Superior, CO to Grand Junction, CO is 251.2 miles and takes about 4h 52m via I 70, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This highway-focused drive stays entirely within the Mountain West, traversing Colorado's varied landscapes. It's a straightforward trip, ideal for a single day if you're looking to get from point A to point B efficiently. With a high percentage on the interstate, this route offers a consistent pace for most of the journey.
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
125.6 miles from Superior, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
229.7 mi
4h 14m
I 70 BUS
7.1 mi
12m
North Indiana Street
6.8 mi
10m
McCaslin Boulevard
3.3 mi
6m
Ward Road
2.2 mi
4m
West 64th Avenue
1.4 mi
2m
CO 128
0.2 mi
<1m
West Coal Creek Drive
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 229.7 mi, about 4h 14m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,405 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,990
Quietest
2 AM
~79 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.8×
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 Superior, CO and Grand Junction, CO.
1
Start on this road
142 ft·15 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue
0.1 mi·25 sec·2nd Avenue
3
Turn right onto West Coal Creek Drive
0.1 mi·31 sec·West Coal Creek Drive
4
Turn straight onto McCaslin Boulevard
0.1 mi·16 sec·McCaslin Boulevard
5
Enter roundabout onto McCaslin Boulevard
129 ft·5 sec·McCaslin Boulevard
6
Continue on McCaslin Boulevard
1.6 mi·3 min·McCaslin Boulevard
Use the left lane.
7
Enter roundabout onto McCaslin Boulevard
105 ft·6 sec·McCaslin Boulevard
8
Continue on McCaslin Boulevard
1.4 mi·2 min·McCaslin Boulevard
Use the left lane.
9
At end of road, turn left onto CO 128
0.2 mi·16 sec·CO 128
10
Take the exit
163 ft·4 sec
Toward CR 17 southUse the right lane.
11
Turn right onto CR 17
6.8 mi·10 min·North Indiana Street
Use the straight lane.
12
At end of road, turn left onto CO 72
1.4 mi·2 min·West 64th Avenue
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto CO 72
2.2 mi·4 min·Ward Road
Use the right lane.
14
Turn left
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward I 70 WestUse the left lane.
15
Merge onto I 70
230 mi·4 hr 14 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit onto I 70 BUS
1.6 mi·2 min·I 70 BUS
Exit 37Toward I 70 Business, US 6, US 50: Clifton, Grand Junction, DeltaUse the left lane.
17
Continue on I 70 BUS; US 6
4.2 mi·7 min·I 70 BUS; US 6
Use the left lane.
18
Continue on I 70 BUS
1.3 mi·2 min·I 70 BUS
19
Turn left onto South 13th Street
351 ft·9 sec·South 13th Street
20
Arrive at destination
South 13th Street
Trip Plan
Given its 4h 52m duration and 251.2-mile length, this route is easily manageable in a single day, so consider an early morning departure to maximize your daylight. You'll want to plan your fuel stops strategically, as the longest stretch on I 70 extends for 229.7 miles. While there's only one recommended stop, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on that long segment. The $38 fuel cost estimate provides a good baseline for budgeting your trip.
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 125.6 miles from Superior, CO, or about 2h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 229.7 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 55 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.6 miles or 2h 28m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Grand Junction, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Superior, 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 Superior, CO
This is one driving day of about 251.2 miles and 4h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Superior, 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 229.7 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 0.4 and 244 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|McCaslin Boulevard
Enter roundabout onto McCaslin Boulevard
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
3.5 mi into trip|~7m in|CO 128
At end of road, turn left onto CO 128
Navigation decision point
7
3.7 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the exit toward CR 17 south
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward CR 17 south
6
14.1 mi into trip|~25m in
Turn left toward I 70 West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 70 West
8
244 mi into trip|~4h 40m in|I 70 BUS
Take the exit onto I 70 BUS toward I 70 Business, US 6, US 50: Clifton, Grand Junction, Delta
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Exit 37
Toward I 70 Business, US 6, US 50: Clifton, Gra...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.30 one way
$76.61 round trip
$3.87/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$40.72
$81.43
premium
$4.45
$44.04
$88.08
diesel
$4.80
$47.43
$94.86
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75.4
0
$26.38
$12.06
Efficient EV
62.8
0
$21.98
$10.05
EV Truck/SUV
100.5
1
$35.17
$16.08
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 17, 2026
Origin
Superior, CO
Late night
in Superior on Sunday
Local time
3:38 AM
MDT
Current temp
63°F
Mostly Clear
WSW 3 to 8 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Grand Junction, CO
Late night
in Grand Junction on Sunday
Local time
3:38 AM
MDT
Current temp
68°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
ESE 0 to 10 mph42% 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
5 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 52m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Colorado National Monument
National Monument
Colorado National Monument preserves one of the grand landscapes of the American West. But this treasure is much more than a monument. Towering monoliths exist within a vast plateau and canyon panoram...
8 mi from route
~19 min detour
$25
near mile 251.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is largely defined by its 94% highway share, primarily on I 70, making it a fast-paced journey. You'll encounter one long stretch of 229.7 miles on I 70, meaning fewer opportunities for spontaneous stops once you're underway. The route's profile is consistently highway-focused, offering a predictable driving experience. Expect smooth sailing for the majority of the 4h 52m duration, with minimal deviations from the main interstate.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 229.7 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and I 70 BUS. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near McCaslin Boulevard.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 52m drive. You will face about 15 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (McCaslin Boulevard): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 3.5 miles (CO 128): Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
Graced by red rock mesas, Grand Junction is a vital part of Colorado's Wine Country. The city lies on the Colorado River at the foot of Grand Mesa, Mount Garfield, and Colorado National Monument. With a population of about 69,000, Grand Junction is the most populous city in the western half of the U.S. state of Colorado and the seat of Mesa County.
Top landmarks
•Cross Orchards Historic Site — place in Colorado listed on National Register of Historic Places
•Handy Chapel — chapel in Grand Junction, Colorado, United States
The longest stretch is about 229.7 miles on I 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 12 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (McCaslin Boulevard): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 3.5 miles (CO 128): Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Colorado National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Grand Junction, CO, but most travelers stay overnight.
