Origin
Coal Creek, CO
Night in Coal Creek on Saturday
Local time
10:36 PM
MDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Coal Creek, CO to Longmont, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 8m
Distance
37.6 mi
61 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 3m
★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 19m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 13m
5 PM
1h 19m
8 PM
1h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Coal Creek, CO
Braeson Holland
Longmont, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Coal Creek Canyon Drive to Longmont is 37.6 miles and takes about 1 hour 8 minutes via Coal Creek Canyon Drive and Diagonal Highway, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Colorado, moving from the Mountain West region to the same region. Expect a mixed drive that offers a good taste of the local landscape without demanding a full day. It's a straightforward journey perfect for a quick transit or a scenic detour if you have some extra time.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Coal Creek Canyon Drive | 9.2 mi | 15m |
| Diagonal Highway | 8.6 mi | 11m |
| CO 93 | 8.6 mi | 13m |
| Foothills Parkway | 4.6 mi | 7m |
| Ken Pratt Boulevard | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Copperdale Lane | 1.2 mi | 4m |
| Coal Creek Heights Drive | 1 mi | 4m |
| Table Mesa Drive | 0.9 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Coal Creek Canyon Drive
— 9.2 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Coal Creek, CO and Longmont, CO.
1
Start on Beauty Lane
516 ft
·
22 sec
·
Beauty Lane
2
Continue on Coal Creek Heights Drive
1.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Coal Creek Heights Drive
3
At end of road, turn left onto Ridge Road
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Ridge Road
4
Continue on Ridge Road
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
Ridge Road
5
Turn right onto Copperdale Lane
1.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Copperdale Lane
6
At end of road, turn right onto CO 72
9.2 mi
·
15 min
·
Coal Creek Canyon Drive
7
Turn left onto CO 93
8.6 mi
·
13 min
·
CO 93
Use the left lane.
8
Turn right onto South 40th Street
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
South 40th Street
9
Turn right onto Table Mesa Drive
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Table Mesa Drive
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on Table Mesa Drive
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Table Mesa Drive
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
1 min
Toward CO 157 North
12
Merge onto CO 157
4.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Foothills Parkway
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Continue on CO 119
8.6 mi
·
11 min
·
Diagonal Highway
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on CO 119
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Ken Pratt Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn left onto South Pratt Parkway
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Pratt Parkway
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on Terry Street
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Terry Street
17
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
3rd Avenue
18
Turn left onto Kimbark Street
0.2 mi
·
55 sec
·
Kimbark Street
Use the left lane.
19
Turn left
186 ft
·
15 sec
20
Turn right
109 ft
·
7 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 37.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.8 miles from Coal Creek, 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 37.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
Ridge Road
At end of road, turn left onto Ridge Road
Navigation decision point
6
11.7 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
CO 93
Turn left onto CO 93
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
20.5 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
Table Mesa Drive
Turn right onto Table Mesa Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5
21.3 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Take the exit toward CO 157 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward CO 157 North
7
37.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
|
Kimbark Street
Turn left onto Kimbark Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.67 one way
$11.33 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $6.00 | $12.00 |
| premium | $4.39 | $6.50 | $13.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.30 | $16.60 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.95 | $1.80 |
| Efficient EV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.29 | $1.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15 | 0 | $5.26 | $2.41 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Longmont, CO
Night in Longmont on Saturday
Local time
10:36 PM
MDT
Current temp
79°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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 8m 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 offers a mixed drive experience, with 37% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 9.2 miles on Coal Creek Canyon Drive, which likely provides a more winding and potentially scenic experience. As you transition to the Diagonal Highway and CO 93, expect the road character to change, possibly incorporating faster sections. The drive progresses through varied terrain, offering a dynamic feel behind the wheel rather than a monotonous cruise.
37% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 9.2 mi on Coal Creek Canyon Drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near Ridge Road.
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 37.6 miles you will encounter 13 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: at 1.1 miles (Ridge Road): Navigation decision point; at 11.7 miles (CO 93): Lane positioning matters here; at 20.5 miles (Table Mesa Drive): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 8m. Total distance: 37.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (37%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 9.2 miles on Coal Creek Canyon Drive. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Longmont, 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: at 1.1 miles (Ridge Road): Navigation decision point; at 11.7 miles (CO 93): Lane positioning matters here; at 20.5 miles (Table Mesa Drive): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Longmont, 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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