Origin
Columbine, CO
Late night in Columbine on Sunday
Local time
1:54 AM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbine, CO to Boulder, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
58m
Distance
43.2 mi
69 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 54m
★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 8m
10 AM
1h 2m
12 PM
1h 1m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 8m
8 PM
0h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Columbine, CO
대정 김
Boulder, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 43.2-mile drive from Columbine, CO to Boulder, CO takes about 58 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily navigate on Denver–Boulder Turnpike, South Santa Fe Drive, and South Valley Highway, with 48% of the route being on highways. The estimated fuel cost is around $7. This journey offers a mixed drive experience, connecting two locations within the Mountain West region. It's a straightforward trip that doesn't require an overnight stay, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Denver–Boulder Turnpike | 19.8 mi | 23m |
| South Santa Fe Drive | 8.8 mi | 11m |
| South Valley Highway | 8.5 mi | 11m |
| West Mineral Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| West Ken Caryl Avenue | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| US 85 | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| 28th Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Arapahoe Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
— 19.8 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbine, CO and Boulder, CO.
1
Start on South Newland Street
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
South Newland Street
2
Turn right onto West Roxbury Place
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
West Roxbury Place
3
Turn left onto CR 9
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
South Pierce Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
Turn left onto CR 54
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
West Ken Caryl Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on West Mineral Avenue
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
West Mineral Avenue
Use the left lane.
6
Turn left onto US 85
8.8 mi
·
11 min
·
South Santa Fe Drive
Use the left lane.
7
Take the exit onto US 85
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
US 85
Toward I 25 North: Fort Collins
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 25
8.5 mi
·
11 min
·
South Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 217A
Toward US 36 West: Westminster, Boulder
Use the slight left lane.
10
Merge onto US 36
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
18
Keep slight left at fork onto US 36
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on US 36
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
28th Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
20
Turn left onto Arapahoe Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Arapahoe Avenue
Use the left lane.
21
Turn right onto 19th Street
143 ft
·
11 sec
·
19th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Turn left
87 ft
·
4 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.6 miles from Columbine, 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 195 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 29.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
CR 9 / South Pierce Street
Turn left onto CR 9 / South Pierce Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
12 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
US 85
Take the exit onto US 85 toward I 25 North: Fort Collins
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 25 North: Fort Collins
8
21.4 mi into trip
|
~30m 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
28 mi into trip
|
~38m 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
29.9 mi into trip
|
~40m 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.51 one way
$13.02 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $6.89 | $13.78 |
| premium | $4.39 | $7.47 | $14.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.54 | $19.08 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.38
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
(19.8 mi)
$1.38
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$1
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13 | 0 | $4.54 | $2.07 |
| Efficient EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.78 | $1.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.3 | 0 | $6.05 | $2.76 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (67% 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
Boulder, CO
Late night in Boulder on Sunday
Local time
1:54 AM
MDT
Current temp
72°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
28 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
58m 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?
The drive presents a mixed profile, balancing highway efficiency with local road navigation. Nearly half of the 43.2 miles will be on highway segments, including a notable stretch of 19.8 miles on the Denver–Boulder Turnpike. As you progress, expect the character of the road to shift, moving from potentially faster highway speeds to more varied local conditions. This blend means you'll experience different driving dynamics throughout the 58-minute journey.
48% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.8 mi on Denver–Boulder Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near CR 9 / South Pierce Street.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 19 decision points packed into just 43.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 58m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (CR 9 / South Pierce Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 12 miles (US 85): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
5,676 ft
5,148 ft
Total Climb
626 ft
Total Descent
688 ft
Highest Point
5,676 ft
~37 mi in
Elevation Range
528 ft
Notable High Points
5,418 ft at ~24.7 miles
+39 ft prominence
5,467 ft at ~30.8 miles
+60 ft prominence
5,676 ft at ~37 miles
+269 ft prominence
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 58m. Total distance: 43.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (48%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19.8 miles on Denver–Boulder Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.38 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 Boulder, 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 0.3 miles (CR 9 / South Pierce Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 12 miles (US 85): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Boulder, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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