Traveling from Westminster to Rangely covers a total of 278.7 miles and typically takes about 6 hours and 5 minutes behind the wheel. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straight interstate shot, it is best approached as a full-day commitment. You should budget approximately $42 for fuel to complete the trip. While the entire route stays within the Mountain West region of Colorado, the transition from the suburbs to the more remote western edge of the state is significant. Given the duration and the nature of the roads, you can manage this in a single day if you start early, though you should be prepared for a steady day of driving.
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
139.4 miles from Westminster, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
179.1 mi
3h 22m
CO 64
55 mi
1h 28m
Government Road
37.1 mi
59m
Sheridan Boulevard
2.5 mi
4m
Whiteriver Avenue
1.5 mi
3m
Heartland Expressway
1.3 mi
1m
West 76th Avenue
0.8 mi
2m
CO 13
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 179.1 mi, about 3h 22m
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 Rangely, 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
179 mi·3 hr 22 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward CO 13 North: Rifle, Meeker
8
Turn right onto CO 13
0.3 mi·35 sec·CO 13
9
Turn slight right onto Whiteriver Avenue
1.5 mi·3 min·Whiteriver Avenue
10
Turn right onto CO 13
0.3 mi·26 sec·Railroad Avenue
11
Continue on CO 13
37 mi·59 min·Government Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn left onto CO 64
55 mi·1 hr 28 min·CO 64
Use the left lane.
13
Arrive at destination
CO 64
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 6-hour and 5-minute journey, plan to depart early in the morning to avoid the fatigue of navigating technical roads after dark. Since the route includes one planned stop, use that time to stretch and refresh before tackling the more demanding local segments. Keep your $42 fuel budget in mind and top off your tank before leaving the Westminster area, as local roads can sometimes have less frequent service options than major interstates. Because this is a turn-heavy drive, double-check your navigation settings before you head out to ensure you stay on the correct streets. This flexibility allows you to manage your pace, but staying alert for the frequent turns is the key to a successful trip.
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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 139.4 miles from Westminster, CO, or about 2h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 179.1 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 61 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 139.4 miles or 2h 40m 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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rangely, 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 278.7 miles and 6h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 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 179.1 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 223.7 — 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
184.3 mi into trip|~3h 31m in
Take the exit toward CO 13 North: Rifle, Meeker
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward CO 13 North: Rifle, Meeker
5
223.7 mi into trip|~4h 36m in|CO 64
Turn left onto CO 64
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.50 one way
$84.99 round trip
$3.87/gal25.4 MPG avg98 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$45.17
$90.35
premium
$4.45
$48.86
$97.72
diesel
$4.80
$52.62
$105.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
83.6
1
$29.26
$13.38
Efficient EV
69.7
0
$24.39
$11.15
EV Truck/SUV
111.5
1
$39.02
$17.84
Gas CO2
98 kg
EV CO2
33 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
2:19 AM
MDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Clear
S 3 to 8 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 12:00PM MDT until July 20 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Denver CO
Destination
Rangely, CO
Late night
in Rangely on Sunday
Local time
2:19 AM
MDT
Current temp
59°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
SSE 0 to 5 mph17% chanceLive forecast
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
7 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
6h 5m 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.
Dinosaur National Monument
National Monument
150 million years ago, dinosaurs roamed here. Their fossils are still embedded in the rocks. Today, mountains, desert, and rivers flowing in canyons support a variety of life. Petroglyphs reveal the l...
28 mi from route
~69 min detour
$25
near mile 269.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a departure from the typical interstate grind, as this route relies on West 76th Avenue, Sheridan Boulevard, and I-76 West rather than sustained high-speed highways. With a highway share of 0%, you will spend the vast majority of your time navigating local roads that demand your full attention. This is a turn-heavy journey that keeps you engaged, requiring frequent adjustments rather than letting you cruise on autopilot. The character of the drive shifts as you move away from the metropolitan density of Westminster, evolving into a more technical experience. Be ready for a hands-on driving session that prioritizes local navigation over fast-paced highway miles.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 179.1 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and CO 64. 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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 5m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 9 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
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
12,427 ft5,231 ft
Total Climb
8,565 ft
Total Descent
8,714 ft
Highest Point
12,427 ft
~59.7 mi in
Elevation Range
7,196 ft
Notable High Points
12,427 ft at ~59.7 miles+2,561 ft prominence
6,921 ft at ~199.1 miles+339 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 Rangely, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Meeker 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.
The longest stretch is about 179.1 miles on I 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 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 is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Rangely, 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 10 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 — Dinosaur National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Rangely, CO before the return drive.
