Origin
Highlands Ranch, CO
Late night in Highlands Ranch on Tuesday
Local time
3:15 AM
MDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Highlands Ranch, CO to Loveland, CO
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 28m
Distance
66.1 mi
106 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Sparse
1 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 22m
★
6 AM
1h 28m
8 AM
1h 42m
10 AM
1h 33m
12 PM
1h 32m
3 PM
1h 34m
5 PM
1h 41m
8 PM
1h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Highlands Ranch, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Loveland, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Highlands Ranch to Loveland is 66.1 miles and takes about 1 hour 28 minutes via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Colorado, connecting two points in the Mountain West region. Expect a local feel with frequent turns, rather than a straightforward highway cruise. It's a manageable distance, making it ideal for a single-day excursion without feeling rushed. Consider this route if you prefer a more engaged driving experience over a simple interstate journey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 27.3 mi | 27m |
| South Valley Highway | 12.7 mi | 17m |
| North Valley Highway | 9.6 mi | 11m |
| South University Boulevard | 9.2 mi | 16m |
| 14th Street Southeast | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| South Lincoln Avenue | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| East State Highway 402 | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Venneford Ranch Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 27.3 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Highlands Ranch, CO and Loveland, CO.
1
Start on South Wild Iris Run
351 ft
·
18 sec
·
South Wild Iris Run
2
Turn right onto East Thistle Ridge Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
East Thistle Ridge Road
3
Turn left onto Venneford Ranch Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Venneford Ranch Road
4
Turn left onto South University Boulevard
9.2 mi
·
16 min
·
South University Boulevard
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 25
13 mi
·
17 min
·
South Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
5.3 mi
·
5 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on I 25
27 mi
·
27 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 255
Toward SH 402: Loveland and Greeley Canal
11
Keep slight left at fork
214 ft
·
5 sec
Exit 255
Toward SH 402: Loveland and Greeley Canal
12
Enter roundabout onto CO 402
252 ft
·
14 sec
·
East State Highway 402
13
Continue on CO 402
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
East State Highway 402
14
Enter roundabout onto CO 402
144 ft
·
8 sec
·
East State Highway 402
15
Continue on CO 402
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
East State Highway 402
16
Continue on CO 402
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
14th Street Southeast
17
Take the ramp
183 ft
·
5 sec
18
Merge onto US 287
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South Lincoln Avenue
19
Turn left onto East 6th Street
501 ft
·
23 sec
·
East 6th Street
20
Arrive at destination
East 6th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33 miles from Highlands Ranch, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 60.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Thistle Ridge Road
Turn right onto East Thistle Ridge Road
Navigation decision point
5
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
South University Boulevard
Turn left onto South University Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
23.2 mi into trip
|
~37m 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 slight right lane.
6
27.5 mi into trip
|
~43m 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 / right lanes.
7
60.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
Keep slight left at fork toward SH 402: Loveland and Greeley Canal
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 255
Toward SH 402: Loveland and Greeley Canal
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.96 one way
$19.92 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $10.54 | $21.09 |
| premium | $4.39 | $11.43 | $22.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.59 | $29.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.8 | 0 | $6.94 | $3.17 |
| Efficient EV | 16.5 | 0 | $5.78 | $2.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.4 | 0 | $9.25 | $4.23 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Loveland, CO
Late night in Loveland on Tuesday
Local time
3:15 AM
MDT
Current temp
33°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
25 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
1h 28m 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?
This route is characterized by its 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, meaning you'll navigate a series of local roads and highways. While it has a 100% highway share, the nature of the drive suggests frequent changes in direction and speed. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 27.3 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, offering a brief period of more consistent travel. You'll experience a mix of road types as you transition between South Valley Highway and North Valley Highway, requiring your attention to navigation and traffic.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.3 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 East Thistle Ridge Road.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 66.1 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Thistle Ridge Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (South University Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.2 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Highlands Ranch, CO to Loveland, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Sh 402: Loveland And Greeley Canal along the way.
Sh 402: Loveland And Greeley Canal
60.1 mi in
|
~1h 16m
About the Cities
Arriving in Loveland, CO
Full guide →Loveland is a city in the region of Colorado. There is a large population of artists in Loveland, which has drawn three foundries, an art museum, and the annual sculpture shows in August. The city lies on the Big Thompson River in Larimer County 26 miles (42 km) east of Rocky Mountain National Park and 46 miles (74 km) north of Denver. In 2020, the population of the City of Loveland was 78,000. The city is a popular retirement haven and a major business center.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 28m. Total distance: 66.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 27.3 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Loveland, CO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 0.1 miles (East Thistle Ridge Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (South University Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.2 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): 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 Loveland, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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