Delta to Loveland is 323.2 miles and takes about 6h 15m via I 70 BUS, US 50, and Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $50 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Colorado, connecting two points in the Mountain West region. The majority of your travel will be on major highways, making it a straightforward point-to-point drive. With a recommended one-day duration, it's a manageable trip for a single driver or a pair looking to cover ground efficiently.
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
161.6 miles from Delta, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70 BUS
234.5 mi
4h 24m
US 50
27.7 mi
33m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
27.3 mi
27m
North Valley Highway
10.5 mi
12m
32 Road
5.4 mi
9m
Heartland Expressway
5.1 mi
5m
Main Street
5 mi
7m
14th Street Southeast
3.7 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 70 BUS
— 234.5 mi, about 4h 24m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 18 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,726 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,309
Quietest
2 AM
~95 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.2×
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 Delta, CO and Loveland, CO.
1
Start on this road
187 ft·15 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto East 4th Street
0.1 mi·19 sec·East 4th Street
3
Turn right onto US 50
5.0 mi·7 min·Main Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
4
Continue on US 50
16 mi·18 min·US 50
5
Continue on US 50
12 mi·14 min·US 50
6
Continue on CO 141
5.4 mi·9 min·32 Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
Turn right onto I 70 BUS; US 6
0.3 mi·34 sec·I 70 BUS; US 6
8
Continue on I 70 BUS; US 6
0.8 mi·1 min·I 70 BUS; US 6
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 BUS
233 mi·4 hr 22 min·I 70 BUS
Toward I 70 East: DenverUse the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 76
5.1 mi·5 min·Heartland Expressway
Exit 269BToward I 76 East: Fort MorganUse the left lane.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 5Toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado SpringsUse the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
1.4 mi·2 min
Toward I 25 North: Fort CollinsUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 25
0.9 mi·1 min·North Valley Highway
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
4.3 mi·5 min·North Valley Highway
Use the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
5.3 mi·5 min·North Valley Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Continue on I 25
27 mi·27 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 255Toward SH 402: Loveland and Greeley Canal
18
Keep slight left at fork
214 ft·5 sec
Exit 255Toward SH 402: Loveland and Greeley Canal
19
Enter roundabout onto CO 402
252 ft·14 sec·East State Highway 402
20
Continue on CO 402
0.1 mi·11 sec·East State Highway 402
21
Enter roundabout onto CO 402
144 ft·8 sec·East State Highway 402
22
Continue on CO 402
0.4 mi·46 sec·East State Highway 402
23
Continue on CO 402
3.7 mi·6 min·14th Street Southeast
24
Take the ramp
183 ft·5 sec
25
Merge onto US 287
1.3 mi·2 min·South Lincoln Avenue
26
Turn left onto East 6th Street
501 ft·23 sec·East 6th Street
27
Arrive at destination
East 6th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 15m estimated drive time, leaving Delta in the morning will allow you to reach Loveland with plenty of daylight to spare. The longest stretch without a break is over 234 miles, so plan for at least one significant stop to stretch your legs and refuel, especially considering the $50 fuel cost estimate. While the route is manageable in a single day, the flexibility of a one-day drive means you can adjust your pace as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, particularly before embarking on the longer highway segments.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 161.6 miles from Delta, CO, or about 3h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 234.5 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 71 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 161.6 miles or 3h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Loveland, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Delta, 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 Delta, CO
This is one driving day of about 323.2 miles and 6h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 miles from Delta, 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 BUS for about 234.5 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 39.3 and 317.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
39.3 mi into trip|~52m in|I 70 BUS
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 BUS toward I 70 East: Denver
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 70 East: Denver
8
272.7 mi into trip|~5h 14m 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
8
277.8 mi into trip|~5h 20m in
Take the exit toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5
Toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs
7
278 mi into trip|~5h 21m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 25 North: Fort Collins
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 25 North: Fort Collins
7
317.4 mi into trip|~6h 4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward SH 402: Loveland and Greeley Canal
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 255
Toward SH 402: Loveland and Greeley Canal
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.28 one way
$98.56 round trip
$3.87/gal25.4 MPG avg113 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$52.39
$104.77
premium
$4.45
$56.66
$113.32
diesel
$4.80
$61.03
$122.05
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 113.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
97
1
$33.94
$15.51
Efficient EV
80.8
0
$28.28
$12.93
EV Truck/SUV
129.3
1
$45.25
$20.68
Gas CO2
113 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Delta, CO
Evening
in Delta on Saturday
Local time
7:27 PM
MDT
Current temp
93°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 0 to 10 mph38% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Loveland, CO
Evening
in Loveland on Saturday
Local time
7:27 PM
MDT
Current temp
95°F
Sunny
ESE 6 to 10 mph1% chanceLive 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
2 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
6h 15m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Colorado National Monument
National Monument
Colorado National Monument preserves one of the grand landscapes of the American West. But this treasure is much more than a monument. Towering monoliths exist within a vast plateau and canyon panoram...
12 mi from route
~31 min detour
$25
near mile 33.4
Big enough to be overwhelming, yet still intimate enough to feel the pulse of time. Come see some of the steepest cliffs, oldest rock, and craggiest spires in North America. Forces of nature and the G...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 83% of the 323.2 miles on major roadways like the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. You'll experience a long stretch of 234.5 miles on I 70 BUS, indicating extended periods of consistent cruising. The transition from highway to surface roads will likely occur later in the drive, offering a change of pace after many miles on faster roads. Expect a generally rural feel for much of the journey, punctuated by highway segments.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 234.5 mi on I 70 BUS.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 BUS and US 50. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 39.3 miles in near I 70 BUS.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 323.2 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 39.3 miles (I 70 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 272.7 miles (I 76 / Heartland Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 277.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
9,176 ft4,803 ft
Total Climb
4,451 ft
Total Descent
4,427 ft
Highest Point
9,176 ft
~207.8 mi in
Elevation Range
4,372 ft
Notable High Points
4,993 ft at ~23.1 miles+33 ft prominence
9,176 ft at ~207.8 miles+407 ft prominence
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 Delta, CO to Loveland, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Colorado Springs along the way.
Delta is a town in the Southwestern part of the Rocky Mountains state of Colorado. It is also in the West Elks American Viticultural Area (AVA), a part of Colorado's Wine Country and home to the highest wine vineyards in North America.
Delta is a hub for tourism and recreation, including camping, hiking, fishing, hunting and mountain bike riding. Delta is highly cognizant of preserving its history. The town has more than 20 beautiful murals depicting its fruit orchards and other past times. There are several buildings in town on the National Historic Register, including the Egyptian Theater, an "Egyptian Revival" art deco movie house from the 1920s.
In 2020, it was home to 9,000 people.
Top landmarks
•Egyptian Theatre — movie theater in Delta, Colorado, United States
•Delta County Bank Building — department store in Delta, Colorado
Loveland is a city in the region of Colorado. There is a large population of artists in Loveland, which has drawn three foundries, an art museum, and the annual sculpture shows in August.
The city lies on the Big Thompson River in Larimer County 26 miles (42 km) east of Rocky Mountain National Park and 46 miles (74 km) north of Denver. In 2020, the population of the City of Loveland was 78,000. The city is a popular retirement haven and a major business center.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 15m. Total distance: 323.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 15m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 234.5 miles on I 70 BUS. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 15 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 Loveland, 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 15 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 39.3 miles (I 70 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 272.7 miles (I 76 / Heartland Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 277.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Colorado National Monument and Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.3 hours each way, a round trip means 12.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Loveland, CO before the return drive.
