CDOT Rest Area: Cortez
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Boulder, CO to Cortez, CO
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
9h
Distance
392 mi
631 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$67
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 53m
★
6 AM
9h 1m
8 AM
9h 17m
10 AM
9h 7m
12 PM
9h 5m
3 PM
9h 7m
5 PM
9h 16m
8 PM
8h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Boulder, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Cortez, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Boulder to Cortez is 392 miles and takes about 9 hours via US 285 and US 160, with a fuel budget near $65 and enough daylight to finish in a day, but it's better as an overnight trip. This drive stays within Colorado, taking you from the Mountain West region to the Mountain West region. You'll spend most of your time on highways, making it a fairly straightforward trip. Given the duration, planning for an overnight stop is a good idea to make the most of the drive.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
196 miles from Boulder, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 29m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 285 | 146 mi | 3h 21m |
| US 160 | 101.6 mi | 2h 15m |
| West U.S. Highway 160 | 57.8 mi | 1h 20m |
| US 50 | 40.4 mi | 51m |
| West Highway 112 | 13.1 mi | 19m |
| South Foothills Highway | 8.3 mi | 12m |
| CO 93 | 7.5 mi | 11m |
| CO 470 | 6.2 mi | 7m |
Longest stretch:
US 285
— 146 mi, about 3h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Boulder, CO and Cortez, 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
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
Toward Baseline Road
6
Keep slight left at fork
381 ft
·
15 sec
Toward Baseline Road, Broadway South
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on 27th Way
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
27th Way
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
At end of road, turn left onto CO 93
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Broadway
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on CO 93
8.3 mi
·
12 min
·
South Foothills Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on CO 93
7.5 mi
·
11 min
·
CO 93
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Continue on US 6
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn right onto CO 470
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
CO 470
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 5A
Toward US 285 South: Fairplay
Use the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto US 285
101 mi
·
2 hr 13 min
·
US 285
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
At end of road, turn left onto US 285
11 mi
·
17 min
·
US 285
16
Continue on US 285
10.0 mi
·
16 min
·
US 285
17
Turn left onto US 50; US 285
40 mi
·
51 min
·
US 50; US 285
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn slight left onto US 285
24 mi
·
34 min
·
US 285
Use the straight / left lanes.
19
Turn right onto CO 112
13 mi
·
19 min
·
West Highway 112
Use the right lane.
20
Turn right onto US 160
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Grand Avenue
21
Continue on US 160
58 mi
·
1 hr 20 min
·
West U.S. Highway 160
22
Continue on US 160
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
San Juan Street
23
Continue on US 160
11 mi
·
14 min
·
US 160
Use the straight lane.
24
Continue on US 160
46 mi
·
1 hr
·
US 160
Use the straight lane.
25
Take the exit onto US 160
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
US 160
Use the left lane.
26
At end of road, turn left onto US 160
45 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
US 160
Use the left lane.
27
Turn right onto North Market Street
193 ft
·
10 sec
·
North Market Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
28
Turn left
213 ft
·
15 sec
29
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a 9-hour estimated drive time, splitting this trip into two days is highly recommended. Aim to leave Boulder in the morning and drive for about 4-5 hours before stopping for the night. This allows for two roughly equal driving days and a chance to rest. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 146-mile stretch on US 285, as services might be less frequent there. The fuel cost is estimated at $65, so budget accordingly.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 196 miles from Boulder, CO, or about 4h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 146 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 86 miles or 2h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 196 miles or 4h 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 196 miles or 4h 29m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cortez, 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.
