Spanning 279 miles across Colorado, this drive from Rangely to Westminster typically takes about 6 hours and 8 minutes. Because the journey is manageable in a single day, you won't necessarily need an overnight stay, making it a straightforward trek across the Mountain West. You should plan for a fuel budget of roughly $42 to cover the distance. The route utilizes a combination of West Main Street, CO 13, and a significant portion of I-70. Whether you are heading toward the Denver metro area for business or pleasure, this trip offers a direct connection between the high desert landscape of the western slope and the front range.
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
139.5 miles from Rangely, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
179.1 mi
3h 24m
West Main Street
55 mi
1h 28m
CO 13
37.5 mi
1h
Sheridan Boulevard
2.7 mi
4m
Whiteriver Avenue
1.5 mi
3m
Heartland Expressway
1.3 mi
1m
West 76th Avenue
0.8 mi
2m
Railroad Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 179.1 mi, about 3h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rangely, CO and Westminster, CO.
1
Start on CO 64
55 mi·1 hr 28 min·West Main Street
Use the straight lane.
2
At end of road, turn right onto CO 13
37 mi·59 min·CO 13
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on CO 13
0.3 mi·33 sec·Railroad Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Turn left onto Whiteriver Avenue
0.9 mi·2 min·Whiteriver Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on Whiteriver Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·Whiteriver Avenue
6
Take the ramp
209 ft·5 sec
7
Merge onto CO 13
0.4 mi·44 sec·CO 13
8
Enter roundabout
254 ft·4 sec
9
Continue
0.2 mi·32 sec
10
Merge onto I 70
179 mi·3 hr 24 min·I 70
Use the straight lane.
11
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.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 1BToward CO 95: Sheridan BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn left onto CO 95
2.7 mi·4 min·Sheridan Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Turn right onto West 76th Avenue
0.8 mi·2 min·West 76th Avenue
15
Turn left onto Newton Street
0.1 mi·33 sec·Newton Street
16
Arrive at destination
Newton Street
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour duration, departing early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid fatigue and heavy traffic as you approach Westminster. With only one recommended stop planned, try to time your break to coincide with the end of your longest interstate stretch to maximize your momentum. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the initial 100 miles, as service options can be more spread out before you reach the denser interstate corridors. Since the majority of your time is spent on I-70, stay alert for changing traffic patterns and speed limits that fluctuate throughout the mountain passes. This route’s simplicity gives you the flexibility to complete the entire 279 miles in one comfortable push.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 139.5 miles from Rangely, CO, or about 3h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 179.1 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 61 miles or 1h 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 139.5 miles or 3h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 7m
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 Rangely, 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 Rangely, CO
This is one driving day of about 279 miles and 6h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Rangely, 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 I 70 for about 179.1 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 55 and 275 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
55 mi into trip|~1h 28m in|CO 13
At end of road, turn right onto CO 13
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
92.4 mi into trip|~2h 28m in|Whiteriver Avenue
Turn left onto Whiteriver Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
94.6 mi into trip|~2h 34m in|I 70
Merge onto I 70
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
273.7 mi into trip|~5h 58m 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
275 mi into trip|~6h 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.04 one way
$84.07 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg98 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$44.51
$89.02
premium
$4.39
$48.26
$96.53
diesel
$5.61
$61.60
$123.20
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
83.7
1
$29.29
$13.39
Efficient EV
69.8
0
$24.41
$11.16
EV Truck/SUV
111.6
1
$39.06
$17.86
Gas CO2
98 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 15, 2026
Origin
Rangely, CO
Evening
in Rangely on Saturday
Local time
7:23 PM
MDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Westminster, CO
Evening
in Westminster on Saturday
Local time
7:23 PM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
36°F
Eagle, CO
140 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
28 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
6h 8m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 highway-focused route is defined by a 78% highway share, favoring efficiency over local backroads. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-70, which features a notably long, uninterrupted stretch of 179.1 miles. Expect a transition from the regional roads of CO 13 to the high-speed transit of the interstate. While the initial segments may feel more localized, the drive quickly settles into a consistent, fast-paced rhythm once you merge onto the main arterial highway. It is a functional drive that trades technical twists for steady, high-mileage progress across the state.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 179.1 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and West Main Street. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 55 miles in near CO 13.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 279 miles you will encounter 11 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 55 miles (CO 13): Lane positioning matters here; at 92.4 miles (Whiteriver Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 94.6 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
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 6h 8m. Total distance: 279 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 8m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 179.1 miles on I 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 55 miles (CO 13): Lane positioning matters here; at 92.4 miles (Whiteriver Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 94.6 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Westminster, CO before the return drive.
