Origin
Castle Rock, CO
Morning in Castle Rock on Sunday
Local time
8:37 AM
MDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Castle Rock, CO to Federal Heights, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
51m
Distance
39 mi
63 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 47m
★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
1h 0m
10 AM
0h 54m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 55m
5 PM
0h 59m
8 PM
0h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Castle Rock, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Federal Heights, CO
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
Castle Rock to Federal Heights is 39 miles and takes about 51 minutes via I 25, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive stays within Colorado, connecting two points in the Mountain West region. It's a very short trip, ideal for a quick commute or a transition day if you're exploring further afield. Expect a predominantly highway experience for this brief journey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 25 | 34.4 mi | 40m |
| Pecos Street | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| Denver–Boulder Turnpike | 1 mi | 1m |
| North Wilcox Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| West 85th Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| 3rd Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Cantril Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 25
— 34.4 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Castle Rock, CO and Federal Heights, CO.
1
Start on North Cantril Street
90 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Cantril Street
2
Turn left onto 3rd Street
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
3rd Street
3
Continue on 3rd Street
442 ft
·
17 sec
·
3rd Street
4
Turn right onto North Wilcox Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Wilcox Street
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 25 North
6
Merge onto I 25
34 mi
·
40 min
·
I 25
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 217A
Toward US 36 West: Westminster, Boulder
Use the slight left lane.
8
Merge onto US 36
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward Pecos Street
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn right onto Pecos Street
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Pecos Street
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn right onto West 85th Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West 85th Avenue
12
Arrive at destination
West 85th Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.5 miles from Castle Rock, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 37 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
3rd Street
Turn left onto 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
7
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
3rd Street
Enter roundabout onto 3rd Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
1.1 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 25
Merge onto I 25
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
35.5 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the exit toward US 36 West: Westminster, Boulder
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 217A
Toward US 36 West: Westminster, Boulder
6
37 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the exit toward Pecos Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Pecos Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.88 one way
$11.75 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $6.22 | $12.44 |
| premium | $4.39 | $6.75 | $13.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.61 | $17.22 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.07
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
(1 mi)
$0.07
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$0
Total
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.7 | 0 | $4.10 | $1.87 |
| Efficient EV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.41 | $1.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.46 | $2.50 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Federal Heights, CO
Morning in Federal Heights on Sunday
Local time
8:37 AM
MDT
Current temp
50°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
23 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
51m 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 route is heavily focused on highway driving, with 91% of the journey taking place on major roads like I 25 and the Denver–Boulder Turnpike. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 34.4 miles on I 25, offering a consistent pace for most of the drive. The remaining portion involves local roads like Pecos Street as you approach your destination. Overall, it's a practical, efficient transit rather than a winding scenic tour.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 34.4 mi on I 25.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 25 and Pecos Street. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 3rd Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 39 miles you will encounter 10 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 (3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (3rd Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.1 miles (I 25): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
On the drive from Castle Rock, CO to Federal Heights, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Boulder along the way.
Boulder
35.5 mi in
|
~44m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 51m. Total distance: 39 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 34.4 miles on I 25. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.07 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 Federal Heights, 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 (3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (3rd Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.1 miles (I 25): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Federal Heights, 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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