Traveling from Westminster to Edwards covers 112.1 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 14 minutes. Since the entire trip stays within Colorado’s Mountain West region, it is a straightforward journey that works perfectly as a one-day excursion. You should budget approximately $17 for fuel to complete the drive. Because the duration is relatively short, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you have additional plans in the area. This route is designed for efficiency, prioritizing highway travel to get you from the Denver suburbs to the mountains with minimal fuss. It serves as a practical connection for those looking to reach the Edwards area quickly.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
56 miles from Westminster, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
106.1 mi
2h 3m
Sheridan Boulevard
2.5 mi
4m
Heartland Expressway
1.3 mi
1m
West 76th Avenue
0.8 mi
2m
Edwards Access Road
0.6 mi
1m
Newton Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 106.1 mi, about 2h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Westminster, CO and Edwards, CO.
1
Start on Newton Street
0.1 mi·35 sec·Newton Street
2
Turn right onto West 76th Avenue
0.8 mi·2 min·West 76th Avenue
3
Turn left onto CO 95
2.5 mi·4 min·Sheridan Boulevard
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 76 West
5
Merge onto I 76
1.3 mi·1 min·Heartland Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 70
106 mi·2 hr 3 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward Edwards
8
Enter roundabout onto I 70 Business
250 ft·5 sec·Edwards Access Road
9
Continue on I 70 Business
314 ft·6 sec·Edwards Access Road
10
Enter roundabout onto I 70 Business
106 ft·2 sec·Edwards Access Road
11
Continue on I 70 Business
301 ft·6 sec·Edwards Access Road
12
Enter roundabout onto I 70 Business
76 ft·1 sec·Edwards Access Road
13
Continue on I 70 Business
0.4 mi·40 sec·Edwards Access Road
14
Turn right
211 ft·15 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For the best experience, aim to depart early to avoid potential congestion on the interstate, especially during peak travel times. Since this is a 2-hour and 14-minute trek, you have the flexibility to drive it in one go without needing scheduled stops for rest. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Westminster, as the $17 estimated cost can vary based on your vehicle's efficiency and mountain driving conditions. Given that the route is almost entirely highway-based, ensure your tires and fluid levels are ready for steady interstate speeds. Using the I-70 corridor as your primary path allows you to focus on the road ahead while enjoying the convenience of a direct, efficient route.
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 56 miles from Westminster, CO, or about 1h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 106.1 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 25 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56 miles or 1h 8m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Edwards, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Westminster, 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 Westminster, CO
This is one driving day of about 112.1 miles and 2h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Westminster, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 70 for about 106.1 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 111.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1 mi into trip|~2m in|CO 95 / Sheridan Boulevard
Turn left onto CO 95 / Sheridan Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
3.9 mi into trip|~7m in|I 76 / Heartland Expressway
Merge onto I 76 / Heartland Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
5.2 mi into trip|~9m in|I 70
Merge onto I 70
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
111.4 mi into trip|~2h 13m in|I 70 Business / Edwards Access Road
Enter roundabout onto I 70 Business / Edwards Access Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
111.6 mi into trip|~2h 13m in|I 70 Business / Edwards Access Road
Enter roundabout onto I 70 Business / Edwards Access Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.89 one way
$33.78 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$17.88
$35.77
premium
$4.39
$19.39
$38.78
diesel
$5.61
$24.75
$49.50
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.6
0
$11.77
$5.38
Efficient EV
28
0
$9.81
$4.48
EV Truck/SUV
44.8
0
$15.69
$7.17
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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 19, 2026
Origin
Westminster, CO
Late night
in Westminster on Tuesday
Local time
4:48 AM
MDT
Current temp
36°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Edwards, CO
Late night
in Edwards on Tuesday
Local time
4:48 AM
MDT
Current temp
28°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
25°F
Georgetown, CO
56 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
8 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
2h 14m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 96% of your time spent on major routes like I-70, Sheridan Boulevard, and the Heartland Expressway. You will settle into a rhythm quickly, as the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 106.1 miles specifically on I-70. Expect a high-speed experience that moves you rapidly through the landscape rather than a winding, technical road trip. The transition from the urban outskirts of Westminster to the mountainous terrain near Edwards happens steadily as you track along the interstate. Prepare for a consistent, steady pace behind the wheel that prioritizes functionality and speed over backroad exploration.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 106.1 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and Sheridan Boulevard. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near CO 95 / Sheridan 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 2h 14m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (CO 95 / Sheridan Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.9 miles (I 76 / Heartland Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.2 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
The longest stretch is about 106.1 miles on I 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 1 miles (CO 95 / Sheridan Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.9 miles (I 76 / Heartland Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.2 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Edwards, CO before heading back.
