Origin
Boulder, CO
Late night in Boulder on Tuesday
Local time
3:36 AM
MDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Boulder, CO to Northglenn, CO
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
29m
Distance
19.2 mi
31 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 27m
★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 34m
10 AM
0h 31m
12 PM
0h 30m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 34m
8 PM
0h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Boulder, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Northglenn, CO
Brad Bean
Trip Overview
Boulder, CO to Northglenn, CO is 19.2 miles and takes about 29 minutes via Denver–Boulder Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Colorado's Mountain West region, making it a straightforward connection between two nearby cities. Given its brief duration and minimal fuel cost, this route is ideal for a quick transfer or an easy addition to a longer Colorado adventure. You'll spend most of your time on a major thoroughfare, so expect consistent traffic flow.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Denver–Boulder Turnpike | 12.9 mi | 15m |
| West 104th Avenue | 4.6 mi | 9m |
| 28th Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Arapahoe Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East 104th Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 19th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
— 12.9 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Boulder, CO and Northglenn, 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
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
0.6 mi
·
41 sec
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward Church Ranch Boulevard, 104th Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
114 ft
·
4 sec
Toward 104th Avenue, Butterfly Pavilion, Front Range Community College
13
Turn left onto West 104th Avenue
4.6 mi
·
9 min
·
West 104th Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
14
Continue on East 104th Avenue
180 ft
·
11 sec
·
East 104th Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Arrive at destination
East 104th Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 14.5 — 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
4.8 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
US 36 / Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36 / Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
7
14.3 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward Church Ranch Boulevard, 104th Avenue
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 Church Ranch Boulevard, 104th Avenue
7
14.5 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Keep slight left at fork toward 104th Avenue, Butterfly Pavilion, Front Range Community College
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward 104th Avenue, Butterfly Pavilion, Front...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.89 one way
$5.79 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $3.06 | $6.13 |
| premium | $4.39 | $3.32 | $6.64 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.24 | $8.48 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.90
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
(12.9 mi)
$0.90
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Tolls
$1
Total
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.8 | 0 | $2.02 | $0.92 |
| Efficient EV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.68 | $0.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.69 | $1.23 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Northglenn, CO
Late night in Northglenn on Tuesday
Local time
3:36 AM
MDT
Current temp
36°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
17 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
29m 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?
This drive is mostly highway, with 67% of the 19.2 miles on major roads like the Denver–Boulder Turnpike. You'll experience a continuous stretch of 12.9 miles on the turnpike before transitioning to surface streets like West 104th Avenue and 28th Street. Expect to encounter a higher density of exits and merging traffic as you approach your destination.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.9 mi on Denver–Boulder Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Denver–Boulder Turnpike and West 104th Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 19th Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 19.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 29m.
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 4.8 miles (US 36 / Denver–Boulder Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Northglenn, CO, road signs point toward Butterfly Pavilion and Front Range Community College.
Butterfly Pavilion
14.5 mi in
|
~18m
Front Range Community College
14.5 mi in
|
~18m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 29m. Total distance: 19.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (67%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.9 miles on Denver–Boulder Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.90 in tolls one way, starting with Denver–Boulder Turnpike. 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 Northglenn, 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: near the start (19th Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (Arapahoe Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.8 miles (US 36 / Denver–Boulder Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Northglenn, 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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