Origin
Boulder, CO
Night in Boulder on Saturday
Local time
10:34 PM
MDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Boulder, CO to Fort Lupton, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
48m
Distance
28.5 mi
46 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Boulder, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Fort Lupton, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick trip from Boulder to Fort Lupton, expect a straightforward 28.5-mile journey that typically takes about 48 minutes to complete. Because of the short distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays. You will primarily navigate via Mineral Road, Diagonal Highway, and Foothills Parkway as you transition through the Mountain West landscape. Budgeting approximately $4 for fuel should be sufficient for this transit. This drive is ideal for those who prefer a manageable, turn-heavy local route over a long-haul highway experience.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Mineral Road | 20.3 mi | 34m |
| Diagonal Highway | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| Foothills Parkway | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Arapahoe Avenue | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Mc Kinley Avenue | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| 19th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Mineral Road
— 20.3 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Boulder, CO and Fort Lupton, 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
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Arapahoe Avenue
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
4
Turn left onto CO 157
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Foothills Parkway
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on CO 119
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Diagonal Highway
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn right onto CO 52
20 mi
·
34 min
·
Mineral Road
Use the straight lane.
7
Turn left onto Mc Kinley Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Mc Kinley Avenue
Use the left lane.
8
Arrive at destination
Mc Kinley Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 55 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 28.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
19th Street
Turn right onto 19th Street
Navigation decision point
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Arapahoe Avenue
Turn left onto Arapahoe Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
4
1.6 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
CO 157 / Foothills Parkway
Turn left onto CO 157 / Foothills Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
7.9 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
CO 52 / Mineral Road
Turn right onto CO 52 / Mineral Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
28.2 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
Mc Kinley Avenue
Turn left onto Mc Kinley Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.29 one way
$8.59 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $4.55 | $9.09 |
| premium | $4.39 | $4.93 | $9.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.29 | $12.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 10 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.99 | $1.37 |
| Efficient EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.49 | $1.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.99 | $1.82 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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.
Destination
Fort Lupton, CO
Night in Fort Lupton on Saturday
Local time
10:34 PM
MDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
8 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
48m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a technical, turn-heavy experience rather than a monotonous interstate cruise on this 28.5-mile stretch. With only 9 miles spent on highways, the character of the road is defined by local navigation through the Mountain West. You will spend the bulk of your time on the 20.3-mile stretch along Mineral Road, which serves as the primary backbone of your trip. The transition between different road types keeps the drive engaging, requiring your full attention as you shift from parkway to local surface streets. It is a practical, functional drive that keeps you alert behind the wheel.
Only 9% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
8 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.3 mi on Mineral Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 19th Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 48m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (19th Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (Arapahoe Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles (CO 157 / Foothills Parkway): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 48m. Total distance: 28.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (9%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.3 miles on Mineral Road. 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: near the start (19th Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (Arapahoe Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles (CO 157 / Foothills Parkway): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Fort Lupton, 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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