Origin
Fort Lupton, CO
Late night in Fort Lupton on Sunday
Local time
1:48 AM
MDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fort Lupton, CO to Boulder, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
48m
Distance
28.5 mi
46 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 57m
8 PM
0h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fort Lupton, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Boulder, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to get from Fort Lupton to Boulder, this 28.5-mile journey is an easy one-day trip that typically takes about 48 minutes. You will stay within the Mountain West region, transitioning between these two Colorado communities via a straightforward local route. Budgeting approximately $4 for fuel makes this a very affordable excursion. Because the drive is short, you do not need to worry about overnight logistics or complex planning. It serves as a practical connection between the plains and the foothills, offering a simple travel experience for anyone heading toward the Boulder area.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Street | 20.3 mi | 34m |
| Diagonal Highway | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| Foothills Parkway | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Arapahoe Avenue | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Mc Kinley Avenue | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| IBM Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 19th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
1st Street
— 20.3 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Lupton, CO and Boulder, CO.
1
Start on Mc Kinley Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Mc Kinley Avenue
2
Turn right onto US 85 Business; CO 52
20 mi
·
34 min
·
1st Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Continue on IBM Drive
381 ft
·
17 sec
·
IBM Drive
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
4
Merge onto CO 119
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Diagonal Highway
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on CO 157
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Foothills Parkway
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn right onto CO 7
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Arapahoe Avenue
Use the straight lane.
7
Turn right onto 19th Street
143 ft
·
11 sec
·
19th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Turn left
87 ft
·
4 sec
9
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 55 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 28.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 85 Business; CO 52 / 1st Street
Turn right onto US 85 Business; CO 52 / 1st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
20.7 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
CO 119 / Diagonal Highway
Merge onto CO 119 / Diagonal Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
26.9 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
CO 7 / Arapahoe Avenue
Turn right onto CO 7 / Arapahoe Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
28.5 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
19th Street
Turn right onto 19th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
28.5 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.29 one way
$8.59 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $4.55 | $9.09 |
| premium | $4.39 | $4.93 | $9.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.29 | $12.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 10 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.99 | $1.37 |
| Efficient EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.49 | $1.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.99 | $1.82 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Boulder, CO
Late night in Boulder on Sunday
Local time
1:48 AM
MDT
Current temp
72°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
8 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
48m 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 turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged rather than lulling you into a monotonous interstate grind. You will spend the bulk of your time navigating 1st Street, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of the trip at 20.3 miles. With only 6% of the route consisting of highway driving, the journey relies heavily on local roads like the Diagonal Highway and Foothills Parkway. The transition from local streets to parkway driving provides a noticeable shift in pace as you approach your destination. Prepare for a more hands-on driving experience that requires your full attention on the turns.
Only 6% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.3 mi on 1st Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near US 85 Business; CO 52 / 1st Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 48m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (US 85 Business; CO 52 / 1st Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 20.7 miles (CO 119 / Diagonal Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.9 miles (CO 7 / Arapahoe Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
5,256 ft
4,907 ft
Total Climb
400 ft
Total Descent
50 ft
Highest Point
5,256 ft
~26.2 mi in
Elevation Range
349 ft
Notable High Points
4,998 ft at ~4.8 miles
+1 ft prominence
5,035 ft at ~10.7 miles
+27 ft prominence
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 48m. Total distance: 28.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (6%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.3 miles on 1st Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.3 miles (US 85 Business; CO 52 / 1st Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 20.7 miles (CO 119 / Diagonal Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.9 miles (CO 7 / Arapahoe Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
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 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 Boulder, CO
More trips to Boulder, CO
Explore more options from Fort Lupton, CO or browse trips ending in Boulder, CO.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CO road trips.