Origin
Boulder, CO
Late night in Boulder on Tuesday
Local time
2:45 AM
MDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Boulder, CO to Welby, 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
32m
Distance
23.7 mi
38 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 29m
★
6 AM
0h 32m
8 AM
0h 37m
10 AM
0h 34m
12 PM
0h 33m
3 PM
0h 34m
5 PM
0h 37m
8 PM
0h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Boulder, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Welby, CO
Janusz Mitura
Trip Overview
This quick 23.7-mile drive from Boulder, CO to Welby, CO takes about 32 minutes and is easily manageable as a single-day trip. With an estimated fuel cost of just $4, it's a budget-friendly option for getting between these two locations in the Mountain West region. The route is primarily highway-focused, meaning you'll spend most of your time on faster-paced roads. Given its short duration and straightforward nature, you won't need to worry about overnight stops or splitting the journey. This trip is all about efficient travel between two points within Colorado.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Denver–Boulder Turnpike | 19.5 mi | 22m |
| East 70th Avenue | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| 28th Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| North York Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Arapahoe Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Broadway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 19th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
— 19.5 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Boulder, CO and Welby, 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
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Toward I 25: Denver, Fort Collins
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Toward Broadway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn right onto CO 224
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Broadway
Use the left lane.
16
Turn left onto CO 224
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
East 70th Avenue
Use the left lane.
17
Turn left onto North York Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North York Street
Use the left lane.
18
Continue on North York Street
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
North York Street
19
Arrive at destination
North York Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 21.3 — 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.
6
18 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
US 36 / Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36 / Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
20 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
US 36 / Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36 / Denver–Boulder Turnpike toward I 25: Denver, Fort Collins
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 25: Denver, Fort Collins
6
20.9 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit toward Broadway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Broadway
6
21.3 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
CO 224 / East 70th Avenue
Turn left onto CO 224 / East 70th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.57 one way
$7.14 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $3.78 | $7.56 |
| premium | $4.39 | $4.10 | $8.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.23 | $10.47 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.36
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
(19.5 mi)
$1.36
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Tolls
$1
Total
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.49 | $1.14 |
| Efficient EV | 5.9 | 0 | $2.07 | $0.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.32 | $1.52 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Welby, CO
Late night in Welby on Tuesday
Local time
2:45 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
32m 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 highway-focused drive for this journey, with 82% of the route utilizing faster roads. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 19.5 miles on the Denver–Boulder Turnpike, which forms the backbone of this trip. While the majority of your time will be on this main artery, you'll also navigate sections of East 70th Avenue and 28th Street, offering a slight shift in environment before rejoining the quicker pace. The overall feel is one of consistent, direct travel rather than winding scenic byways.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.5 mi on Denver–Boulder Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Denver–Boulder Turnpike and East 70th 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 Arapahoe Avenue.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 16 decision points packed into just 23.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 32m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Arapahoe Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 18 miles (US 36 / Denver–Boulder Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 20 miles (US 36 / Denver–Boulder Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Welby, CO, road signs point toward Fort Collins and Broadway.
Fort Collins
20 mi in
|
~25m
|
via US 36
Broadway
20.9 mi in
|
~26m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 32m. Total distance: 23.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19.5 miles on Denver–Boulder Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.36 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 Welby, 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 (Arapahoe Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 18 miles (US 36 / Denver–Boulder Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 20 miles (US 36 / Denver–Boulder Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Welby, 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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