+
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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Boulder, CO
Aim for roughly 196 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Cortez, CO
Aim for roughly 196 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 86 miles from Boulder, CO.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 285 for about 146 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
196 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Center, COOvernight Options
Night 1
196 mi · about 4.5h in
A practical overnight split lands near Center, CO after about 196 miles or 4.5 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 86 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 196 miles from Boulder, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 285 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 146 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 196 miles or 4.5 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
CDOT Rest Area: Shaw Creek
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 347 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Arapahoe Avenue
Turn left onto Arapahoe Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
9
1.6 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Baseline Road, Broadway South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward Baseline Road, Broadway South
7
29 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the exit toward US 285 South: Fairplay
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5A
Toward US 285 South: Fairplay
6
216.2 mi into trip
|
~4h 58m in
|
CO 112 / West Highway 112
Turn right onto CO 112 / West Highway 112
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
347 mi into trip
|
~7h 59m in
|
US 160
At end of road, turn left onto US 160
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$66.78 one way
$133.56 round trip
$4.33/gal
25.4 MPG avg
137 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.58 | $70.62 | $141.24 |
| premium | $4.90 | $75.68 | $151.37 |
| diesel | $6.18 | $95.36 | $190.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$67
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$197–$307
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 137.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 117.6 | 1 | $41.16 | $18.82 |
| Efficient EV | 98 | 1 | $34.30 | $15.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 156.8 | 1 | $54.88 | $25.09 |
Gas CO2
137 kg
EV CO2
46 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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.
Origin
Boulder, CO
Afternoon in Boulder on Sunday
Local time
2:09 PM
MDT
Current temp
49°F
Clear
W 8 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Cortez, CO
Afternoon in Cortez on Sunday
Local time
2:09 PM
MDT
Current temp
34°F
Mostly Cloudy
ENE 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
59°F
Center, CO
196 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
15 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
9h on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Mesa Verde National Park
National Park
For over 700 years, the Ancestral Pueblo people built thriving communities on the mesas and in the cliffs of Mesa Verde. Today, the park protects the rich cultural heritage of 27 Pueblos and Tribes an...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
$30
near mile 378.4
View on nps.gov
Yucca House National Monument
National Monument
Yucca House National Monument preserves a large unexcavated pueblo with a stunning setting in Montezuma Valley, nestled between Mesa Verde and Ute Mountain. Since Yucca House was protected as a nation...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 392
View on nps.gov
Hovenweep National Monument
National Monument
Hovenweep preserves six prehistoric sites built between 1200 and 1300 CE which may have served as ceremonial centers. Explore a variety of structures, including multistory towers perched on canyon rim...
23 mi from route
~58 min detour
$20
near mile 392
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 95% highway, meaning you'll be on high-speed roads for almost the entire 392 miles. The longest continuous stretch without a significant change in road type is 146 miles on US 285. You'll notice a significant amount of rural cruising as you cover these distances. The highway portion will conclude as you approach Cortez.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 146 mi on US 285.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 285 and US 160. You will hit about 18 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Arapahoe Avenue.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 392 miles you will encounter 18 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: near the start (Arapahoe Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
9,584 ft
5,319 ft
Total Climb
6,670 ft
Total Descent
5,786 ft
Highest Point
9,584 ft
~84 mi in
Elevation Range
4,265 ft
Notable High Points
9,584 ft at ~84 miles
+571 ft prominence
8,245 ft at ~168 miles
+275 ft prominence
8,465 ft at ~252 miles
+665 ft prominence
7,877 ft at ~364 miles
+901 ft prominence
About the Cities
Starting in Boulder, CO
Full guide →Founded 1858
Boulder is a college town of about 106,000 in the Front Range region of Colorado. The home of the University of Colorado, the city has a reputation for progressive values and outdoor recreation. It is a very pleasant place to live and visit. The seat of Boulder County, the city lies at the foot of the Flatirons at the eastern edge of the Front Range foothills, 24 miles (39 km) northwest of Denver.
Top landmarks
- • Hotel Boulderado — hotel in Boulder, United States
- • University of Colorado Museum of Natural History — natural history museum in Boulder, Colorado
- • Fiske Planetarium — planetarium in the United States
Arriving in Cortez, CO
Full guide →Founded 1886
Cortez is a small city in the Rocky Mountains state of Colorado. It is in the general vicinity of Mesa Verde National Park, Hovenweep National Monument and Canyons of the Ancients National Monument.
Top landmarks
- • Ertel Funeral Home — funeral home in Cortez, Colorado
- • Montezuma Valley National Bank and Store Building — Cortez, CO, listed on the NRHP in Colorado
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
9h drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 146 miles on US 285. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 196 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 4 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Cortez, CO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. There are 4 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Arapahoe Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Mesa Verde National Park, Yucca House National Monument and Hovenweep National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.0 hours each way, a round trip means 18.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Cortez, CO before the return drive.
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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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