How far is Boulder, CO from Lafayette, CO?

The driving distance from Boulder, CO to Lafayette, CO is about 11.1 miles (17.9 km), with a travel time of about 00h 21m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 9.7 miles (15.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 42m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM MDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
11.11 mi
00h 21m
Flight
9.69 mi
15.59 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Boulder.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
9.69 mi
Kilometers
15.59 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
11.11 mi
Kilometers
17.88 km
Drive Time
00h 21m

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 00h 21m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lafayette
Wed, Apr 15, 8:13 AM MDT
Return by in Boulder
Wed, Apr 15, 8:34 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Boulder
2026-04-15T07:51
Arrive Lafayette
Wed, Apr 15, 8:13 AM MDT
Route Timing
00h 21m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM MDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:21 AM to 7:21 PM MDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:48 PM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Boulder
10:00 PM MDT
Flexible departure

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
Louisville
CO

City in Colorado

From Boulder
5.5 mi
00h 10m
To Lafayette
5.6 mi
00h 10m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
62°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
7 to 12 mph W
Destination
68°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
6 to 13 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Boulder and Lafayette.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Boulder and Lafayette.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    27 m · 7 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto 19th Street

    44 m · 14 sec · 19th Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Arapahoe Avenue

    3.4 mi · 7 min · Arapahoe Avenue

  4. 4

    Continue on Arapahoe Road

    5.3 mi · 8 min · Arapahoe Road

  5. 5

    Turn slight right onto CO 7, US 285

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  6. 6

    Turn left onto West Baseline Road

    1.1 km · 2 min · West Baseline Road

  7. 7

    Turn right onto North Public Road

    2168 ft · 1 min · North Public Road

  8. 8

    Turn left onto East Emma Street

    97 m · 13 sec · East Emma Street

  9. 9

    Turn right onto South Harrison Avenue

    61 m · 9 sec · South Harrison Avenue

  10. 10

    Turn right

    24 m · 13 sec

  11. 11

    Turn sharp right

    28 m · 7 sec

  12. 12

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Boulder and Lafayette.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
12 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
108.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Arapahoe Road
5.35 mi · 48%
Arapahoe Avenue
3.38 mi · 30%
CO 7
1.13 mi · 10%
West Baseline Road
0.67 mi · 6%
North Public Road
0.41 mi · 4%
East Emma Street
0.06 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Arapahoe Road

Continue on Arapahoe Road

5.35 mi · 00h 08m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 21m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+1.4 mi
9.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Louisville
00h 10m from Boulder
Leave By
7:48 PM MDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Boulder and Sunny near Lafayette.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Boulder to Lafayette?

The road trip is about 11.1 miles (17.9 km) and usually takes 00h 21m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Louisville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 5.5 miles from Boulder and 5.6 miles from Lafayette.

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

The direct path is about 9.7 miles (15.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 1.4 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM MDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:48 PM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $1.44 one way or $2.88 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 3.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Boulder and Sunny near Lafayette.

Stop Ideas Near Louisville

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Louisville and the surrounding midpoint area.
Municipal Court Park
Scenic stop 14.5 mi away

Municipal Court Park

Westminster , CO
3025 W 76th Ave, Westminster, CO 80030
Rating 3.8/5 94 reviews Park
Broomfield City Council
Meeting point 8.3 mi away

Broomfield City Council

Broomfield , CO
1 Descombes Dr, Broomfield, CO 80020
Rating 3.9/5 63 reviews City government office
Lafayette City Hall
Nearby stop 4.5 mi away

Lafayette City Hall

Lafayette , CO
1290 S Public Rd, Lafayette, CO 80026
Rating 5.0/5 2 reviews City administration
Old Town Hall
Scenic stop 13.3 mi away

Old Town Hall

Frederick , CO
105 Fifth St, Frederick, CO 80530
Rating 4.0/5 2 reviews Historical landmark,History museum

Transit and Meeting Points

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

BUS

Boulder, Colorado

16 mi away
30th & Diagonal Highway
BUS

Longmont, Colorado

21 mi away
623 Main St.
RAIL

Union Station

27 mi away
1701 Wynkoop Street
BUS

Denver (Bus Station), Colorado

28 mi away
1055 19th Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Boulder and Lafayette. Straight-line distance: 9.69 mi (15.59 km).

Boulder

#1 Boulder

The most populous city in Boulder County, Colorado.

Population107,645
Coordinates40.0149900, -105.2705500
Altitude1624
CountryUnited States
Lafayette

#2 Lafayette

City in Colorado

Population28,579
Coordinates39.9936000, -105.0897100
Altitude1588
CountryUnited States
Start: Boulder (-105.27055, 40.01499)
End: Lafayette (-105.08971, 39.9936)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 18 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 22m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 16m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 13m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 11m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 09m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 08m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.39 gal
1.48 L · about $1.44
Round trip
$2.88
0.78 gal · 2.96 L
Estimated CO2
3.5 kg one way
Round trip: 6.9 kg / 15 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.70 $1.44 $2.88
Mid-grade $4.08 $1.59 $3.19
Premium $4.39 $1.71 $3.42
Diesel $4.74 $1.85 $3.69

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 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Boulder and Lafayette. The current time is 07:51:46.

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.