Embarking on this 78.3-mile journey from Silverthorne to Boulder, Colorado, promises a straightforward 1 hour and 46-minute drive. Primarily utilizing I-70 and CO-93, with a segment of the Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway, this route is an easy day trip, fitting comfortably within a single day of travel. With an estimated fuel cost of around $12, it's an economical option for exploring between these two Mountain West destinations. The overall experience is a highway-focused drive, offering a practical and efficient way to transition between mountain towns and the Front Range urban corridor.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.2 miles from Silverthorne, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
52.7 mi
1h 3m
CO 93
19.3 mi
30m
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
2.3 mi
3m
Lariat Loop Scenic Byway
1.1 mi
1m
Heritage Road
1 mi
1m
Blue River Parkway
0.4 mi
<1m
CO 9
0.3 mi
<1m
I 70 BUS
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 52.7 mi, about 1h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Silverthorne, CO and Boulder, CO.
1
Start on CO 9
0.4 mi·59 sec·Blue River Parkway
Use the straight lane.
2
Continue on US 6
0.1 mi·25 sec·US 6
3
Take the exit onto CO 9
0.3 mi·24 sec·CO 9
Toward I 70 EastUse the left lane.
4
Merge onto I 70
53 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit onto I 70 BUS
0.2 mi·24 sec·I 70 BUS
Exit 259Toward US 40, I 70 Business East, CH 93: Golden, MorrisonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn left onto I 70 BUS; CR 93
0.2 mi·34 sec·Hogback Road
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on I 70 BUS; US 40
1.1 mi·1 min·Lariat Loop Scenic Byway
Use the left lane.
8
Turn left onto CR 93
0.3 mi·29 sec·Heritage Road
Use the left lane.
9
Enter roundabout onto CR 93
104 ft·2 sec·Heritage Road
10
Continue on CR 93
489 ft·10 sec·Heritage Road
11
Enter roundabout onto CR 93
50 ft·1 sec·Heritage Road
12
Continue on CR 93
0.3 mi·27 sec·Heritage Road
13
Enter roundabout onto CR 93
128 ft·2 sec·Heritage Road
14
Continue on CR 93
0.1 mi·16 sec·Heritage Road
15
Turn slight right onto CR 93
0.2 mi·20 sec·Heritage Road
16
Turn left onto US 6
2.3 mi·3 min·Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on CO 93
7.5 mi·10 min·CO 93
18
Continue on CO 93
12 mi·19 min·CO 93
Use the straight lane.
19
Turn right onto University Avenue
0.2 mi·36 sec·University Avenue
20
Continue on 17th Street
0.2 mi·29 sec·17th Street
21
Turn right onto Athens Street
0.1 mi·33 sec·Athens Street
22
Turn left onto 19th Street
0.2 mi·29 sec·19th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
23
Turn left
87 ft·4 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given its short duration of under two hours, this route offers excellent flexibility. You can depart from Silverthorne at your leisure, as the 78.3-mile trip is easily manageable in one go. Plan for a fuel stop before you leave Silverthorne to ensure you have ample gas for the 52.7-mile stretch on I-70, as services might be more spread out. While there are no designated stops in the data, consider a brief pause for stretching or a snack in a town along CO-93 if needed. The estimated $12 fuel cost is a good baseline for budgeting your travel expenses.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 39.2 miles from Silverthorne, CO, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 52.7 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 17 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.2 miles or 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Boulder, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Silverthorne, CO so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Silverthorne, CO
This is one driving day of about 78.3 miles and 1h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Silverthorne, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 70 for about 52.7 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 78.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|CO 9
Take the exit onto CO 9 toward I 70 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 70 East
8
53.6 mi into trip|~1h 5m in|I 70 BUS
Take the exit onto I 70 BUS toward US 40, I 70 Business East, CH 93: Golden, Morrison
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 259
Toward US 40, I 70 Business East, CH 93: Golden...
6
55.5 mi into trip|~1h 8m in|CR 93 / Heritage Road
Enter roundabout onto CR 93 / Heritage Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
55.8 mi into trip|~1h 9m in|CR 93 / Heritage Road
Enter roundabout onto CR 93 / Heritage Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
78.1 mi into trip|~1h 46m in|19th Street
Turn left onto 19th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.80 one way
$23.59 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$12.49
$24.98
premium
$4.39
$13.55
$27.09
diesel
$5.61
$17.29
$34.58
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.5
0
$8.22
$3.76
Efficient EV
19.6
0
$6.85
$3.13
EV Truck/SUV
31.3
0
$10.96
$5.01
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Silverthorne, CO
Late night
in Silverthorne on Sunday
Local time
1:54 AM
MDT
Current temp
32°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Boulder, CO
Late night
in Boulder on Sunday
Local time
1:54 AM
MDT
Current temp
33°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 7 to 15 mph13% chanceLive forecast
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
1 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 46m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 drive is predominantly a highway-focused experience, with 93% of the 78.3 miles covered on major roadways. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of 52.7 miles on I-70, offering a consistent pace. As you transition to CO-93, expect a change in scenery and potential for more varied traffic conditions. The inclusion of the Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway adds a touch of historical context to this otherwise efficient transit route, making for a dynamic, though largely highway-centric, drive.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 52.7 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and CO 93. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near CO 9.
Driving Effort5/10
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 78.3 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.6 miles (CO 9): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 53.6 miles (I 70 BUS): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55.5 miles (CR 93 / Heritage Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Silverthorne, CO and Boulder, CO, road signs point toward Ch 93: Golden and Morrison.
Ch 93: Golden
53.6 mi in|~1h 5m|via I 70 BUS
Morrison
53.6 mi in|~1h 5m|via I 70 BUS
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 46m. Total distance: 78.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 52.7 miles on I 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.6 miles (CO 9): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 53.6 miles (I 70 BUS): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55.5 miles (CR 93 / Heritage Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Boulder, CO before heading back.
