Grand Junction, CO to Westminster, CO is 245.1 miles and takes about 4h 42m via I 70 BUS, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Colorado, connecting two points in the Mountain West region. With 98% of the route on highways, you'll experience a straightforward drive. Plan for a single day trip, as the duration is manageable within daylight hours. This is a practical transit route, ideal for those looking to cover ground efficiently.
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
122.5 miles from Grand Junction, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70 BUS
238.4 mi
4h 30m
Sheridan Boulevard
2.7 mi
4m
Heartland Expressway
1.3 mi
1m
Pitkin Avenue
1.3 mi
2m
West 76th Avenue
0.8 mi
2m
Newton Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70 BUS
— 238.4 mi, about 4h 30m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 18 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,726 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,309
Quietest
2 AM
~95 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Grand Junction, CO and Westminster, CO.
1
Start on I 70 BUS
1.3 mi·2 min·Pitkin Avenue
2
Continue on I 70 BUS
4.3 mi·7 min·I 70 BUS
3
Continue on I 70 BUS; US 6
0.8 mi·1 min·I 70 BUS; US 6
4
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 BUS
233 mi·4 hr 22 min·I 70 BUS
Toward I 70 East: DenverUse the slight right lane.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 76
1.3 mi·1 min·Heartland Expressway
Exit 269BToward I 76 East: Fort MorganUse the left lane.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 1BToward CO 95: Sheridan BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn left onto CO 95
2.7 mi·4 min·Sheridan Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
Turn right onto West 76th Avenue
0.8 mi·2 min·West 76th Avenue
9
Turn left onto Newton Street
0.1 mi·33 sec·Newton Street
10
Arrive at destination
Newton Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 42m estimated drive time, starting your trip in Grand Junction in the morning is advisable to ensure you arrive in Westminster with ample daylight. The route is primarily highway, so plan for one stop, likely around the halfway point, to refuel and stretch your legs. The fuel cost is estimated at $38, so ensure you have enough gas before departing Grand Junction. Watch for increased traffic and denser exits as you get closer to Westminster, especially during peak commuting hours. This is a one-day trip, so enjoy the straightforward drive.
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 122.5 miles from Grand Junction, CO, or about 2h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 238.4 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 54 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 122.5 miles or 2h 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Westminster, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Grand Junction, 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 Grand Junction, CO
This is one driving day of about 245.1 miles and 4h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Grand Junction, 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 BUS for about 238.4 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.4 and 244.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
6.4 mi into trip|~10m in|I 70 BUS
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 BUS toward I 70 East: Denver
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 70 East: Denver
8
239.7 mi into trip|~4h 32m in|I 76 / Heartland Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 76 / Heartland Expressway toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Exit 269B
Toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
7
241.1 mi into trip|~4h 34m in
Take the exit toward CO 95: Sheridan Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1B
Toward CO 95: Sheridan Boulevard
4
241.4 mi into trip|~4h 34m in|CO 95 / Sheridan Boulevard
Turn left onto CO 95 / Sheridan Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
244.9 mi into trip|~4h 41m in|Newton Street
Turn left onto Newton Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.37 one way
$74.75 round trip
$3.87/gal25.4 MPG avg86 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$39.73
$79.45
premium
$4.45
$42.97
$85.94
diesel
$4.80
$46.28
$92.56
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 85.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
73.5
0
$25.74
$11.76
Efficient EV
61.3
0
$21.45
$9.80
EV Truck/SUV
98
1
$34.31
$15.69
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Grand Junction, CO
Late night
in Grand Junction on Sunday
Local time
2:14 AM
MDT
Current temp
95°F
Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 0 to 5 mph21% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 4:46AM MDT until July 20 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Denver CO
Destination
Westminster, CO
Late night
in Westminster on Sunday
Local time
2:14 AM
MDT
Current temp
94°F
Sunny
NNE 3 to 7 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 4:46AM MDT until July 20 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Denver CO
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
1 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
4h 42m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is overwhelmingly on highways, with 98% of the 245.1 miles utilizing major roadways. You'll encounter a continuous stretch of 238.4 miles on I 70 BUS before transitioning to Sheridan Boulevard and Heartland Expressway. Expect a consistent cruising experience for the vast majority of the trip, with the transition from highway to surface roads occurring closer to your destination. The density of exits will likely increase as you approach the Denver metropolitan area.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 238.4 mi on I 70 BUS.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 BUS and Sheridan Boulevard. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 6.4 miles in near I 70 BUS.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 42m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.4 miles (I 70 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 239.7 miles (I 76 / Heartland Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 241.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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
Westminster is a city of about 115,000 in the Denver Metropolitan Area of the western U.S. state of Colorado. The city lies northwest of Denver in Adams and Jefferson counties.
The longest stretch is about 238.4 miles on I 70 BUS. 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.4 miles (I 70 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 239.7 miles (I 76 / Heartland Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 241.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Colorado National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Westminster, CO, but most travelers stay overnight.
