Skip to main content
US Trip Planner Logo
US Trip Planner

Trip from Estes Park, CO to Boulder, CO

Pin this trip

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 2m

Distance

37.6 mi

61 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Fair

3 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min
4 AM
0h 57m ★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
0h 59m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
Downtown Estes Park, CO, CO

Estes Park, CO

Jacob Moore

city in and county seat of Boulder County, Colorado, United States

Boulder, CO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 37.6-mile drive from Estes Park, CO, to Boulder, CO, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking about 1 hour and 2 minutes. You'll navigate primarily on North Foothills Highway and East Highway 36. With a modest fuel cost of around $6, this route offers a convenient transition between the Mountain West regions. It's a straightforward journey perfect for a quick transfer or a scenic connection between two popular Colorado destinations. The mixed terrain profile suggests a varied driving experience without being overly demanding.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
North Foothills Highway 12.2 mi 15m
East Highway 36 12 mi 19m
North Saint Vrain Avenue 7.5 mi 13m
28th Street 2.5 mi 5m
Ute Highway 1 mi 1m
West Main Street 0.7 mi 1m
Arapahoe Avenue 0.6 mi 1m
Broadway 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: North Foothills Highway — 12.2 mi, about 15m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Estes Park, CO and Boulder, CO.

1

Start on Park Lane

219 ft · 14 sec · Park Lane
2

Turn left onto US 36; US 34 Business

0.2 mi · 38 sec · East Elkhorn Avenue
3

Take the ramp

139 ft · 3 sec
Toward US 36, CO 7
4

Continue on this road

389 ft · 10 sec · this road
Toward US 36, CO 7
5

Merge onto US 36

0.9 mi · 1 min · North Saint Vrain Avenue
Use the straight lane.
6

Enter roundabout onto US 36

141 ft · 2 sec · North Saint Vrain Avenue
7

Continue on US 36

0.5 mi · 50 sec · North Saint Vrain Avenue
8

Continue on US 36

12 mi · 19 min · East Highway 36
Use the straight lane.
9

Continue on US 36

6.1 mi · 10 min · North Saint Vrain Avenue
10

Continue on US 36

0.7 mi · 1 min · West Main Street
Use the straight lane.
11

Turn left onto US 36

0.3 mi · 50 sec · Broadway
Use the left / straight lanes.
12

Merge onto US 36

0.2 mi · 33 sec · Main Street
13

Continue on US 36

1.0 mi · 1 min · Ute Highway
Use the straight lane.
14

Take the exit onto US 36

198 ft · 6 sec · US 36
15

Merge onto US 36

12 mi · 15 min · North Foothills Highway
Use the straight lane.
16

Turn sharp right onto Jay Road

84 ft · 10 sec · Jay Road
17

Take the ramp

128 ft · 3 sec
18

Merge onto US 36

2.5 mi · 5 min · 28th Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
19

Turn right onto Arapahoe Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · Arapahoe Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
20

Turn right onto 19th Street

143 ft · 11 sec · 19th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
21

Turn left

87 ft · 4 sec
22

Arrive at destination

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

town in Boulder County, Colorado, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lyons, CO

19 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

Louisville, CO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 37.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lyons, CO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 18.8 miles from Estes Park, 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 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 37.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 36; US 34 Business / East Elkhorn Avenue

Turn left onto US 36; US 34 Business / East Elkhorn Avenue

Navigation decision point

5
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in

Take the ramp toward US 36, CO 7

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 36, CO 7
5
0.3 mi into trip | ~1m in | US 36 / North Saint Vrain Avenue

Merge onto US 36 / North Saint Vrain Avenue

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
5
20.6 mi into trip | ~35m in | US 36 / Broadway

Turn left onto US 36 / Broadway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.
6
37.6 mi into trip | ~1h 1m in | 19th Street

Turn right onto 19th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$5.67 one way

$11.33 round trip

$3.83/gal 25.4 MPG avg 13 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.05 $6.00 $12.00
premium $4.39 $6.50 $13.01
diesel $5.61 $8.30 $16.60

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$6

Estimated CO2 emission: 13.2 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 11.3 0 $3.95 $1.80
Efficient EV 9.4 0 $3.29 $1.50
EV Truck/SUV 15 0 $5.26 $2.41

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.

Forecast as of Apr 21, 2026

Origin

Estes Park, CO

Morning in Estes Park on Tuesday

Local time

7:25 AM

MDT

Current temp

42°F

Mostly Clear

W 7 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Fire Weather Watch

Fire Weather Watch issued April 21 at 1:04AM MDT until April 23 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Goodland KS

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 21 at 12:11AM MDT until April 23 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Pueblo CO

Destination

Boulder, CO

Morning in Boulder on Tuesday

Local time

7:25 AM

MDT

Current temp

53°F

Mostly Clear

W 7 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Fire Weather Watch

Fire Weather Watch issued April 21 at 1:04AM MDT until April 23 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Goodland KS

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 21 at 12:11AM MDT until April 23 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Pueblo CO

54°F

Lyons, CO

19 mi in

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

11 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

1h 2m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a mixed drive on this route, with 32% of it being on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 12.2 miles along North Foothills Highway. This suggests a drive that balances faster sections with more local road segments. As you progress, the character of the road will likely shift, offering different driving dynamics rather than a consistent pace. It's not a monotonous interstate experience, but rather a blend that keeps things interesting behind the wheel.

32% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.2 mi on North Foothills Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 36; US 34 Business / East Elkhorn Avenue.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 37.6 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: near the start (US 36; US 34 Business / East Elkhorn Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.3 miles (US 36 / North Saint Vrain Avenue): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 37.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (32%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 12.2 miles on North Foothills 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 Boulder, 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: near the start (US 36; US 34 Business / East Elkhorn Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.3 miles (US 36 / North Saint Vrain Avenue): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Rocky Mountain National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Boulder, 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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Boulder, CO

Durango, CO 347.7 mi · 8h 1m Delta, CO 287.6 mi · 5h 40m Aspen, CO 170.3 mi · 4h 27m Gypsum, CO 144.7 mi · 2h 57m

More from Estes Park, CO

Colorado Springs, CO 133.4 mi · 2h 51m Greeley, CO 49.4 mi · 1h 26m

More trips to Boulder, CO

Trinidad, CO 225 mi Yuma, CO 156.5 mi Salida, CO 153.6 mi Eagle, CO 137.4 mi Florence, CO 137 mi Vail, CO 107.9 mi
Escape planner: Estes Park, CO Scenic drives in CO

Explore more options from Estes Park, CO or browse trips ending in Boulder, CO.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CO road trips.