Broomfield, CO to Salida, CO is 150 miles and takes about 3h 24m via US 285, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Colorado, moving from the Mountain West region to another part of the Mountain West. For the most part, you'll be on highways, making for a fairly straightforward drive. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost under $25, this is an easy day trip to plan.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
75 miles from Broomfield, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 39m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 285
115.6 mi
2h 36m
I 70
8.7 mi
9m
CO 291
7 mi
9m
CO 470
5.1 mi
5m
Sheridan Boulevard
4.3 mi
7m
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
3.9 mi
4m
Heartland Expressway
1.3 mi
1m
Crestone Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 285
— 115.6 mi, about 2h 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Broomfield, CO and Salida, CO.
1
Start on this road
192 ft·16 sec·this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto West 3rd Avenue
273 ft·19 sec·West 3rd Avenue
3
Turn left onto Nickel Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·Nickel Street
4
Turn right onto US 287
140 ft·3 sec·US 287
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward CO 121 South
6
Turn straight onto CO 121
0.4 mi·1 min·CO 121
7
Turn left
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward US 36 East: DenverUse the left lane.
8
Merge onto US 36
1.2 mi·1 min·Denver–Boulder Turnpike
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
1.9 mi·2 min·Denver–Boulder Turnpike
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
0.8 mi·53 sec·Denver–Boulder Turnpike
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward CO 95 South: Sheridan BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
12
Turn right onto CO 95
4.3 mi·7 min·Sheridan Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
13
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 76 West
14
Merge onto I 76
1.3 mi·1 min·Heartland Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 70
8.7 mi·9 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.7 mi·50 sec
Exit 260Toward CO 470 East: Colorado SpringsUse the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto CO 470
5.1 mi·5 min·CO 470
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 5AToward US 285 South: FairplayUse the slight right lane.
19
Merge onto US 285
101 mi·2 hr 13 min·US 285
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
At end of road, turn left onto US 285
11 mi·17 min·US 285
21
Continue on US 285
3.1 mi·5 min·US 285
22
Turn left onto CO 291
7.0 mi·9 min·CO 291
23
Turn right onto Mesa Lane
0.2 mi·24 sec·Mesa Lane
Use the right lane.
24
Turn left onto CR 160
0.2 mi·23 sec·Crestone Avenue
25
Continue on Crestone Avenue
0.3 mi·46 sec·Crestone Avenue
26
At end of road, turn right onto Poncha Boulevard
302 ft·13 sec·Poncha Boulevard
27
Turn left onto West 5th Street
0.1 mi·16 sec·West 5th Street
28
Turn right onto I Street
149 ft·6 sec·I Street
29
Arrive at destination
I Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 3h 24m, you can depart Broomfield anytime and still reach Salida before dark. Plan for just one stop, perhaps midway, to break up the 115.6-mile stretch on US 285. The fuel cost is estimated at $23, so ensure you have enough to cover that. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility to leave later in the morning or take your time at your chosen stop.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 75 miles from Broomfield, CO, or about 1h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 115.6 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 33 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75 miles or 1h 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Salida, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Broomfield, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Broomfield, CO
This is one driving day of about 150 miles and 3h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Broomfield, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 285 for about 115.6 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 24
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 25.9 — 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|West 3rd Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto West 3rd Avenue
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CO 121 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward CO 121 South
7
1 mi into trip|~2m in
Turn left toward US 36 East: Denver
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward US 36 East: Denver
7
20.1 mi into trip|~28m in
Take the exit toward CO 470 East: Colorado Springs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 260
Toward CO 470 East: Colorado Springs
7
25.9 mi into trip|~34m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.60 one way
$45.20 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$23.93
$47.86
premium
$4.39
$25.95
$51.90
diesel
$5.61
$33.12
$66.24
Estimated Tolls: $0.27
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
(3.9 mi)$0.27
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
$23
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45
0
$15.75
$7.20
Efficient EV
37.5
0
$13.13
$6.00
EV Truck/SUV
60
0
$21.00
$9.60
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (65% 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
Broomfield, CO
Night
in Broomfield on Saturday
Local time
10:35 PM
MDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Salida, CO
Night
in Salida on Saturday
Local time
10:35 PM
MDT
Current temp
72°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
3 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
3h 24m 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?
This is a mostly highway drive, with 95% of the 150 miles on paved roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 115.6 miles on US 285, offering consistent cruising. Expect minimal time on surface roads as you approach your destination, providing a smooth transition.
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: 115.6 mi on US 285.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 285 and I 70. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West 3rd Avenue.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 150 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 3rd Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Broomfield is a combined city and county of about 77,000 in the Denver Metropolitan Area of the western U.S. state of Colorado. Broomfield lies 14 miles (23 km) northwest of Denver and 12 miles (19 km) southeast of Boulder. The only other combined city and county in Colorado is the City and County of Denver, the state capital.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 24m. Total distance: 150 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 115.6 miles on US 285. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.27 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Salida, 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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 3rd Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Salida, CO, but most travelers stay overnight.
