Origin
Loveland, CO
Night in Loveland on Saturday
Local time
10:38 PM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Loveland, CO to Castlewood, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 21m
Distance
65 mi
105 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 15m
★
6 AM
1h 21m
8 AM
1h 34m
10 AM
1h 26m
12 PM
1h 25m
3 PM
1h 26m
5 PM
1h 33m
8 PM
1h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Loveland, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Castlewood, CO
Liudmyla Shalimova
Trip Overview
Spanning 65 miles through the Mountain West, this trip from Loveland to Castlewood is a straightforward journey typically taking about 1 hour and 21 minutes. Because of the relatively short distance, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stops. You can expect to spend roughly $10 on fuel for the one-way trek. The route connects two Colorado locations, keeping you entirely within the state while navigating a mix of major highways and local roads. It is a practical choice if you need to travel between these areas efficiently without the complexity of a multi-day itinerary.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Valley Highway | 30.2 mi | 37m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 27.2 mi | 27m |
| 14th Street Southeast | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| North Cleveland Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South Uinta Street | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| South Lincoln Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East State Highway 402 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East Arapahoe Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
North Valley Highway
— 30.2 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Loveland, CO and Castlewood, CO.
1
Start on East 6th Street
131 ft
·
9 sec
·
East 6th Street
2
Turn right onto US 287
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Cleveland Avenue
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
3
Continue on US 287
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Lincoln Avenue
4
Turn left onto CO 402
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
14th Street Southeast
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on CO 402
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
East State Highway 402
6
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Toward I 25 South
7
Merge onto I 25
27 mi
·
27 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 25
0.6 mi
·
36 sec
·
North Valley Highway
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
8.8 mi
·
10 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
21 mi
·
26 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Take the exit onto CO 88
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
CO 88
Exit 197
Toward CO 88: Arapahoe Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto CR 42
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
East Arapahoe Road
13
Turn left onto South Uinta Street
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
South Uinta Street
Use the left lane.
14
At end of road, turn right onto South Tamarac Court
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
South Tamarac Court
15
Turn right onto East Fremont Avenue
0.2 mi
·
56 sec
·
East Fremont Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
East Fremont Drive
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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32.5 miles from Loveland, 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 63.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 287 / North Cleveland Avenue
Turn right onto US 287 / North Cleveland Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
5
6 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
I 25 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Merge onto I 25 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
33.7 mi into trip
|
~39m 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 / slight right lanes.
6
42.5 mi into trip
|
~49m 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 / slight left lanes.
7
63.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
|
CO 88
Take the exit onto CO 88 toward CO 88: Arapahoe Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 197
Toward CO 88: Arapahoe Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.79 one way
$19.59 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $10.37 | $20.74 |
| premium | $4.39 | $11.24 | $22.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.35 | $28.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.7 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 | 19.5 | 0 | $6.82 | $3.12 |
| Efficient EV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.69 | $2.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26 | 0 | $9.10 | $4.16 |
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
Castlewood, CO
Night in Castlewood on Saturday
Local time
10:38 PM
MDT
Current temp
77°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
33 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
1h 21m 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 defined by its turn-heavy local nature, requiring your full attention as you transition between different road types. You will spend the entirety of the trip on highways, utilizing a combination of North Valley Highway, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, and 14th Street Southeast. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 30.2-mile segment on the North Valley Highway, which offers the most consistent driving experience. As you move toward your destination, the road profile shifts from high-speed highway transit to more technical local navigation, ensuring the drive feels varied despite its moderate length.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 30.2 mi on North Valley Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 early in the drive near US 287 / North Cleveland Avenue.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 65 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (US 287 / North Cleveland Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 6 miles (I 25 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.7 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 21m. Total distance: 65 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 21m 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 30.2 miles on North Valley 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 Castlewood, 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: near the start (US 287 / North Cleveland Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 6 miles (I 25 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.7 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 Castlewood, 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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