Westminster, CO to Paonia, CO is 230.3 miles and takes about 5h 4m via I 70 and CO 133, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Colorado, traversing the Mountain West region from start to finish. Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience, making it a straightforward journey. With a recommended single day for travel, this route is ideal for those seeking an efficient trip between these two points.
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
115.1 miles from Westminster, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
153.2 mi
2h 54m
CO 133
58.1 mi
1h 36m
Glen Avenue
9.8 mi
15m
Sheridan Boulevard
2.5 mi
4m
Midland Avenue
1.6 mi
2m
Heartland Expressway
1.3 mi
1m
Grand Avenue
1 mi
2m
West 76th Avenue
0.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 153.2 mi, about 2h 54m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,822 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,443
Quietest
2 AM
~100 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 Paonia, 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
153 mi·2 hr 54 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.1 mi·21 sec
Toward CO 82 East: Glenwood Springs, Aspen
8
Continue on CO 82
390 ft·15 sec·Laurel Street
9
Continue on CO 82
0.2 mi·45 sec·Grand Avenue
10
Turn right onto 8th Street
0.4 mi·48 sec·8th Street
11
At end of road, turn left onto Midland Avenue
1.6 mi·2 min·Midland Avenue
12
Enter roundabout onto 27th Street
178 ft·3 sec·27th Street
13
Continue on 27th Street
0.1 mi·12 sec·27th Street
14
Enter roundabout onto 27th Street
84 ft·2 sec·27th Street
15
Continue on 27th Street
0.1 mi·18 sec·27th Street
16
Turn right onto CO 82
9.8 mi·15 min·Glen Avenue
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right onto CO 133
1.1 mi·2 min·CO 133
18
Enter roundabout onto CO 133
110 ft·1 sec·CO 133
19
Continue on CO 133
1.3 mi·2 min·CO 133
20
Continue on CO 133
56 mi·1 hr 31 min·CO 133
Use the left lane.
21
Turn left onto Grand Avenue
0.8 mi·2 min·Grand Avenue
Use the left lane.
22
Turn left onto 3rd Street
0.3 mi·47 sec·3rd Street
23
Turn right onto Orchard Avenue
53 ft·2 sec·Orchard Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
Orchard Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 4m duration, this trip is comfortably achievable in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. Plan for at least one stop to break up the 153.2-mile stretch on I 70. Fuel costs are estimated at $35, so ensure your tank is sufficiently full before heading out, especially as you get further from major interstate services. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you transition onto CO 133, as services may become less frequent.
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 115.1 miles from Westminster, CO, or about 2h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 153.2 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 51 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 115.1 miles or 2h 14m 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Paonia, 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 230.3 miles and 5h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 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 153.2 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 159.2 — 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.
5
158.4 mi into trip|~3h 4m in
Take the exit toward CO 82 East: Glenwood Springs, Aspen
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward CO 82 East: Glenwood Springs, Aspen
5
159.2 mi into trip|~3h 6m in|Midland Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto Midland Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.12 one way
$70.23 round trip
$3.87/gal25.4 MPG avg81 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$37.33
$74.66
premium
$4.45
$40.38
$80.75
diesel
$4.80
$43.48
$86.97
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
69.1
0
$24.18
$11.05
Efficient EV
57.6
0
$20.15
$9.21
EV Truck/SUV
92.1
1
$32.24
$14.74
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 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 18, 2026
Origin
Westminster, CO
Late night
in Westminster on Sunday
Local time
3:38 AM
MDT
Current temp
94°F
Sunny
NE 7 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 4:46AM MDT until July 20 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Denver CO
Destination
Paonia, CO
Late night
in Paonia on Sunday
Local time
3:38 AM
MDT
Current temp
94°F
Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 5 mph42% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 4:46AM 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 4m 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.
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...
21 mi from route
~53 min detour
$30
near mile 230.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is heavily highway-focused, with 92% of the drive taking place on major roads. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I 70, including a long stretch of 153.2 miles, before transitioning to CO 133. The primary roads suggest a mix of interstate speeds and more winding mountain highway driving as you approach your destination. Be prepared for the road character to shift as you move from the broader interstate corridor onto more localized routes.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 153.2 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and CO 133. You will hit about 16 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 230.3 miles you will encounter 16 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 5.2 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
10,279 ft5,381 ft
Total Climb
7,557 ft
Total Descent
7,257 ft
Highest Point
10,279 ft
~82.2 mi in
Elevation Range
4,899 ft
Notable High Points
10,279 ft at ~82.2 miles+835 ft prominence
8,655 ft at ~197.4 miles+2,060 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Westminster, CO to Paonia, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Aspen along the way.
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.
Paonia is a town in the Northwestern part of the Rocky Mountains state of Colorado. It is the nearest town to the West Elks American Viticultural Area (AVA), part of Colorado's Wine Country and home to the highest wine vineyards in North America.
Top landmarks
•Paonia First Christian Church — historic church building in Paonia, Colorado, USA
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 4m. Total distance: 230.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 153.2 miles on I 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 8 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 8 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 5.2 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — 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 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Paonia, CO before the return drive.
