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Trip from Keenesburg, CO to Denver, CO

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

50m

Distance

39.9 mi

64 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 12 min
4 AM
0h 46m ★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 58m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 53m
5 PM
0h 58m
8 PM
0h 48m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Keenesburg, CO, CO

Keenesburg, CO

Yan Krukau

consolidated city-county and capital of Colorado, United States

Denver, CO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Keenesburg, CO to Denver, CO is 39.9 miles and takes about 50m via I 76, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip connecting two points within the Mountain West region of Colorado. Expect a drive that is primarily on the interstate, making it a quick and efficient journey for most travelers. Given its relatively short distance and familiar terrain, this route is ideal for a quick commute or a simple transfer between locations. You'll find it's a functional drive rather than one focused on scenic discovery.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 76 32.7 mi 33m
North Valley Highway 2.3 mi 3m
North Broadway 1 mi 3m
Park Avenue 0.6 mi 1m
Park Avenue West 0.5 mi 1m
West 22nd Street 0.4 mi 1m
North Market Street 0.4 mi 1m
East 14th Avenue 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 76 — 32.7 mi, about 33m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Keenesburg, CO and Denver, CO.

1

Start on South Main Street

367 ft · 15 sec · South Main Street
2

Turn left onto East Woodward Avenue

401 ft · 13 sec · East Woodward Avenue
3

Turn right onto North Market Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · North Market Street
4

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 39 sec
5

Merge onto I 76

33 mi · 33 min · I 76
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 12 sec
Exit 5 Toward I 25 South: Denver Use the slight right lane.
7

Continue on this road

0.9 mi · 1 min · this road
Toward I 25 south: Denver
8

Merge onto I 25; US 87

2.3 mi · 3 min · North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 28 sec
Exit 213 Toward 38th Avenue, Park Avenue, Downtown Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 11 sec
Toward Park Avenue, Downtown Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11

Continue on Park Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · Park Avenue
12

Turn straight onto Park Avenue West

0.5 mi · 1 min · Park Avenue West
13

Continue on West 22nd Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · West 22nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14

Turn right onto North Broadway

1.0 mi · 3 min · North Broadway
Use the straight / right lanes.
15

Turn left onto East 14th Avenue

0.1 mi · 29 sec · East 14th Avenue
Use the left lane.
16

Turn left

358 ft · 27 sec
Use the straight / left lanes.
17

Arrive at destination

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Adams County, Colorado, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Commerce City, CO

20 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

Commerce City, CO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 39.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Todd Creek, CO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 20 miles from Keenesburg, 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 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 39.9 — 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 Woodward Avenue

Turn left onto East Woodward Avenue

Navigation decision point

7
33.5 mi into trip | ~36m in

Take the exit toward I 25 South: Denver

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 5 Toward I 25 South: Denver
8
36.9 mi into trip | ~41m in

Take the exit toward 38th Avenue, Park Avenue, Downtown

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 213 Toward 38th Avenue, Park Avenue, Downtown
9
37.1 mi into trip | ~41m in

Keep slight left at fork toward Park Avenue, Downtown

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward Park Avenue, Downtown
7
39.9 mi into trip | ~49m in

Turn left

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.01 one way

$12.02 round trip

$3.83/gal 25.4 MPG avg 14 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.05 $6.37 $12.73
premium $4.39 $6.90 $13.80
diesel $5.61 $8.81 $17.62

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$6

Estimated CO2 emission: 14 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 12 0 $4.19 $1.92
Efficient EV 10 0 $3.49 $1.60
EV Truck/SUV 16 0 $5.59 $2.55

Gas CO2

14 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (64% 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 20, 2026

Origin

Keenesburg, CO

Morning in Keenesburg on Tuesday

Local time

6:15 AM

MDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Denver, CO

Morning in Denver on Tuesday

Local time

6:15 AM

MDT

Current temp

35°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

18 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

50m 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 drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 82% of the journey utilizing interstate and major roadways. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 32.7 miles on I 76, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of your trip. The initial part of the drive likely involves North Valley Highway before merging onto I 76, and you'll eventually transition to North Broadway as you approach Denver. Expect a smooth, predictable driving experience with minimal turns or changes in road type for the majority of the route.

82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.7 mi on I 76.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 76 and North Valley Highway. 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 Woodward Avenue.

Driving Effort 8/10

Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 39.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 50m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Woodward Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 33.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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 Keenesburg, CO to Denver, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Downtown along the way.

Downtown

36.9 mi in | ~41m

About the Cities

Arriving in Denver, CO

Full guide →

“Mile High City” · Founded 1858

Denver is the capital of the western U.S. state of Colorado and the dominant city of the Rocky Mountain Region. Founded in 1858 as the placer gold mining camp known as the Cherry Creek Diggings, the "Mile-High City" is today the most populous city within a 560-mile (900 km) radius and the center of the Front Range Urban Corridor of more than five million residents. Denver embraces its cowboy and mining past but also looks toward the future with a vibrant arts and performing arts scene, dozens of great outdoor festivals, and distinct neighborhoods each offering a unique experience. You'll find everything a cosmopolitan city has to offer including a spectacular view of and easy access to the beautiful Rocky Mountains, which arise only 12 miles (19 km) west of the Colorado State Capitol.

Top landmarks

  • Denver Art Museum — museum in Denver, Colorado, United States
  • Denver Mint — United States Mint branch in Denver, Colorado
  • Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception — church in Colorado, United States

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 50m. Total distance: 39.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

50m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 32.7 miles on I 76. 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 Denver, 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 Woodward Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 33.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Denver, 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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