How far is Boulder, CO from Lyons, IL?
The driving distance from Boulder, CO to Lyons, IL is about 1009.3 miles (1624.3 km), with a travel time of about 17h 57m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 918.1 miles (1477.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 35h 54m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MST.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 17h 57m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
City in Lancaster County, Nebraska, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Rain Showers Likely
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Boulder and Lyons.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Boulder and Lyons.
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1
Start on the route
27 m · 7 sec
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2
Turn right onto 19th Street
44 m · 14 sec · 19th Street
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3
Turn left onto Arapahoe Avenue
3210 ft · 2 min · Arapahoe Avenue
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4
Turn right onto 28th Street
1.2 km · 2 min · 28th Street
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5
Turn straight onto Denver–Boulder Turnpike
3.4 mi · 4 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike
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6
Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike
1.7 mi · 2 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike
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7
Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike
2.6 mi · 3 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike
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8
Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike
3170 ft · 42 sec · Denver–Boulder Turnpike
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9
Take the exit slight right toward Northwest Parkway, Interlocken Loop
1460 ft · 29 sec
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10
Keep slight left to continue on Northwest Parkway, RTD Park-n-Ride, Louisville
67 m · 8 sec
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11
Turn left onto Interlocken Loop
650 ft · 24 sec · Interlocken Loop
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12
Continue on Northwest Parkway
9.5 mi · 10 min · Northwest Parkway
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13
Continue on E-470
11.3 mi · 11 min · E-470
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14
Take the exit slight right toward 120th Avenue
2365 ft · 56 sec
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15
Turn left onto East 120th Avenue
718 ft · 28 sec · East 120th Avenue
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16
Turn left onto E 470 Toll North
1885 ft · 48 sec
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17
Merge slight left onto E-470
2403 ft · 27 sec · E-470
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18
Take the exit slight right toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
1.1 mi · 2 min
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19
Merge slight left onto Heartland Expressway
168.3 mi · 2 hr 48 min · Heartland Expressway
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20
Merge slight left
474.5 mi · 8 hr 11 min
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21
Keep slight right to continue on I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
14.4 mi · 17 min
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22
Keep slight left
173.2 mi · 3 hr 9 min
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23
Take the exit slight right toward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Falls
1895 ft · 54 sec
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24
Continue straight
43.8 mi · 47 min
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25
Continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
90 mi · 1 hr 40 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
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26
Take the exit slight right toward Highland Avenue
1654 ft · 40 sec
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27
Turn right onto Highland Avenue
637 ft · 23 sec · Highland Avenue
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28
Turn left onto 31st Street
1.4 km · 2 min · 31st Street
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29
Continue on Oak Brook Road
1.1 mi · 2 min · Oak Brook Road
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30
Continue on 31st Street
1.1 mi · 2 min · 31st Street
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31
Continue on Oak Brook Road
1.6 mi · 3 min · Oak Brook Road
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32
Continue on 31st Street
3 mi · 6 min · 31st Street
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33
Turn slight right onto Grand Boulevard
1.1 km · 2 min · Grand Boulevard
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34
Enter the roundabout and take exit 4 toward Grand Boulevard
59 m · 7 sec · Grand Boulevard
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35
Exit the roundabout onto Grand Boulevard
2752 ft · 2 min · Grand Boulevard
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36
Turn right onto Prairie Avenue
2076 ft · 1 min · Prairie Avenue
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37
At the end of the road, turn left onto Ogden Avenue
1.5 km · 2 min · Ogden Avenue
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38
Turn right onto Lawndale Avenue
134 m · 15 sec · Lawndale Avenue
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39
Turn left onto White Avenue
1340 ft · 1 min · White Avenue
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40
Turn right onto Joliet Avenue
744 ft · 26 sec · Joliet Avenue
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41
Turn left onto 43rd Street
717 ft · 32 sec · 43rd Street
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42
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · 43rd Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Boulder and Lyons.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Heartland Expressway
Merge slight left
474 mi · 08h 11m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Mostly Clear leaving Boulder and Rain Showers Likely near Lyons.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Boulder to Lyons?
The road trip is about 1009.3 miles (1624.3 km) and usually takes 17h 57m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Waverly is a useful midpoint, sitting about 503.6 miles from Boulder and 505.7 miles from Lyons.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 918.1 miles (1477.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 91.2 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 7:30 AM MST. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $136.28 one way or $272.56 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 316.6 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Boulder and Lyons, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Clear around Boulder and Rain Showers Likely near Lyons.
Stop Ideas Near Waverly
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Waverly.
Lincoln
Omaha
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Boulder and Lyons. Straight-line distance: 918.06 mi (1477.47 km).
#1 Boulder
The most populous city in Boulder County, Colorado.
| Population | 107,645 |
| Coordinates | 40.0149900, -105.2705500 |
| Altitude | 1624 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Lyons
Village in Illinois United States of America
| Population | 10,247 |
| Coordinates | 41.8133700, -87.8181100 |
| Altitude | 189 |
| Country | United States |
End: Lyons (-87.81811, 41.81337)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 1624 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 33h 37m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 25h 14m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 20h 11m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 16h 49m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 14h 25m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 12h 35m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.83 | $136.28 | $272.56 |
| Mid-grade | $4.21 | $149.82 | $299.64 |
| Premium | $4.53 | $161.29 | $322.57 |
| Diesel | $6.11 | $217.57 | $435.13 |
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 · Nov 11, 2026