Origin
Wheat Ridge, CO
Late night in Wheat Ridge on Sunday
Local time
1:48 AM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wheat Ridge, CO to Boulder, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
35m
Distance
24.4 mi
39 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 33m
★
6 AM
0h 36m
8 AM
0h 42m
10 AM
0h 38m
12 PM
0h 37m
3 PM
0h 38m
5 PM
0h 41m
8 PM
0h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wheat Ridge, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Boulder, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Connecting Wheat Ridge to Boulder is a quick 24.4-mile journey that typically takes about 35 minutes behind the wheel. Because this trip is so brief, it functions perfectly as an easy day trip, requiring no overnight stays or complex logistics. You will primarily utilize the Denver–Boulder Turnpike, supplemented by stretches of Sheridan Boulevard and North Wadsworth Boulevard. Budgeting around $4 for fuel should be more than enough to cover the entire distance. Since both the origin and destination are located within the Mountain West, you will experience a consistent regional feel throughout the drive. This route is an ideal choice for travelers looking for a straightforward, efficient connection between these two Colorado communities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Denver–Boulder Turnpike | 14.7 mi | 17m |
| Sheridan Boulevard | 4.6 mi | 7m |
| North Wadsworth Boulevard | 1 mi | 1m |
| 28th Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Heartland Expressway | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Arapahoe Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Teller Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West 38th Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
— 14.7 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wheat Ridge, CO and Boulder, CO.
1
Start on this road
24 ft
·
7 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Teller Street
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Teller Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto CR 180
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
West 38th Avenue
4
Turn right onto CO 121
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Wadsworth Boulevard
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 70 East, I 76 East: Denver, Fort Morgan
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
Use the left / right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 76
0.6 mi
·
44 sec
·
Heartland Expressway
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 1B
Toward CO 95: Sheridan Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn left onto CO 95
4.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Sheridan Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward US 36 West: Boulder
Use the left lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward US 36 West
12
Merge onto US 36
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
18
Keep slight left at fork onto US 36
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on US 36
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
28th Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
20
Turn left onto Arapahoe Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Arapahoe Avenue
Use the left lane.
21
Turn right onto 19th Street
143 ft
·
11 sec
·
19th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Turn left
87 ft
·
4 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 205 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 9.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 70 East, I 76 East: Denver, Fort Morgan
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 70 East, I 76 East: Denver, Fort Morga...
7
1.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
7
2.9 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the exit toward CO 95: Sheridan Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1B
Toward CO 95: Sheridan Boulevard
6
7.8 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Turn left toward US 36 West: Boulder
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward US 36 West: Boulder
6
9.2 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
US 36 / Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36 / Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.68 one way
$7.35 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $3.89 | $7.78 |
| premium | $4.39 | $4.22 | $8.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.39 | $10.77 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.02
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
(14.7 mi)
$1.02
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Tolls
$1
Total
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.3 | 0 | $2.56 | $1.17 |
| Efficient EV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.14 | $0.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.42 | $1.56 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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.
Destination
Boulder, CO
Late night in Boulder on Sunday
Local time
1:48 AM
MDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
26 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
35m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is largely highway-focused, with 63% of your travel occurring on higher-speed roads. You can expect a relatively steady experience, highlighted by a 14.7-mile uninterrupted stretch along the Denver–Boulder Turnpike. While the route transitions from local surface streets like North Wadsworth Boulevard to the faster pace of the turnpike, the character remains functional and direct. Don't anticipate a winding scenic byway; instead, prepare for a professional, commuter-style road profile. Your time behind the wheel will be characterized by these efficient transitions between major corridors, making for a predictable and smooth ride.
63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.7 mi on Denver–Boulder Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Denver–Boulder Turnpike and Sheridan Boulevard. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 20 decision points packed into just 24.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 35m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Wheat Ridge, CO to Boulder, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Morgan along the way.
Fort Morgan
1.4 mi in
|
~3m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 35m. Total distance: 24.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (63%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.7 miles on Denver–Boulder Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.02 in tolls one way, starting with Denver–Boulder Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Boulder, CO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Boulder, CO before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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