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 15, 2026
Origin
Boulder, CO
Late night
in Boulder on Sunday
Local time
1:54 AM
MDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Brush, CO
Late night
in Brush on Sunday
Local time
1:54 AM
MDT
Current temp
82°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
10 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 53m 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?
You will spend 84% of your time on highways, making this a fast-paced, practical drive. The route is defined by a significant 70.6-mile stretch along the Heartland Expressway, which allows for consistent speeds and minimal interruptions. As you transition away from the Boulder area, the road character shifts into a more focused, high-speed transit experience. Expect a fairly uniform drive with few opportunities for technical turns or local detours. It is an ideal route if your priority is reaching Brush as quickly as possible without the complexity of winding mountain passes.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70.6 mi on Heartland Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Heartland Expressway and E-470. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.7 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 104.9 miles you will encounter 20 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 9.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Boulder, CO and Brush, CO, road signs point toward Rtd Park-N-Ride, Louisville and E 470 Toll North.
Rtd Park-N-Ride
10 mi in|~13m
Louisville
10 mi in|~13m
E 470 Toll North
31.5 mi in|~37m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 53m. Total distance: 104.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 70.6 miles on Heartland Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.11 in tolls one way, starting with E-470. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 9.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
