Origin
Broomfield, CO
Late night in Broomfield on Tuesday
Local time
2:59 AM
MDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Broomfield, CO to Wheat Ridge, 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
22m
Distance
11.9 mi
19 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 21m
★
6 AM
0h 23m
8 AM
0h 27m
10 AM
0h 24m
12 PM
0h 24m
3 PM
0h 24m
5 PM
0h 26m
8 PM
0h 21m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Broomfield, CO
Owen.outdoors
Wheat Ridge, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling between Broomfield and Wheat Ridge is a quick, straightforward journey covering just 11.9 miles. You can expect to complete this drive in roughly 22 minutes, making it a perfect day trip that requires no overnight stay. With a fuel cost of only $2, it is a highly economical route for those moving through the Mountain West. Since the entire trip takes place within Colorado, you won't experience major regional shifts, allowing for a consistent driving experience. This short commute is ideal if you need a reliable connection between these two cities without the need for extensive planning or multiple stops.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Wadsworth Parkway | 4 mi | 6m |
| Wadsworth Boulevard | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| Wadsworth Bypass | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| North Wadsworth Boulevard | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| CO 121 | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Teller Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West 38th Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Nickel Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Wadsworth Parkway
— 4 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Broomfield, CO and Wheat Ridge, 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
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
CO 121
7
Continue on CO 121
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Wadsworth Parkway
Use the left lane.
8
Continue on CO 121
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Wadsworth Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on CO 121
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Wadsworth Bypass
Use the left lane.
10
Continue on CO 121
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
North Wadsworth Boulevard
Use the left lane.
11
Turn slight left
0.1 mi
·
38 sec
12
Turn left onto CR 180
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
West 38th Avenue
13
Turn right onto Teller Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Teller Street
14
Turn right
24 ft
·
1 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 11.9 — 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
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Nickel Street
Turn left onto Nickel Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 287
Turn right onto US 287
Navigation decision point
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
5
11.9 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.79 one way
$3.59 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $1.90 | $3.80 |
| premium | $4.39 | $2.06 | $4.12 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.63 | $5.25 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.6 | 0 | $1.25 | $0.57 |
| Efficient EV | 3 | 0 | $1.04 | $0.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.67 | $0.76 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Wheat Ridge, CO
Late night in Wheat Ridge on Tuesday
Local time
2:59 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
20 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
22m 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 mixed drive transitions through several configurations of the Wadsworth corridor, specifically utilizing Wadsworth Parkway, Wadsworth Boulevard, and the Wadsworth Bypass. While about 38% of your journey will be on highways, the road maintains a practical feel that balances speed with urban accessibility. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on Wadsworth Parkway, spanning 4 miles before the road character shifts. Expect a functional drive that trades scenic variety for directness, keeping you focused on the road as you navigate these primary transit arteries. The experience is consistent and efficient, moving steadily through the suburban landscape.
38% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 4 mi on Wadsworth Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West 3rd 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 11.9 miles you will encounter 7 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 (West 3rd Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.1 miles (Nickel Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 287): Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Starting in Broomfield, CO
Full guide →Founded 2001
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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 22m. Total distance: 11.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (38%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 4 miles on Wadsworth Parkway. 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 (West 3rd Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.1 miles (Nickel Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 287): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Wheat Ridge, 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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