Lamar to Westminster is 209.2 miles and takes about 4 hours via US 287 and Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Mountain West region, taking you from eastern Colorado towards the Front Range. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on major highways, making it a good option for a single-day trip. You'll find the fuel cost is quite reasonable for the distance covered, so you don't need to worry too much about budgeting for gas.
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
104.6 miles from Lamar, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 287
108 mi
2h 7m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
83.1 mi
1h 25m
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
6.2 mi
7m
US 50
5.7 mi
7m
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
2.1 mi
2m
South Main Street
1.8 mi
3m
West 80th Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Lowell Boulevard
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 287
— 108 mi, about 2h 7m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~3,803 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,757
Quietest
2 AM
~394 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.7×
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 Lamar, CO and Westminster, CO.
1
Start on West Elm Street
436 ft·21 sec·West Elm Street
2
Turn left onto US 287; US 385
1.8 mi·3 min·South Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Continue on US 50; US 287
5.7 mi·7 min·US 50; US 287
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the exit onto US 287
0.4 mi·32 sec·US 287
Toward US 287 North: LimonUse the slight right lane.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto US 287
108 mi·2 hr 6 min·US 287
Toward US 287 North: LimonUse the straight lane.
6
Turn left
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward I 70 West: Denver
7
Merge onto I 70
77 mi·1 hr 16 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on I 70
3.4 mi·4 min·Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70
2.8 mi·3 min·Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270
6.6 mi·8 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Exit 279AToward I 270 West: BoulderUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on US 36
2.1 mi·2 min·Denver–Boulder Turnpike
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward US 287: Federal BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward US 287 North: Federal BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn straight onto US 287
0.3 mi·39 sec·Federal Boulevard
15
Turn left onto West 80th Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·West 80th Avenue
Use the left lane.
16
Turn left onto Lowell Boulevard
0.4 mi·44 sec·Lowell Boulevard
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right onto West 77th Avenue
0.2 mi·41 sec·West 77th Avenue
18
Turn right onto Newton Street
114 ft·5 sec·Newton Street
19
Arrive at destination
Newton Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour duration, leaving Lamar in the morning should get you to Westminster with plenty of daylight to spare. While the drive is manageable in one day, the longest stretch without a major break is 108 miles on US 287, so plan for a quick stop around that mark if needed. You'll want to keep an eye on your fuel, especially as you get closer to the Denver metro area where services can be more spread out. The fuel cost is estimated at $36, so make sure you have enough to cover that before you depart Lamar.
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 104.6 miles from Lamar, CO, or about 2h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 108 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 46 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.6 miles or 2h 5m 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 15m
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 Lamar, 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 Lamar, CO
This is one driving day of about 209.2 miles and 4h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Lamar, 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 US 287 for about 108 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 7.6 and 207.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
7.6 mi into trip|~11m in|US 287
Take the exit onto US 287 toward US 287 North: Limon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 287 North: Limon
7
7.9 mi into trip|~11m in|US 287
Keep slight right at fork onto US 287 toward US 287 North: Limon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward US 287 North: Limon
6
195.8 mi into trip|~3h 40m in|I 70 / Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 / Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
198.6 mi into trip|~3h 43m in|I 270 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway toward I 270 West: Boulder
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 279A
Toward I 270 West: Boulder
8
207.5 mi into trip|~3h 55m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 287 North: Federal Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 287 North: Federal Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.90 one way
$63.80 round trip
$3.87/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$33.91
$67.82
premium
$4.45
$36.68
$73.35
diesel
$4.80
$39.50
$79.00
Estimated Tolls: $0.15
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
(2.1 mi)$0.15
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
$32
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.8
0
$21.97
$10.04
Efficient EV
52.3
0
$18.31
$8.37
EV Truck/SUV
83.7
1
$29.29
$13.39
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (67% 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Lamar, CO
Late night
in Lamar on Sunday
Local time
12:59 AM
MDT
Current temp
64°F
Mostly Clear
SE 5 to 10 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 12:00PM MDT until July 20 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Denver CO
Destination
Westminster, CO
Late night
in Westminster on Sunday
Local time
12:59 AM
MDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Clear
SW 3 to 8 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 12:00PM MDT until July 20 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Denver CO
57°F
Limon, CO
105 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
2 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
4h 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 55% highway, with your longest stretch being 108 miles on US 287. You'll experience mixed highway and surface road driving, so be prepared for the transition. Expect to transition from more open cruising on the highway to surface streets as you approach your destination. The Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway segments offer continuous travel before you merge into more varied road conditions.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 108 mi on US 287.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 7.6 miles in near US 287.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 209.2 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 7.6 miles (US 287): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.9 miles (US 287): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 195.8 miles (I 70 / Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway): 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h. Total distance: 209.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 108 miles on US 287. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.15 in tolls one way, starting with Denver–Boulder Turnpike. 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Westminster, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 7.6 miles (US 287): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.9 miles (US 287): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 195.8 miles (I 70 / Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Westminster, CO, but most travelers stay overnight.
