Craig, CO to Longmont, CO is 222.9 miles and takes about 4h 51m via I 70 and US 40, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Mountain West region of Colorado, offering a straightforward drive. With a recommended one-day duration, it's a practical option for getting from one side of the state to the other. Plan for a day of consistent travel, mostly on well-traveled highways.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
111.4 miles from Craig, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
63 mi
1h 15m
US 40
47.4 mi
1h
East Victory Way
45.8 mi
57m
Colorado River Headwaters Scenic Byway
30.6 mi
40m
US 287
17.3 mi
25m
CO 9
5.6 mi
9m
Sheridan Boulevard
4.6 mi
7m
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
3.6 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 63 mi, about 1h 15m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,532 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,342
Quietest
2 AM
~134 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Craig, CO and Longmont, CO.
1
Start on this road
369 ft·28 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto US 40
179 ft·12 sec·East Victory Way
3
Turn left onto CO 13
0.1 mi·19 sec·Yampa Avenue
4
Turn left onto US 40
0.3 mi·45 sec·East 4th Street
5
Turn slight left onto US 40
0.1 mi·21 sec·Lincoln Street
6
Turn slight right onto US 40
46 mi·57 min·East Victory Way
7
Continue on US 40
0.6 mi·50 sec·US 40
8
Continue on US 40
47 mi·1 hr·US 40
9
Turn right onto CO 9
0.3 mi·34 sec·South 6th Street
Use the right lane.
10
Continue on CO 9
1.1 mi·2 min·Tyler Avenue
11
Continue on CO 9
31 mi·40 min·Colorado River Headwaters Scenic Byway
12
Continue on CO 9
5.3 mi·9 min·CO 9
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on US 6
0.1 mi·25 sec·US 6
14
Take the exit onto CO 9
0.3 mi·24 sec·CO 9
Toward I 70 EastUse the left lane.
15
Merge onto I 70
63 mi·1 hr 15 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 76
1.3 mi·1 min·Heartland Expressway
Exit 269BToward I 76 East: Fort MorganUse the left lane.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 1BToward CO 95: Sheridan BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn left onto CO 95
4.6 mi·7 min·Sheridan Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
19
Turn left
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward US 36 West: BoulderUse the left lane.
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward US 36 West
21
Merge onto US 36
0.9 mi·1 min·Denver–Boulder Turnpike
22
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
1.9 mi·2 min·Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
0.8 mi·52 sec·Denver–Boulder Turnpike
24
Take the exit
0.4 mi·42 sec
Toward CO 121: Wadsworth ParkwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Turn right onto CO 121
0.2 mi·30 sec·CO 121
26
Continue on US 287
5.7 mi·8 min·US 287
Use the left lane.
27
Continue on US 287
0.2 mi·19 sec·US 287
Use the straight / right lanes.
28
Continue on US 287; CO 7
11 mi·16 min·US 287; CO 7
Use the straight / right lanes.
29
Turn right onto 5th Avenue
357 ft·19 sec·5th Avenue
30
Turn right onto Kimbark Street
169 ft·9 sec·Kimbark Street
31
Turn right
186 ft·15 sec
32
Turn right
109 ft·7 sec
33
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Starting your drive from Craig in the morning will give you ample daylight to reach Longmont. With a total travel time of under five hours, you can comfortably make this a single-day trip with just one planned stop. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading onto longer stretches like the 63 miles on I 70, as services can be spread out. The estimated fuel cost is around $35 for this 222.9-mile route. Since it's a manageable distance, you have the flexibility to depart when it suits you best.
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 111.4 miles from Craig, CO, or about 2h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63 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 49 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111.4 miles or 2h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Longmont, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Craig, 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 Craig, CO
This is one driving day of about 222.9 miles and 4h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Craig, 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 I 70 for about 63 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 131.3 and 202.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
131.3 mi into trip|~2h 53m in|CO 9
Take the exit onto CO 9 toward I 70 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 70 East
8
194.5 mi into trip|~4h 9m in|I 76 / Heartland Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 76 / Heartland Expressway toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Exit 269B
Toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
7
195.9 mi into trip|~4h 10m in
Take the exit toward CO 95: Sheridan Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1B
Toward CO 95: Sheridan Boulevard
6
200.7 mi into trip|~4h 18m in
Turn left toward US 36 West: Boulder
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward US 36 West: Boulder
6
202.1 mi into trip|~4h 20m 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
$34.78 one way
$69.56 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg78 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$37.02
$74.05
premium
$4.54
$39.81
$79.63
diesel
$5.40
$47.41
$94.83
Estimated Tolls: $0.24
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
(3.6 mi)$0.24
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
$35
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.9
0
$23.40
$10.70
Efficient EV
55.7
0
$19.50
$8.92
EV Truck/SUV
89.2
1
$31.21
$14.27
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 24, 2026
Origin
Craig, CO
Evening
in Craig on Saturday
Local time
5:45 PM
MDT
Current temp
28°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Longmont, CO
Evening
in Longmont on Saturday
Local time
5:45 PM
MDT
Current temp
35°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
7 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
4h 51m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 62% of this 222.9-mile drive on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a major highway is 63 miles on I 70. Expect to transition from highway cruising to surface roads as you approach your destination. The route features a mix of interstate travel and less-trafficked roadways.
62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 63 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and US 40. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 131.3 miles in near CO 9.
Driving Effort9/10
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 20 significant decision points across 222.9 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: at 131.3 miles (CO 9): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 194.5 miles (I 76 / Heartland Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 195.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Longmont is a city of about 100,000 in North Central Colorado. The city lies in Boulder and Weld counties 30 miles (48 km) north-northwest of the Denver.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 51m. Total distance: 222.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 63 miles on I 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.24 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.
Yes — we found about 3 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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.
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. There are 3 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 131.3 miles (CO 9): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 194.5 miles (I 76 / Heartland Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 195.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Longmont, CO, but most travelers stay overnight.
