Telluride to Westminster is 363.6 miles and takes about 7h 27m via I 70 BUS, US 50, US 550, with a fuel budget near $63 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Colorado, beginning in the Mountain West region and ending in the same area. Expect a high percentage of highway driving on this route, making it a straightforward point-to-point trip. With a single recommended day, this is a manageable drive for most people looking to get from the mountains to the Denver metro area.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
181.8 miles from Telluride, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70 BUS
234.5 mi
4h 24m
US 50
43.5 mi
52m
US 550
29.9 mi
40m
CO 62
23.3 mi
31m
CO 145
12.7 mi
21m
32 Road
5.4 mi
9m
West Colorado Avenue
3.5 mi
8m
Sheridan Boulevard
2.7 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 70 BUS
— 234.5 mi, about 4h 24m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 18 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,726 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,309
Quietest
2 AM
~95 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.2×
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 Telluride, CO and Westminster, CO.
1
Start on West Colorado Avenue
0.5 mi·2 min·West Colorado Avenue
2
Enter roundabout onto West Colorado Avenue
85 ft·4 sec·West Colorado Avenue
3
Continue on West Colorado Avenue
2.9 mi·6 min·West Colorado Avenue
Use the straight lane.
4
Enter roundabout onto CO 145
38 ft·0 sec·CO 145
5
Continue on CO 145
13 mi·21 min·CO 145
6
At end of road, turn right onto CO 62
23 mi·31 min·CO 62
7
Turn left onto US 550
30 mi·40 min·US 550
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on US 50
17 mi·20 min·US 50
9
Turn left onto Confluence Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·Confluence Drive
Use the left lane.
10
Turn left onto West 5th Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·West 5th Street
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on G Road
1.6 mi·3 min·G Road
12
Continue on G Road
0.7 mi·1 min·G Road
13
Continue on G50 Road
2.1 mi·3 min·G50 Road
14
At end of road, turn left onto US 50
15 mi·17 min·US 50
15
Continue on US 50
12 mi·14 min·US 50
16
Continue on CO 141
5.4 mi·9 min·32 Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
17
Turn right onto I 70 BUS; US 6
0.3 mi·34 sec·I 70 BUS; US 6
18
Continue on I 70 BUS; US 6
0.8 mi·1 min·I 70 BUS; US 6
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 BUS
233 mi·4 hr 22 min·I 70 BUS
Toward I 70 East: DenverUse the slight right lane.
20
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.
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 1BToward CO 95: Sheridan BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Turn left onto CO 95
2.7 mi·4 min·Sheridan Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
23
Turn right onto West 76th Avenue
0.8 mi·2 min·West 76th Avenue
24
Turn left onto Newton Street
0.1 mi·33 sec·Newton Street
25
Arrive at destination
Newton Street
Trip Plan
Given the 7h 27m estimated drive time, leaving Telluride in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight. Plan for two stops to break up the 363.6 miles and stay refreshed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 234.5-mile stretch on I 70 BUS, as services might be less frequent in certain sections. The $63 fuel cost is an estimate, so checking current prices is wise. Since this is a one-day trip, you have flexibility in your stop timing.
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 181.8 miles from Telluride, CO, or about 3h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 234.5 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 80 miles or 1h 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 181.8 miles or 3h 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 16m
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 Telluride, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Telluride, CO
This is one driving day of about 363.6 miles and 7h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Telluride, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 70 BUS for about 234.5 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 39.5 and 359.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
39.5 mi into trip|~1h 1m in|US 550
Turn left onto US 550
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
87.4 mi into trip|~2h 5m in|West 5th Street
Turn left onto West 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
125 mi into trip|~2h 56m in|I 70 BUS
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 BUS toward I 70 East: Denver
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 70 East: Denver
8
358.3 mi into trip|~7h 18m 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
359.6 mi into trip|~7h 19m 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
$55.44 one way
$110.88 round trip
$3.87/gal25.4 MPG avg127 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$58.93
$117.87
premium
$4.45
$63.74
$127.49
diesel
$4.80
$68.65
$137.31
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 127.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
109.1
1
$38.18
$17.45
Efficient EV
90.9
1
$31.82
$14.54
EV Truck/SUV
145.4
1
$50.90
$23.27
Gas CO2
127 kg
EV CO2
43 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 Jun 29, 2026
Origin
Telluride, CO
Evening
in Telluride on Saturday
Local time
7:27 PM
MDT
Current temp
45°F
Areas Of Smoke
S 10 to 20 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Fire Weather Watch
Fire Weather Watch issued June 28 at 10:23PM MDT until June 30 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO
Fire Weather Watch
Fire Weather Watch issued June 28 at 10:23PM MDT until June 30 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO
Destination
Westminster, CO
Evening
in Westminster on Saturday
Local time
7:27 PM
MDT
Current temp
60°F
Areas Of Smoke
W 5 to 9 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Fire Weather Watch
Fire Weather Watch issued June 28 at 10:23PM MDT until June 30 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO
Fire Weather Watch
Fire Weather Watch issued June 28 at 10:23PM MDT until June 30 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO
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
15 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
7h 27m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park
National Park
Big enough to be overwhelming, yet still intimate enough to feel the pulse of time. Come see some of the steepest cliffs, oldest rock, and craggiest spires in North America. Forces of nature and the G...
12 mi from route
~31 min detour
$30
near mile 62.7
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...
14 mi from route
~35 min detour
$25
near mile 125.4
Three reservoirs and surrounding lands make up this recreation area in western Colorado. It is a landscape of tradeoffs; natural and human made features exist together. Geologic wonders are abundant f...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
Free
near mile 50.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend 95% of this 363.6-mile trip on highways, with the longest continuous stretch covering 234.5 miles on I 70 BUS. This means you'll mostly be cruising at highway speeds for the bulk of your travel. Expect to transition to surface roads as you approach your destination in Westminster. The extensive highway portion suggests a consistent driving pace for much of the route.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 234.5 mi on I 70 BUS.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 BUS and US 50. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 39.5 miles in near US 550.
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 363.6 miles you will encounter 14 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 39.5 miles (US 550): Lane positioning matters here; at 87.4 miles (West 5th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 125 miles (I 70 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
Telluride is in the southern Rocky Mountains approximately 100 miles (160 km) from Four Corners, the intersection of Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah. Telluride is home to the Telluride Ski Resort, and home of an independent film festival.
Top landmarks
•Telluride Historic District — historic district in Colorado, United States
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 7h 27m. Total distance: 363.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 27m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 234.5 miles on I 70 BUS. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 14 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.
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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 14 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 39.5 miles (US 550): Lane positioning matters here; at 87.4 miles (West 5th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 125 miles (I 70 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park, Colorado National Monument and Curecanti National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.5 hours each way, a round trip means 14.9 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.
