Firestone to Grand Junction is 268.5 miles and takes about 5h 7m via I 70, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Colorado, moving from the Mountain West region to the Mountain West region. It's a straightforward drive that should be manageable for most drivers in a single day. You'll primarily be on the interstate, making it a quick option for getting between these two points.
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
134.2 miles from Firestone, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
232.9 mi
4h 18m
North Valley Highway
10.9 mi
13m
I 70 BUS
7.1 mi
12m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
7 mi
7m
Heartland Expressway
5.2 mi
5m
CO 52
2.1 mi
3m
Colorado Boulevard
1.5 mi
2m
1st Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 232.9 mi, about 4h 18m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 36 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,734 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,394
Quietest
2 AM
~94 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Firestone, CO and Grand Junction, CO.
1
Start on Granville Avenue
0.1 mi·37 sec·Granville Avenue
2
At end of road, turn left onto 1st Street
0.2 mi·27 sec·1st Street
3
Turn right onto McClure Avenue
0.1 mi·28 sec·McClure Avenue
4
Turn left onto Colorado Boulevard
0.7 mi·1 min·Colorado Boulevard
5
Enter roundabout onto Colorado Boulevard
114 ft·5 sec·Colorado Boulevard
6
Continue on Colorado Boulevard
0.5 mi·51 sec·Colorado Boulevard
7
Enter roundabout onto Colorado Boulevard
177 ft·3 sec·Colorado Boulevard
8
Continue on Colorado Boulevard
0.2 mi·17 sec·Colorado Boulevard
9
Turn slight right
293 ft·10 sec
10
Turn straight onto CO 52
2.1 mi·3 min·CO 52
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn left
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward I 25 South: DenverUse the left lane.
12
Merge onto I 25
7.0 mi·7 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 25
0.6 mi·36 sec·North Valley Highway
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
8.8 mi·10 min·North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
1.5 mi·2 min·North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 216Toward I 76 West: Arvada, Grand JunctionUse the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto I 76
5.2 mi·5 min·Heartland Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto I 70
233 mi·4 hr 18 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit onto I 70 BUS
1.6 mi·2 min·I 70 BUS
Exit 37Toward I 70 Business, US 6, US 50: Clifton, Grand Junction, DeltaUse the left lane.
20
Continue on I 70 BUS; US 6
4.2 mi·7 min·I 70 BUS; US 6
Use the left lane.
21
Continue on I 70 BUS
1.3 mi·2 min·I 70 BUS
22
Turn left onto South 13th Street
351 ft·9 sec·South 13th Street
23
Arrive at destination
South 13th Street
Trip Plan
Given this route takes just over 5 hours, leaving Firestone in the morning allows you to reach Grand Junction by early afternoon, leaving plenty of time for evening activities. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to break up the drive. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the longest stretch on I 70 is over 230 miles. Consider filling up before embarking on that longer segment to ensure a smooth continuation.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 134.2 miles from Firestone, CO, or about 2h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 232.9 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 59 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134.2 miles or 2h 34m 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 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Grand Junction, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Firestone, 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 Firestone, CO
This is one driving day of about 268.5 miles and 5h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Firestone, 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 232.9 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 261.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|1st Street
At end of road, turn left onto 1st Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
4.1 mi into trip|~7m in
Turn left toward I 25 South: Denver
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 25 South: Denver
6
12.1 mi into trip|~16m in|I 25 / North Valley Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25 / North Valley Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
22.4 mi into trip|~29m in
Take the exit toward I 76 West: Arvada, Grand Junction
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 216
Toward I 76 West: Arvada, Grand Junction
8
261.4 mi into trip|~4h 55m in|I 70 BUS
Take the exit onto I 70 BUS toward I 70 Business, US 6, US 50: Clifton, Grand Junction, Delta
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Exit 37
Toward I 70 Business, US 6, US 50: Clifton, Gra...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.74 one way
$91.48 round trip
$4.33/gal25.4 MPG avg94 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.58
$48.37
$96.74
premium
$4.90
$51.84
$103.68
diesel
$6.18
$65.32
$130.63
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80.6
0
$28.19
$12.89
Efficient EV
67.1
0
$23.49
$10.74
EV Truck/SUV
107.4
1
$37.59
$17.18
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Firestone, CO
Late night
in Firestone on Tuesday
Local time
5:01 AM
MDT
Current temp
40°F
Mostly Cloudy
WNW 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Grand Junction, CO
Late night
in Grand Junction on Tuesday
Local time
5:01 AM
MDT
Current temp
49°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph4% chanceLive 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
9 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
5h 7m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Colorado National Monument
National Monument
Colorado National Monument preserves one of the grand landscapes of the American West. But this treasure is much more than a monument. Towering monoliths exist within a vast plateau and canyon panoram...
8 mi from route
~19 min detour
$25
near mile 268.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is 92% highway, meaning you'll spend most of your time on high-speed roads. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 232.9 miles on I 70. You'll transition to surface roads for the final portion of the trip. Expect a consistent cruising speed for the majority of the drive, with fewer exits and more open road.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 232.9 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and North Valley Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 1st Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 268.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (1st Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 4.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 12.1 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
Graced by red rock mesas, Grand Junction is a vital part of Colorado's Wine Country. The city lies on the Colorado River at the foot of Grand Mesa, Mount Garfield, and Colorado National Monument. With a population of about 69,000, Grand Junction is the most populous city in the western half of the U.S. state of Colorado and the seat of Mesa County.
Top landmarks
•Cross Orchards Historic Site — place in Colorado listed on National Register of Historic Places
•Handy Chapel — chapel in Grand Junction, Colorado, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 7m. Total distance: 268.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 232.9 miles on I 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 12 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Grand Junction, 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. There are 12 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (1st Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 4.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 12.1 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Colorado National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Grand Junction, CO before the return drive.
