Connecting Westminster to Grand Junction, this 245.2-mile journey takes approximately 3 hours and 55 minutes of drive time. You will navigate via West 76th Avenue, Sheridan Boulevard, and I-76 West to traverse the Colorado landscape. Budget about $37 for fuel to cover this distance, which fits comfortably into a single day of travel. While you can complete the trip in one go, the turn-heavy nature of the local roads suggests staying alert behind the wheel. Both your origin and destination sit within the Mountain West, offering a consistent regional feel from start to finish.
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
122.6 miles from Westminster, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
232.9 mi
4h 18m
I 70 BUS
7.1 mi
12m
Sheridan Boulevard
2.5 mi
4m
Heartland Expressway
1.3 mi
1m
West 76th Avenue
0.8 mi
2m
Newton Street
0.1 mi
<1m
South 13th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 232.9 mi, about 4h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Westminster, CO and Grand Junction, 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
233 mi·4 hr 18 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
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.
8
Continue on I 70 BUS; US 6
4.2 mi·7 min·I 70 BUS; US 6
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on I 70 BUS
1.3 mi·2 min·I 70 BUS
10
Turn left onto South 13th Street
351 ft·9 sec·South 13th Street
11
Arrive at destination
South 13th Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 245.2-mile trek, plan for at least one scheduled stop to break up the technical driving. Since the route involves significant local road navigation, try to leave early in the day to avoid peak traffic periods that could further complicate your turns. Keep your $37 fuel budget in mind as you depart, and ensure your vehicle is ready for a trip defined by frequent adjustments rather than straight-line cruising. Because you are managing a turn-heavy path, check your tire pressure and fluid levels before heading out to ensure a smooth ride. Flexibility is your best asset here, so don't be afraid to pull over if you need a breather from the constant steering.
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 122.6 miles from Westminster, CO, or about 2h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 232.9 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 54 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 122.6 miles or 2h 19m 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 46m
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 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 245.2 miles and 4h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Westminster, 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 232.9 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 238.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|West 76th Avenue
Turn right onto West 76th Avenue
Navigation decision point
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.
8
238.1 mi into trip|~4h 27m 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
$36.94 one way
$73.89 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg86 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$39.12
$78.23
premium
$4.39
$42.42
$84.84
diesel
$5.61
$54.14
$108.27
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 85.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
73.6
0
$25.75
$11.77
Efficient EV
61.3
0
$21.46
$9.81
EV Truck/SUV
98.1
1
$34.33
$15.69
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Westminster, CO
Night
in Westminster on Saturday
Local time
10:38 PM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Grand Junction, CO
Night
in Grand Junction on Saturday
Local time
10:38 PM
MDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live 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
30 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 39m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. Since the highway share is 0%, you won't be spending much time on high-speed, multi-lane thoroughfares. Instead, the route relies on local infrastructure, creating a more technical experience for the driver. You will navigate through a series of turns that require active steering throughout the nearly four-hour duration. Because the route lacks long, uninterrupted highway stretches, you should prepare for a drive that feels more like a deliberate navigation through the local terrain.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 232.9 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 0.1 miles in near West 76th Avenue.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 39m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (West 76th Avenue): Navigation decision point; 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.
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 232.9 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.
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 0.1 miles (West 76th Avenue): Navigation decision point; 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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Grand Junction, CO, but most travelers stay overnight.
