How far is Arvada, CO from Carbondale, CO?

The driving distance from Arvada, CO to Carbondale, CO is about 168.5 miles (271.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 24m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 116.4 miles (187.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 48m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
168.44 mi
03h 24m
Flight
116.39 mi
187.31 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Arvada.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
116.39 mi
Kilometers
187.31 km
Flight Time
00h 14m

Driving Distance

Road route
168.44 mi
Kilometers
271.07 km
Drive Time
03h 24m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 24m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Carbondale
Thu, Apr 23, 9:26 AM MDT
Return by in Arvada
Thu, Apr 23, 12:50 PM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Arvada
2026-04-23T06:02
Arrive Carbondale
Thu, Apr 23, 9:26 AM MDT
Route Timing
03h 24m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:24 AM to 11:24 AM MDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:12 AM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Arvada
9:00 PM MDT
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Vail
CO

Home Rule Municipality in Eagle County, Colorado, United States

From Arvada
84.1 mi
01h 42m
To Carbondale
84.3 mi
01h 42m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
68°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
8 to 21 mph W
Destination
59°F
Thursday

Slight Chance Snow Showers

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Arvada and Carbondale.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Arvada and Carbondale.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    13 m · 5 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Ammons Street

    69 m · 10 sec · Ammons Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Ralston Road

    2318 ft · 1 min · Ralston Road

  4. 4

    Continue on West 58th Avenue

    1.3 km · 2 min · West 58th Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Kipling Parkway

    1 mi · 2 min · Kipling Parkway

  6. 6

    Continue on Kipling Street

    1288 ft · 26 sec · Kipling Street

  7. 7

    Take the ramp right toward I 70 West

    1754 ft · 46 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    151.3 mi · 2 hr 53 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward CO 82 East: Glenwood Springs, Aspen

    747 ft · 21 sec

  10. 10

    Continue on Laurel Street

    119 m · 15 sec · Laurel Street

  11. 11

    Continue on Grand Avenue

    1204 ft · 45 sec · Grand Avenue

  12. 12

    Turn right onto 8th Street

    2084 ft · 49 sec · 8th Street

  13. 13

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Midland Avenue

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Midland Avenue

  14. 14

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward 27th Street

    54 m · 3 sec · 27th Street

  15. 15

    Exit the roundabout onto 27th Street

    636 ft · 13 sec · 27th Street

  16. 16

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward 27th Street

    26 m · 2 sec · 27th Street

  17. 17

    Exit the roundabout onto 27th Street

    692 ft · 19 sec · 27th Street

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Glen Avenue

    9.8 mi · 16 min · Glen Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn right

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  20. 20

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Main Street

    68 m · 3 sec · Main Street

  21. 21

    Exit the roundabout onto Main Street

    2385 ft · 53 sec · Main Street

  22. 22

    Turn left onto North 4th Street

    610 ft · 27 sec · North 4th Street

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Merrill Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Arvada and Carbondale.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
23 steps
14 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
1 merges, 8 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 70 West
152 mi · 90%
Glen Avenue
9.82 mi · 6%
Midland Avenue
1.64 mi · 1%
Kipling Parkway
1.02 mi · 1%
West 58th Avenue
0.82 mi
Main Street
0.49 mi
Longest Stretch

I 70 West

Merge slight left

151 mi · 02h 53m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 24m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+52.1 mi
116.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Vail
01h 42m from Arvada
Leave By
10:12 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers leaving Arvada and Slight Chance Snow Showers near Carbondale.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Arvada to Carbondale?

The road trip is about 168.5 miles (271.1 km) and usually takes 03h 24m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Vail is a useful midpoint, sitting about 84.1 miles from Arvada and 84.3 miles from Carbondale.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 116.4 miles (187.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 52.1 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:12 AM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $21.97 one way or $43.93 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 52.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers around Arvada and Slight Chance Snow Showers near Carbondale.

Stop Ideas Near Vail

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Vail, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Vail.

BUS

Vail, Colorado

3 mi away
241 South Frontage Road East
BUS

Frisco, Colorado

25 mi away
1010 Meadow Drive
BUS

Fairplay, CO

57 mi away
620 US Highway 285
RAIL

Fraser – Winter Park

59 mi away
205 Fraser Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Arvada and Carbondale. Straight-line distance: 116.39 mi (187.31 km).

Arvada

#1 Arvada

The second most populous city in Jefferson County, Colorado.

Population121,936
Coordinates39.8027600, -105.0874800
Altitude1629
CountryUnited States
Carbondale

#2 Carbondale

Town of the United States

Population6,729
Coordinates39.4022100, -107.2111600
Altitude1881
CountryUnited States
Start: Arvada (-105.08748, 39.80276)
End: Carbondale (-107.21116, 39.40221)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 271 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 36m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 12m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 22m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 48m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 24m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 06m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.94 gal
22.5 L · about $21.97
Round trip
$43.93
11.88 gal · 45 L
Estimated CO2
52.8 kg one way
Round trip: 105.6 kg / 233 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.70 $21.97 $43.93
Mid-grade $4.08 $24.26 $48.52
Premium $4.39 $26.08 $52.17
Diesel $4.74 $28.14 $56.28

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Colorado · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Arvada and Carbondale. The current time is 06:02:44.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.