This 110.6-mile drive from Denver to Edwards, Colorado, will take you about 2 hours and 14 minutes. It's a straightforward, highway-focused journey entirely within the Mountain West region, making it perfect for a single-day trip. You'll spend 97% of your time on major highways, with a significant 97.7-mile stretch on I-70. The estimated fuel cost is around $17, and with no designated stops, the flexibility is yours. This route offers a practical way to get from the Denver area into the heart of the Colorado mountains.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
55.3 miles from Denver, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
97.7 mi
1h 54m
West 6th Avenue Freeway
9.5 mi
11m
East 8th Avenue
0.9 mi
2m
Grant Street
0.8 mi
1m
Edwards Access Road
0.6 mi
1m
North Kalamath Street
0.1 mi
<1m
East Colfax Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 97.7 mi, about 1h 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Denver, CO and Edwards, 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
0.8 mi·1 min·Grant Street
Use the right lane.
5
Turn right onto East 8th Avenue
0.9 mi·2 min·East 8th Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on North Kalamath Street
0.1 mi·22 sec·North Kalamath Street
7
Continue on 6
9.5 mi·11 min·West 6th Avenue Freeway
Toward West 6th Avenue FreewayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi·55 sec
Toward I 70 West: Grand JunctionUse the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 70
98 mi·1 hr 54 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward Edwards
11
Enter roundabout onto I 70 Business
250 ft·5 sec·Edwards Access Road
12
Continue on I 70 Business
314 ft·6 sec·Edwards Access Road
13
Enter roundabout onto I 70 Business
106 ft·2 sec·Edwards Access Road
14
Continue on I 70 Business
301 ft·6 sec·Edwards Access Road
15
Enter roundabout onto I 70 Business
76 ft·1 sec·Edwards Access Road
16
Continue on I 70 Business
0.4 mi·40 sec·Edwards Access Road
17
Turn right
211 ft·15 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour duration and 110.6-mile distance, this trip is easily manageable in one day. You can depart Denver at your leisure, but leaving in the morning will help you avoid potential afternoon traffic, especially as you merge onto I-70. With only 97% of the drive on highways and a 97.7-mile stretch on I-70, plan for your fuel and rest stops before you get deep into that long segment. The $17 fuel cost is a good budget to keep in mind. Consider a quick stop in a town along I-70 if you need a break before reaching Edwards.
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 55.3 miles from Denver, CO, or about 1h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.7 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 24 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.3 miles or 1h 8m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Edwards, 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.
+
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 Denver, CO
This is one driving day of about 110.6 miles and 2h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Denver, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 70 for about 97.7 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 110 — 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.
6
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in|East 8th Avenue
Turn right onto East 8th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
11.4 mi into trip|~17m in
Take the exit toward I 70 West: Grand Junction
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 70 West: Grand Junction
5
12.1 mi into trip|~18m in|I 70
Merge onto I 70
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
110 mi into trip|~2h 12m in|I 70 Business / Edwards Access Road
Enter roundabout onto I 70 Business / Edwards Access Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.66 one way
$33.33 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$17.64
$35.29
premium
$4.39
$19.13
$38.27
diesel
$5.61
$24.42
$48.84
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.2
0
$11.61
$5.31
Efficient EV
27.7
0
$9.68
$4.42
EV Truck/SUV
44.2
0
$15.48
$7.08
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Forecast as of Apr 19, 2026
Origin
Denver, CO
Late night
in Denver on Tuesday
Local time
2:45 AM
MDT
Current temp
35°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Edwards, CO
Late night
in Edwards on Tuesday
Local time
2:45 AM
MDT
Current temp
28°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
25°F
Georgetown, CO
55 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
7 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 14m 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?
Expect a predominantly highway experience, with 97% of the 110.6 miles on major roads like I-70 and West 6th Avenue Freeway. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a substantial 97.7 miles on I-70, meaning you'll be covering ground efficiently. While the highway focus suggests a consistent pace, the transition from urban freeways near Denver to the mountain corridor on I-70 will naturally alter the surroundings. This drive is about covering distance on well-maintained roads, allowing you to focus on the journey itself.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 97.7 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and West 6th Avenue Freeway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Grant Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 14m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Grant Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles (East 8th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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
The longest stretch is about 97.7 miles on I 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Grant Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles (East 8th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Edwards, CO before heading back.
