Origin
Windsor, CO
Night in Windsor on Saturday
Local time
10:34 PM
MDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Windsor, CO to Denver, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 11m
Distance
56.9 mi
92 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Sparse
1 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 6m
★
6 AM
1h 12m
8 AM
1h 23m
10 AM
1h 16m
12 PM
1h 14m
3 PM
1h 16m
5 PM
1h 22m
8 PM
1h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Windsor, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Denver, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Windsor to Denver, expect a straightforward 56.9-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 11 minutes. Since both locations are situated within the Mountain West region of Colorado, the drive is perfect for a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stay. You should budget approximately $9 for fuel to cover the distance. This route is entirely highway-based, making it a functional connection between the two points rather than a leisure cruise. Because the trip is short and efficient, it offers plenty of flexibility for your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 34.4 mi | 34m |
| North Valley Highway | 14.2 mi | 17m |
| East County Road 32 | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Main Street | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| North Broadway | 1 mi | 3m |
| Park Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Highway 392 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Park Avenue West | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 34.4 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Windsor, CO and Denver, CO.
1
Start on Elm Street
317 ft
·
16 sec
·
Elm Street
2
Turn right onto 4th Street
484 ft
·
26 sec
·
4th Street
3
Turn left onto Walnut Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Walnut Street
4
Turn right onto 7th Street
499 ft
·
22 sec
·
7th Street
5
Turn left onto CO 392
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Main Street
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on CO 392
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
Highway 392
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on CO 392
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
East County Road 32
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 25 South
Use the left lane.
9
Merge onto I 25
34 mi
·
34 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 25
0.6 mi
·
36 sec
·
North Valley Highway
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
8.8 mi
·
10 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 213
Toward 38th Avenue, Park Avenue, Downtown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
Toward Park Avenue, Downtown
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on Park Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Park Avenue
16
Turn straight onto Park Avenue West
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Park Avenue West
17
Continue on West 22nd Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West 22nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn right onto North Broadway
1.0 mi
·
3 min
·
North Broadway
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Turn left onto East 14th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
East 14th Avenue
Use the left lane.
20
Turn left
358 ft
·
27 sec
Use the straight / left lanes.
21
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.4 miles from Windsor, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 56.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
CO 392 / Main Street
Turn left onto CO 392 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
5 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Turn left toward I 25 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 25 South
8
53.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
Take the exit toward 38th Avenue, Park Avenue, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 213
Toward 38th Avenue, Park Avenue, Downtown
9
54.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Park Avenue, Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Park Avenue, Downtown
7
56.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.57 one way
$17.15 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $9.08 | $18.15 |
| premium | $4.39 | $9.84 | $19.69 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.56 | $25.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.1 | 0 | $5.97 | $2.73 |
| Efficient EV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.98 | $2.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.8 | 0 | $7.97 | $3.64 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
Denver, CO
Night in Denver on Saturday
Local time
10:34 PM
MDT
Current temp
46°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
34 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
1h 11m 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?
Expect a mix of driving conditions as you transition between local roads and major thoroughfares. You will spend the entirety of the 56.9 miles on highways, including the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, the North Valley Highway, and East County Road 32. The longest uninterrupted segment occurs on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, which spans 34.4 miles. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive, you will need to stay alert as the road transitions through these various highway segments. It is a practical, utilitarian route that keeps you moving toward your destination without unnecessary lulls.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 34.4 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near CO 392 / Main Street.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 56.9 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.5 miles (CO 392 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 53.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
5,427 ft
4,795 ft
Total Climb
949 ft
Total Descent
468 ft
Highest Point
5,427 ft
~44.7 mi in
Elevation Range
632 ft
Notable High Points
5,059 ft at ~8.1 miles
+105 ft prominence
5,032 ft at ~20.3 miles
+57 ft prominence
5,427 ft at ~44.7 miles
+191 ft prominence
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 Windsor, CO to Denver, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Downtown along the way.
Downtown
53.8 mi in
|
~1h 3m
About the Cities
Arriving in Denver, CO
Full guide →Denver is the capital of the western U.S. state of Colorado and the dominant city of the Rocky Mountain Region. Founded in 1858 as the placer gold mining camp known as the Cherry Creek Diggings, the "Mile-High City" is today the most populous city within a 560-mile (900 km) radius and the center of the Front Range Urban Corridor of more than five million residents. Denver embraces its cowboy and mining past but also looks toward the future with a vibrant arts and performing arts scene, dozens of great outdoor festivals, and distinct neighborhoods each offering a unique experience. You'll find everything a cosmopolitan city has to offer including a spectacular view of and easy access to the beautiful Rocky Mountains, which arise only 12 miles (19 km) west of the Colorado State Capitol.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 11m. Total distance: 56.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 34.4 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Denver, 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 0.5 miles (CO 392 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 53.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Denver, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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