Origin
Erie, CO
Night in Erie on Saturday
Local time
10:33 PM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Erie, CO to Arvada, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
37m
Distance
21.3 mi
34 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 44m
10 AM
0h 39m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 43m
8 PM
0h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Erie, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Arvada, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Erie to Arvada is a straightforward 21.3-mile trip that typically takes about 37 minutes. Because this is a short, localized journey within Colorado’s Mountain West, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stop. Budgeting around $3 for fuel will cover your transit across this highway-focused route. You will primarily navigate via US 287, Wadsworth Parkway, and Wadsworth Boulevard. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a quick change of scenery, this direct path offers a predictable travel experience. It is an ideal distance for those who prefer a quick, efficient drive rather than a multi-day expedition.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 287 | 8.3 mi | 11m |
| Wadsworth Parkway | 4 mi | 6m |
| Wadsworth Boulevard | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| Erie Parkway | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Wadsworth Bypass | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Northeast County Line Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| CO 121 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Ralston Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 287
— 8.3 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Erie, CO and Arvada, CO.
1
Start on Wells Street
454 ft
·
27 sec
·
Wells Street
2
Turn left onto High Street
462 ft
·
22 sec
·
High Street
3
Turn right onto Moffat Street
0.2 mi
·
53 sec
·
Moffat Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto CR 901
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast County Line Road;County Road 1
5
Turn right onto Erie Parkway
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Erie Parkway
Use the right lane.
6
Enter roundabout onto Erie Parkway
114 ft
·
4 sec
·
Erie Parkway
7
Continue on Erie Parkway
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Erie Parkway
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on CR 52
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Isabelle Road
9
Turn left onto US 287
8.3 mi
·
11 min
·
US 287
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on CO 121
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
CO 121
11
Continue on CO 121
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Wadsworth Parkway
Use the left lane.
12
Continue on CO 121
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Wadsworth Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on CO 121
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Wadsworth Bypass
14
Turn right onto Ralston Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Ralston Road
Use the right lane.
15
Turn right onto Ammons Street
227 ft
·
13 sec
·
Ammons Street
16
Turn left
41 ft
·
3 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 21.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
High Street
Turn left onto High Street
Navigation decision point
6
1.2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
Erie Parkway
Turn right onto Erie Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
3.8 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
US 287
Turn left onto US 287
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
20.7 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
Ralston Road
Turn right onto Ralston Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
21.3 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.21 one way
$6.42 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $3.40 | $6.80 |
| premium | $4.39 | $3.68 | $7.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.70 | $9.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.4 | 0 | $2.24 | $1.02 |
| Efficient EV | 5.3 | 0 | $1.86 | $0.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.98 | $1.36 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Arvada, CO
Night in Arvada on Saturday
Local time
10:33 PM
MDT
Current temp
46°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
37m 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 commute-style experience on this route, which is comprised of approximately 71% highway driving. You will spend the bulk of your time on major arterial roads, including a significant 8.3-mile stretch on US 287 that serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of the journey. The transition from the more open areas around Erie into the developed corridors of Arvada happens quickly as you move onto Wadsworth Parkway and eventually Wadsworth Boulevard. While you won't encounter technical mountain passes, the steady pace of these thoroughfares keeps the drive moving efficiently. Behind the wheel, you should prepare for a consistent, high-traffic environment rather than a winding scenic byway.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8.3 mi on US 287.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 287 and Wadsworth Parkway. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near High Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 21.3 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.1 miles (High Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (Erie Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.8 miles (US 287): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
5,511 ft
5,028 ft
Total Climb
684 ft
Total Descent
364 ft
Highest Point
5,511 ft
~13.7 mi in
Elevation Range
483 ft
Notable High Points
5,119 ft at ~1.5 miles
+16 ft prominence
5,293 ft at ~6.1 miles
+72 ft prominence
5,511 ft at ~13.7 miles
+104 ft prominence
5,494 ft at ~16.7 miles
+45 ft prominence
About the Cities
Arriving in Arvada, CO
Full guide →Arvada is a city of about 125,000 in the Denver Metropolitan Area of the U.S. state of Colorado. A former farming community in Jefferson and Adams counties, the city is now a residential suburb of Denver. Olde Town Arvada lies 7 miles (11 km) northwest of the Colorado State Capitol and 9 miles (14 km) east of the Front Range foothills.
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 37m. Total distance: 21.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 8.3 miles on US 287. 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 Arvada, 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 0.1 miles (High Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (Erie Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.8 miles (US 287): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Arvada, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Arvada, CO
More trips to Arvada, CO
Explore more options from Erie, CO or browse trips ending in Arvada, CO.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CO road trips.