Gypsum to Westminster is 135.2 miles and takes about 2 hours 40 minutes via Gerald R. Ford Memorial Highway, Sheridan Boulevard, and Heartland Expressway, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Colorado, traversing the Mountain West region. Expect a drive with plenty of turns, characteristic of local travel, rather than a straightforward highway cruise. It’s a manageable distance for a single day, making it ideal if you prefer to reach your destination without an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
67.6 miles from Gypsum, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Gerald R. Ford Memorial Highway
129.2 mi
2h 29m
Sheridan Boulevard
2.7 mi
4m
Heartland Expressway
1.3 mi
1m
West 76th Avenue
0.8 mi
2m
Grand Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Newton Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Trail Gulch Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Gerald R. Ford Memorial Highway
— 129.2 mi, about 2h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gypsum, CO and Westminster, CO.
1
Start on US 6
0.3 mi·29 sec·Grand Avenue
2
Enter roundabout onto CR 51
129 ft·2 sec·Trail Gulch Road
3
Continue on CR 51
164 ft·4 sec·Trail Gulch Road
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
5
Merge onto I 70
129 mi·2 hr 29 min·Gerald R. Ford Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
6
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.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 1BToward CO 95: Sheridan BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn left onto CO 95
2.7 mi·4 min·Sheridan Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
9
Turn right onto West 76th Avenue
0.8 mi·2 min·West 76th Avenue
10
Turn left onto Newton Street
0.1 mi·33 sec·Newton Street
11
Arrive at destination
Newton Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour 40 minute duration, leaving Gypsum in the morning is a good plan to avoid potential afternoon traffic closer to Westminster. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing your journey. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $20 for the 135.2-mile trip. A practical tip for this route: be prepared for the numerous turns, especially as you transition onto Sheridan Boulevard and the Heartland Expressway, so have your navigation readily accessible.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 67.6 miles from Gypsum, CO, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 129.2 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 30 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67.6 miles or 1h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 8m
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 Gypsum, 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 Gypsum, CO
This is one driving day of about 135.2 miles and 2h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Gypsum, 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 Gerald R. Ford Memorial Highway for about 129.2 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 131.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|CR 51 / Trail Gulch Road
Enter roundabout onto CR 51 / Trail Gulch Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in|I 70 / Gerald R. Ford Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 70 / Gerald R. Ford Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
129.9 mi into trip|~2h 30m 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
131.2 mi into trip|~2h 32m 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
131.5 mi into trip|~2h 32m in|CO 95 / Sheridan Boulevard
Turn left onto CO 95 / Sheridan Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.37 one way
$40.74 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$21.57
$43.14
premium
$4.39
$23.39
$46.78
diesel
$5.61
$29.85
$59.70
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.6
0
$14.20
$6.49
Efficient EV
33.8
0
$11.83
$5.41
EV Truck/SUV
54.1
0
$18.93
$8.65
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 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 Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Gypsum, CO
Late night
in Gypsum on Tuesday
Local time
3:12 AM
MDT
Current temp
29°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Westminster, CO
Late night
in Westminster on Tuesday
Local time
3:12 AM
MDT
Current temp
36°F
Mostly Cloudy
E 7 to 22 mph7% chanceLive forecast
25°F
Georgetown, CO
68 mi in
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
7 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
2h 40m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is characterized as turn-heavy and local, suggesting a need for attention as you navigate. While 100% of the route is on major roads, it's not a simple interstate run. You'll experience a longest stretch of 129.2 miles on Gerald R. Ford Memorial Highway, which might offer some sustained driving before transitions. The profile indicates a less monotonous journey, possibly with more varied scenery and speed changes compared to a pure highway experience.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 129.2 mi on Gerald R. Ford Memorial Highway.
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 CR 51 / Trail Gulch Road.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 40m drive. You will face about 8 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 (CR 51 / Trail Gulch Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.7 miles (I 70 / Gerald R. Ford Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 129.9 miles (I 76 / Heartland Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 129.2 miles on Gerald R. Ford Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.3 miles (CR 51 / Trail Gulch Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.7 miles (I 70 / Gerald R. Ford Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 129.9 miles (I 76 / Heartland Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Westminster, CO before heading back.
