Origin
Erie, CO
Late night in Erie on Tuesday
Local time
3:11 AM
MDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Erie, CO to Coal Creek, 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
1h 5m
Distance
35.9 mi
58 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Erie, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Coal Creek, CO
Braeson Holland
Trip Overview
Erie, CO to Coal Creek, CO is 35.9 miles and takes about 1h 5m via Coal Creek Canyon Drive and CO 128, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Colorado's Mountain West region, offering a mixed experience of highway and more local roads. It's a straightforward trip, ideal if you're looking for a relatively short journey with a bit of variety. Consider this route for a quick excursion that won't consume your entire day, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Coal Creek Canyon Drive | 9.2 mi | 15m |
| CO 128 | 6.2 mi | 9m |
| US 287 | 5.6 mi | 7m |
| South Foothills Highway | 4.3 mi | 6m |
| Northwest Parkway | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Erie Parkway | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Interlocken Loop | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Copperdale Lane | 1.2 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Coal Creek Canyon Drive
— 9.2 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Erie, CO and Coal Creek, 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
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
US 287
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn right onto CR 68
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
West Dillon Road
11
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward Northwest Parkway Toll
12
Merge onto NW
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Northwest Parkway
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on Interlocken Loop
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Interlocken Loop
Use the left lane.
14
At end of road, turn right onto CO 128
6.2 mi
·
9 min
·
CO 128
Use the right lane.
15
At end of road, turn left onto CO 93
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
South Foothills Highway
16
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
17
Turn straight onto CO 72
9.2 mi
·
15 min
·
Coal Creek Canyon Drive
18
Turn left onto Copperdale Lane
1.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Copperdale Lane
19
Turn left onto Ridge Road
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
Ridge Road
20
Continue on Ridge Road
0.1 mi
·
35 sec
·
Ridge Road
21
Turn right onto Coal Creek Heights Drive
1.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Coal Creek Heights Drive
22
Continue on Beauty Lane
516 ft
·
22 sec
·
Beauty Lane
23
Arrive at destination
Beauty Lane
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 35.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18 miles from Erie, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 13.6 — 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.
5
10 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
NW / Northwest Parkway
Merge onto NW / Northwest Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
13.6 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
CO 128
At end of road, turn right onto CO 128
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.41 one way
$10.82 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $5.73 | $11.45 |
| premium | $4.39 | $6.21 | $12.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.93 | $15.85 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.28
Northwest Parkway
(2.4 mi)
$0.28
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$0
Total
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.77 | $1.72 |
| Efficient EV | 9 | 0 | $3.14 | $1.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.03 | $2.30 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Coal Creek, CO
Late night in Coal Creek on Tuesday
Local time
3:11 AM
MDT
Current temp
42°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
12 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
1h 5m 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?
This journey is a mixed drive, with about 46% of the route on highways. You'll encounter some faster-paced sections, but the most significant uninterrupted stretch is 9.2 miles along Coal Creek Canyon Drive, suggesting a more winding, potentially scenic segment. The road character evolves, transitioning from more open highway driving to potentially more intimate, canyon-hugging sections as you approach Coal Creek. Expect a dynamic driving experience rather than a monotonous stretch.
46% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 9.2 mi on Coal Creek Canyon Drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 15 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 35.9 miles you will encounter 15 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Erie, CO to Coal Creek, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Northwest Parkway Toll along the way.
Northwest Parkway Toll
9.5 mi in
|
~16m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 35.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (46%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 9.2 miles on Coal Creek Canyon Drive. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.28 in tolls one way, starting with Northwest Parkway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 Coal Creek, 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 Coal Creek, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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