If you are planning a trip from Denver to Brush, expect a straightforward 90.5-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 39 minutes. Since this is a short trip within the Mountain West, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can anticipate a fuel cost of approximately $14, making this an economical choice for a quick getaway. The route primarily relies on the Heartland Expressway, North Valley Highway, and Park Avenue West to get you to your destination. Because the distance is relatively short, you have the flexibility to make the drive whenever it best fits your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.3 miles from Denver, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Heartland Expressway
83.4 mi
1h 24m
North Valley Highway
3 mi
4m
Park Avenue West
1 mi
2m
North Lincoln Street
0.5 mi
1m
Colorado Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
North Broadway
0.4 mi
1m
Clayton Street
0.1 mi
<1m
20th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Heartland Expressway
— 83.4 mi, about 1h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Denver, CO and Brush, CO.
1
Start on this road
379 ft·29 sec·this road
2
Turn right
62 ft·11 sec
3
Turn left onto I 70 Business; US 40; US 287
362 ft·14 sec·East Colfax Avenue
4
Turn right onto North Lincoln Street
0.5 mi·1 min·North Lincoln Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
Continue on 20th Street
500 ft·18 sec·20th Street
6
Turn right onto North Broadway
0.4 mi·1 min·North Broadway
7
Turn left onto Park Avenue West
1.0 mi·2 min·Park Avenue West
Toward I 25Use the left lane.
8
Take the ramp
458 ft·11 sec
Toward I 25 North, I 70: Fort Collins, Limon, Grand JunctionUse the right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·22 sec
Toward I 25 North: Fort Collins
10
Merge onto I 25
3.0 mi·4 min·North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi·8 sec
Exit 216A-BToward I 76: Grand Junction, Fort Morgan, 70th AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 216AToward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
13
Merge onto I 76
6.5 mi·7 min·Heartland Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
77 mi·1 hr 17 min·Heartland Expressway
Toward I 76 East: Fort MorganUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward CO 71: Brush, Snyder
16
Turn right onto CO 71
0.5 mi·1 min·Colorado Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn right onto Howard Street
398 ft·15 sec·Howard Street
18
Turn left onto Clayton Street
0.1 mi·15 sec·Clayton Street
19
Arrive at destination
Clayton Street
Trip Plan
Because this is a short, direct drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Since there are no required stops along the 90.5-mile route, you can easily complete the trip in one go without needing to plan for breaks. Be mindful that the route is heavily weighted toward highway driving, so ensure your vehicle is prepared for sustained speeds before you leave. To keep your travel costs on track, budget at least $14 for fuel before you head out. Use the lack of stops to your advantage by planning your arrival in Brush exactly when you want to be there, rather than working around a rigid itinerary.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 45.3 miles from Denver, CO, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.4 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 20 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.3 miles or 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brush, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Denver, CO so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Denver, CO
This is one driving day of about 90.5 miles and 1h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Denver, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Heartland Expressway for about 83.4 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 12.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.2 mi into trip|~4m in|Park Avenue West
Turn left onto Park Avenue West toward I 25
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 25
6
2.2 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the ramp toward I 25 North, I 70: Fort Collins, Limon, Grand Junction
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 25 North, I 70: Fort Collins, Limon, G...
8
5.5 mi into trip|~11m in
Take the exit toward I 76: Grand Junction, Fort Morgan, 70th Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 216A-B
Toward I 76: Grand Junction, Fort Morgan, 70th...
6
5.6 mi into trip|~11m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 216A
Toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
7
12.6 mi into trip|~19m in|I 76 / Heartland Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76 / Heartland Expressway toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.64 one way
$27.27 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$14.44
$28.87
premium
$4.39
$15.66
$31.31
diesel
$5.61
$19.98
$39.96
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.2
0
$9.50
$4.34
Efficient EV
22.6
0
$7.92
$3.62
EV Truck/SUV
36.2
0
$12.67
$5.79
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 19, 2026
Origin
Denver, CO
Late night
in Denver on Tuesday
Local time
4:08 AM
MDT
Current temp
35°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Brush, CO
Late night
in Brush on Tuesday
Local time
4:08 AM
MDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
33°F
Brighton, CO
45 mi in
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
24 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 39m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 92% of your travel time spent on major roads. You will settle into a consistent rhythm quickly, as the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 83.4 miles along the Heartland Expressway. Don't expect many technical turns or winding local roads; the route is designed for efficient, steady movement between these two Colorado points. You will spend the vast majority of your time behind the wheel on high-speed thoroughfares, which creates a very predictable driving experience. It is a no-frills, direct path that prioritizes speed and efficiency over scenic detours.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 83.4 mi on Heartland Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Heartland Expressway and North Valley Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near Park Avenue West.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 90.5 miles you will encounter 16 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 1.2 miles (Park Avenue West): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Denver, CO to Brush, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Morgan along the way.
Denver is the capital of the western U.S. state of Colorado and the dominant city of the Rocky Mountain Region. Founded in 1858 as the placer gold mining camp known as the Cherry Creek Diggings, the "Mile-High City" is today the most populous city within a 560-mile (900 km) radius and the center of the Front Range Urban Corridor of more than five million residents. Denver embraces its cowboy and mining past but also looks toward the future with a vibrant arts and performing arts scene, dozens of great outdoor festivals, and distinct neighborhoods each offering a unique experience. You'll find everything a cosmopolitan city has to offer including a spectacular view of and easy access to the beautiful Rocky Mountains, which arise only 12 miles (19 km) west of the Colorado State Capitol.
Top landmarks
•Denver Art Museum — museum in Denver, Colorado, United States
•Denver Mint — United States Mint branch in Denver, Colorado
•Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception — church in Colorado, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 39m. Total distance: 90.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 83.4 miles on Heartland Expressway. 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 Brush, 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 1.2 miles (Park Avenue West): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.5 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 Brush, CO before heading back.
