Westminster, CO to Orchard City, CO is 286.8 miles and takes about 5h 34m via I 70 and US 50, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Mountain West region, traveling from the Denver metro area westward across Colorado. It's a primarily highway drive, making it a straightforward option if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground. With its relatively short duration and predictable route, this is a solid choice for a single-day excursion.
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
143.4 miles from Westminster, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 42m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
232.9 mi
4h 18m
US 50
20.8 mi
25m
United States Highway 50
11.7 mi
14m
32 Road
5.4 mi
9m
CO 65
5.2 mi
8m
CO 92
3.8 mi
5m
Sheridan Boulevard
2.5 mi
4m
I 70 BUS
1.8 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 232.9 mi, about 4h 18m
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 Westminster, CO and Orchard City, 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
0.2 mi·31 sec·I 70 BUS; US 6
9
Turn left onto CO 141
5.4 mi·9 min·32 Road
Use the left lane.
10
At end of road, turn left onto US 50; CO 141
12 mi·14 min·United States Highway 50
Toward DeltaUse the left lane.
11
Continue on US 50
16 mi·18 min·US 50
12
Continue on US 50
4.7 mi·7 min·US 50
13
Turn left onto CO 92
1.1 mi·2 min·CO 92
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on CO 92
2.7 mi·3 min·CO 92
15
Turn left onto CO 65
5.2 mi·8 min·CO 65
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto 2100 Road
396 ft·22 sec·2100 Road
17
Turn left onto Fruitgrowers Road
38 ft·1 sec·Fruitgrowers Road
18
Arrive at destination
Fruitgrowers Road
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour 34-minute drive time, leaving Westminster in the morning should allow you to reach Orchard City with plenty of daylight. This route is designed for a single day, so you won't need to plan for an overnight stay. There's only one recommended stop, so consider making it a mid-point break to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition from I 70 to US 50, as services can become more spread out on the latter. Your estimated fuel cost is around $45.
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 143.4 miles from Westminster, CO, or about 2h 42m 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 63 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143.4 miles or 2h 42m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Orchard City, 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 286.8 miles and 5h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 277.8 — 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.
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...
7
245.3 mi into trip|~4h 40m in|US 50; CO 141 / United States Highway 50
At end of road, turn left onto US 50; CO 141 / United States Highway 50 toward Delta
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward Delta
6
277.8 mi into trip|~5h 20m in|CO 92
Turn left onto CO 92
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.73 one way
$87.46 round trip
$3.87/gal25.4 MPG avg100 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$46.49
$92.97
premium
$4.45
$50.28
$100.56
diesel
$4.80
$54.15
$108.31
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
86
1
$30.11
$13.77
Efficient EV
71.7
0
$25.10
$11.47
EV Truck/SUV
114.7
1
$40.15
$18.36
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
34 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Westminster, CO
Late night
in Westminster on Sunday
Local time
1:00 AM
MDT
Current temp
93°F
Sunny
E 9 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 6:50PM MDT until July 17 at 7:00PM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 12:00PM MDT until July 20 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Denver CO
Destination
Orchard City, CO
Late night
in Orchard City on Sunday
Local time
1:00 AM
MDT
Current temp
60°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
ENE 5 to 10 mph40% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 6:50PM MDT until July 17 at 7:00PM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 12:00PM MDT until July 20 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Denver 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
33 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
5h 34m 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...
14 mi from route
~34 min detour
$25
near mile 247.3
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...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
$30
near mile 286.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on the highway for about 97% of this 286.8-mile drive. The longest continuous stretch on the interstate is 232.9 miles along I 70. Expect to transition from primarily interstate cruising to surface roads, specifically US 50, for the final portion of your trip. This drive involves significant highway mileage, so be prepared for faster speeds and potentially fewer immediate services once you leave the main interstate.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 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?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and US 50. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near CO 95 / Sheridan Boulevard.
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 286.8 miles you will encounter 12 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 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 238.1 miles (I 70 BUS): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
10,827 ft4,806 ft
Total Climb
6,085 ft
Total Descent
6,020 ft
Highest Point
10,827 ft
~61.5 mi in
Elevation Range
6,020 ft
Notable High Points
10,827 ft at ~61.5 miles+577 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Westminster, CO and Orchard City, CO, road signs point toward Grand Junction and Delta.
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 5h 34m. Total distance: 286.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 232.9 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 12 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 238.1 miles (I 70 BUS): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Colorado National Monument and Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Orchard City, CO before the return drive.
