Origin
Denver, CO
Late night in Denver on Tuesday
Local time
2:47 AM
MDT
Current temp
35°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Denver, CO to Castle Rock, CO
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
39m
Distance
28.7 mi
46 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 36m
★
6 AM
0h 39m
8 AM
0h 46m
10 AM
0h 41m
12 PM
0h 41m
3 PM
0h 42m
5 PM
0h 45m
8 PM
0h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Denver, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Castle Rock, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Denver to Castle Rock, you are in for a quick 28.9-mile journey that typically takes about 37 minutes. This route stays entirely within the Mountain West region of Colorado, making it an ideal candidate for a simple day trip. You will navigate through city streets using East Colfax Avenue, Grant Street, and East Speer Boulevard rather than hopping on a major interstate. With a fuel budget of approximately $4, it is a very affordable commute. Because the entire trip is less than an hour, you do not need to worry about overnight accommodations, giving you plenty of flexibility for your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Valley Highway | 23 mi | 25m |
| Logan Street | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Grant Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| East Buchtel South Boulevard | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| North Wilcox Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| 5th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Cantril Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Speer Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
South Valley Highway
— 23 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Denver, CO and Castle Rock, CO.
1
Start on this road
379 ft
·
29 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
62 ft
·
8 sec
3
Turn right onto I 70 Business; US 40; US 287
358 ft
·
14 sec
·
East Colfax Avenue
4
Turn right onto Grant Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Grant Street
Use the right lane.
5
Turn left onto East Speer Boulevard
451 ft
·
13 sec
·
East Speer Boulevard
Use the left lane.
6
Turn right onto Logan Street
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Logan Street
Use the right lane.
7
Turn left onto East Buchtel South Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
East Buchtel South Boulevard
Use the left lane.
8
Continue on East Buchtel South Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
East Buchtel South Boulevard
9
Take the ramp
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 25 South
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward I 25 South
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Merge onto I 25
23 mi
·
25 min
·
South Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 182
Toward Wilcox Street, Wolfensberger Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn left onto East Wolfensberger Road
432 ft
·
20 sec
·
East Wolfensberger Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on North Wilcox Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Wilcox Street
15
Turn left onto 5th Street
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
5th Street
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto North Cantril Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
North Cantril Street
17
Arrive at destination
North Cantril Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 28.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Grant Street
Turn right onto Grant Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
1.3 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
East Speer Boulevard
Turn left onto East Speer Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
4.5 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 25 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 25 South
8
27.6 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Take the exit toward Wilcox Street, Wolfensberger Road
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 182
Toward Wilcox Street, Wolfensberger Road
6
28.3 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
5th Street
Turn left onto 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.32 one way
$8.65 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $4.58 | $9.16 |
| premium | $4.39 | $4.96 | $9.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.34 | $12.67 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 10 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.01 | $1.38 |
| Efficient EV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.51 | $1.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.02 | $1.84 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Castle Rock, CO
Late night in Castle Rock on Tuesday
Local time
2:47 AM
MDT
Current temp
55°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
20 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
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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel from start to finish. Unlike a monotonous highway cruise, this route features a 0% highway share, meaning you will be navigating urban and local roads for the duration of the 37-minute trip. There is no long, uninterrupted stretch of road here, so be prepared for frequent turns and navigating city intersections. The personality of this drive is strictly local, offering a different pace compared to the high-speed interstate travel often found throughout the region. You will feel the transition from the heart of Denver as you wind your way toward Castle Rock.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23 mi on South Valley Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Grant Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 28.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 39m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Grant Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (East Speer Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
6,396 ft
5,269 ft
Total Climb
1,168 ft
Total Descent
228 ft
Highest Point
6,396 ft
~22.5 mi in
Elevation Range
1,127 ft
Notable High Points
6,396 ft at ~22.5 miles
+24 ft prominence
About the Cities
Starting in Denver, CO
Full guide →“Mile High City” · Founded 1858
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
Arriving in Castle Rock, CO
Full guide →Castle Rock is a town of about 81,000 in the Denver Metropolitan Area of the western U.S. state of Colorado. The seat of Douglas County, the town lies 26 miles (42 km) south-southeast of Denver.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 39m. Total distance: 28.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23 miles on South Valley Highway. 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 Castle Rock, 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 0.2 miles (Grant Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (East Speer Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Castle Rock, 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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