Spanning 277.3 miles across Colorado, this journey from Denver to Rangely takes approximately 6 hours and 4 minutes of pure driving time. Because this route relies on turn-heavy local roads like East Colfax Avenue, Grant Street, and East 8th Avenue rather than major interstates, it is best suited as a dedicated, one-day trip. Budget around $42 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Mountain West locations. While the drive is manageable in a single day, the winding nature of the roads requires your full attention. It is a practical choice for those who prefer local backroads over the monotony of high-speed transit.
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
138.7 miles from Denver, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
170.8 mi
3h 12m
CO 64
55 mi
1h 28m
Government Road
37.1 mi
59m
West 6th Avenue Freeway
9.5 mi
11m
Whiteriver Avenue
1.5 mi
3m
East 8th Avenue
0.9 mi
2m
Grant Street
0.8 mi
1m
CO 13
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 170.8 mi, about 3h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Denver, CO and Rangely, 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
171 mi·3 hr 12 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward CO 13 North: Rifle, Meeker
11
Turn right onto CO 13
0.3 mi·35 sec·CO 13
12
Turn slight right onto Whiteriver Avenue
1.5 mi·3 min·Whiteriver Avenue
13
Turn right onto CO 13
0.3 mi·26 sec·Railroad Avenue
14
Continue on CO 13
37 mi·59 min·Government Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn left onto CO 64
55 mi·1 hr 28 min·CO 64
Use the left lane.
16
Arrive at destination
CO 64
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour duration and the technical nature of these local roads, plan to depart early in the morning to maximize daylight hours. You have only one planned stop on this itinerary, so ensure your vehicle is fueled up before leaving, as the $42 estimate can fluctuate based on local availability along these secondary routes. Pace yourself by taking advantage of that single break to stretch your legs, especially since the turn-heavy path can be more fatiguing than a straight highway drive. If you find the local roads becoming tiring, don't hesitate to utilize your flexibility to add an extra rest stop. Above all, keep a close eye on your navigation, as the reliance on city streets and local arteries requires frequent turns compared to a typical cross-state trek.
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 138.7 miles from Denver, CO, or about 2h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 170.8 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 61 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 138.7 miles or 2h 41m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rangely, 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 277.3 miles and 6h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Denver, 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 170.8 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 182.9 — 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.
5
182.9 mi into trip|~3h 30m in
Take the exit toward CO 13 North: Rifle, Meeker
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward CO 13 North: Rifle, Meeker
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.78 one way
$83.56 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg97 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$44.24
$88.47
premium
$4.39
$47.97
$95.94
diesel
$5.61
$61.22
$122.45
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
83.2
1
$29.12
$13.31
Efficient EV
69.3
0
$24.26
$11.09
EV Truck/SUV
110.9
1
$38.82
$17.75
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Denver, CO
Evening
in Denver on Saturday
Local time
7:23 PM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Rangely, CO
Evening
in Rangely on Saturday
Local time
7:23 PM
MDT
Current temp
74°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
28 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 4m 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.
Dinosaur National Monument
National Monument
150 million years ago, dinosaurs roamed here. Their fossils are still embedded in the rocks. Today, mountains, desert, and rivers flowing in canyons support a variety of life. Petroglyphs reveal the l...
28 mi from route
~69 min detour
$25
near mile 267.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a technical and engaging experience behind the wheel, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will navigate a turn-heavy local profile that demands active steering compared to standard interstate travel. Because the path relies on local connectors like East 8th Avenue and Grant Street, the pace remains steady rather than fast. The road character is defined by its constant shifts in direction, which keeps the drive feeling dynamic from start to finish. Without long, uninterrupted highway stretches, you should prepare for a consistent, hands-on driving rhythm throughout the entire 277.3-mile distance.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 170.8 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and CO 64. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Grant Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 4m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 11 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
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.
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 Rangely, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Meeker 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.
The longest stretch is about 170.8 miles on I 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Rangely, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 — Dinosaur National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Rangely, CO before the return drive.
