Greeley to Black Forest is 118.6 miles and takes about 2h 25m via E-470 and North State Highway 83, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Colorado, moving from the Mountain West region to another part of the Mountain West. The route offers a mix of highway and surface road driving, making it a straightforward option for a single-day excursion. It's a practical choice if you're looking for a direct connection between these two Colorado locations without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
59.3 miles from Greeley, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
E-470
29.8 mi
29m
North State Highway 83
29.5 mi
36m
County Road 49
21.9 mi
25m
I 76
15.8 mi
15m
South Parker Road
6.9 mi
10m
Black Forest Road
4 mi
7m
Hodgen Road
3.3 mi
6m
18th Street
2.7 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
E-470
— 29.8 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Greeley, CO and Black Forest, CO.
1
Start on 19th Avenue
262 ft·18 sec·19th Avenue
2
Turn left onto US 34 Business
0.1 mi·16 sec·9th Street
3
Turn left onto 21st Avenue
495 ft·29 sec·21st Avenue
4
Turn left onto US 34 Business
1.1 mi·1 min·10th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
Turn right onto US 34 Business; US 85 Business
0.9 mi·1 min·8th Avenue
Use the right lane.
6
Turn left onto US 34 Business
2.7 mi·4 min·18th Street
Use the left lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto East 18th Street
0.2 mi·12 sec·East 18th Street
8
Continue on East 18th Street
0.9 mi·1 min·East 18th Street
9
Turn right onto CR 49
22 mi·25 min·County Road 49
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward I 76 West
11
Merge onto I 76
16 mi·15 min·I 76
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
1.0 mi·2 min
Exit 18Toward E470 Toll South: LimonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto E470
30 mi·29 min·E-470
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Exit 5Toward CO 83: Town of ParkerUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
176 ft·6 sec
Toward CO 83 South: Parker Road
16
Turn left onto CO 83
6.9 mi·10 min·South Parker Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Continue on CO 83
29 mi·36 min·North State Highway 83
Use the right lane.
18
Turn left onto CR 50
3.3 mi·6 min·Hodgen Road
19
Turn right onto CR 189
4.0 mi·7 min·Black Forest Road
20
Arrive at destination
CR 189
Trip Plan
Given the total duration of 2h 25m, this is a very manageable one-day trip, so you can leave whenever it suits you best. You likely won't need many stops, but consider fueling up before you depart Greeley to stay within your $21 fuel budget. The longest stretch without a major road change is 29.8 miles on E-470, so plan your needs before getting on that segment. This route's flexibility means you can depart later in the day and still arrive comfortably before dark.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 59.3 miles from Greeley, CO, or about 1h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.8 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 26 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.3 miles or 1h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Black Forest, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Greeley, 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 Greeley, CO
This is one driving day of about 118.6 miles and 2h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Greeley, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on E-470 for about 29.8 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 74.4 — 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 34 Business / 10th Street
Turn left onto US 34 Business / 10th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
1.3 mi into trip|~3m in|US 34 Business; US 85 Business / 8th Avenue
Turn right onto US 34 Business; US 85 Business / 8th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
2.2 mi into trip|~4m in|US 34 Business / 18th Street
Turn left onto US 34 Business / 18th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
43.7 mi into trip|~52m in
Take the exit toward E470 Toll South: Limon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 18
Toward E470 Toll South: Limon
7
74.4 mi into trip|~1h 23m in
Take the exit toward CO 83: Town of Parker
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 5
Toward CO 83: Town of Parker
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.31 one way
$40.62 round trip
$4.35/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.59
$21.43
$42.86
premium
$4.93
$23.02
$46.05
diesel
$5.35
$24.98
$49.96
Estimated Tolls: $3.58
E-470
(29.8 mi)$3.58
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.6
0
$12.45
$5.69
Efficient EV
29.7
0
$10.38
$4.74
EV Truck/SUV
47.4
0
$16.60
$7.59
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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 Jun 2, 2026
Origin
Greeley, CO
Afternoon
in Greeley on Wednesday
Local time
2:05 PM
MDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Cloudy
E 6 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Black Forest, CO
Afternoon
in Black Forest on Wednesday
Local time
2:05 PM
MDT
Current temp
48°F
Mostly Cloudy
E 5 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
5 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
2h 25m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
National Monument
Beneath a grassy mountain valley in central Colorado lies one of the richest and most diverse fossil deposits in the world. Petrified redwood stumps up to 14 feet wide and thousands of detailed fossil...
30 mi from route
~75 min detour
$10
near mile 110.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 38% of your drive on highways, with the longest continuous stretch on E-470 covering 29.8 miles. After E-470, the profile shifts to a mix of highway and surface roads as you transition to North State Highway 83 and County Road 49. Expect a change from higher-speed cruising to more varied driving conditions. You'll notice the shift as you leave the main tollway and enter more rural-feeling areas.
38% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 29.8 mi on E-470.
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 around 0.3 miles in near US 34 Business / 10th Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 118.6 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 0.3 miles (US 34 Business / 10th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (US 34 Business; US 85 Business / 8th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles (US 34 Business / 18th Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
7,395 ft4,634 ft
Total Climb
2,814 ft
Total Descent
108 ft
Highest Point
7,395 ft
~110.1 mi in
Elevation Range
2,761 ft
Notable High Points
5,889 ft at ~67.8 miles+53 ft prominence
7,395 ft at ~110.1 miles+16 ft prominence
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 Greeley, CO to Black Forest, CO, road signs begin pointing toward E470 Toll South: Limon along the way.
Greeley is a city of about 110,000 in the north central region of the western U.S. state of Colorado. The seat of Weld County, the city lies 49 miles (79 km) north-northeast of Denver on the South Platte River, the historic route of the Pikes Peak Gold Rush of 1858-1861. The city was founded in 1870 by Nathan Meeker, who named it for Horace Greeley, editor of the New York Tribune and promoter of the Union Colony of Colorado. Greeley is the home of the University of Northern Colorado. The most well-known event in the town is the annual Greeley Independence Stampede, which attracts an estimated 400,000 attendees every summer.
Top landmarks
•Greeley Union Pacific Railroad Depot — railway station in Greeley, the United States of America
•Greeley Tribune Building — building in Greeley, United States of America
•Meeker Memorial Museum — building in Greeley, United States of America
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 25m. Total distance: 118.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (38%). 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 29.8 miles on E-470. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.58 in tolls one way, starting with E-470. 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.
Yes — we found about 2 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 Black Forest, 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. There are 2 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (US 34 Business / 10th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (US 34 Business; US 85 Business / 8th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles (US 34 Business / 18th Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. 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 Black Forest, CO before heading back.
