How far is Brighton, CO from Denver, CO?
The driving distance from Brighton, CO to Denver, CO is about 21.6 miles (34.8 km), with a travel time of about 00h 31m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 19.1 miles (30.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 03m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM MDT.
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.
This is an easy same-day return drive.
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 00h 31m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
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.
Census-designated place in Colorado
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Brighton and Denver.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brighton and Denver.
-
1
Start on Bush Street
126 m · 15 sec · Bush Street
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2
Turn right onto South Main Street
584 ft · 25 sec · South Main Street
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3
Turn left onto West Bridge Street
130 m · 9 sec · West Bridge Street
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4
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward West Bridge Street
43 m · 2 sec · West Bridge Street
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5
Exit the roundabout onto West Bridge Street
81 m · 5 sec · West Bridge Street
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6
Enter the roundabout and take exit 4 toward US 85 south
93 m · 5 sec
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7
Exit the roundabout onto US 85 south
1087 ft · 30 sec
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8
Merge slight left onto CanAm Highway
8.2 mi · 10 min · CanAm Highway
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9
Merge slight right onto Heartland Expressway
6.3 mi · 7 min · Heartland Expressway
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10
Take the exit slight right toward I 25 South: Denver
612 ft · 13 sec
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11
Continue on I 25 south: Denver
1.5 km · 2 min
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12
Merge slight left onto North Valley Highway
2.3 mi · 3 min · North Valley Highway
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13
Take the exit slight right toward 38th Avenue, Park Avenue, Downtown
1348 ft · 29 sec
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14
Keep slight left to continue on Park Avenue, Downtown
528 ft · 11 sec
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15
Continue on Park Avenue
3279 ft · 1 min · Park Avenue
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16
Turn straight onto Park Avenue West
2615 ft · 1 min · Park Avenue West
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17
Continue on West 22nd Street
2095 ft · 1 min · West 22nd Street
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18
Turn right onto North Broadway
1.6 km · 3 min · North Broadway
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19
Turn left onto East 14th Avenue
709 ft · 30 sec · East 14th Avenue
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20
Turn left
109 m · 28 sec
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21
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Brighton and Denver.
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.
CanAm Highway
Merge slight left onto CanAm Highway
8.2 mi · 00h 10m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Sunny leaving Brighton and Mostly Sunny near Denver.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Brighton to Denver?
The road trip is about 21.6 miles (34.8 km) and usually takes 00h 31m 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?
Welby is a useful midpoint, sitting about 10.8 miles from Brighton and 10.8 miles from Denver.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 19.1 miles (30.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.5 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 7:26 PM MDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.81 one way or $5.62 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 6.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Brighton and Mostly Sunny near Denver.
Stop Ideas Near Welby
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Fairplay Park
Denver City Council
Lafayette City Hall
Municipal Court Park
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Welby.
Denver (Bus Station), Colorado
Union Station
Boulder, Colorado
Longmont, Colorado
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Brighton and Denver. Straight-line distance: 19.1 mi (30.74 km).
#1 Brighton
A city in Adams County, Colorado.
| Population | 40,783 |
| Coordinates | 39.9852600, -104.8205300 |
| Altitude | 1519 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Denver
The twentieth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Denver metropolitan area.
| Population | 735,538 |
| Coordinates | 39.7391500, -104.9847000 |
| Altitude | 1609 |
| Country | United States |
End: (-104.984198, 39.739139)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 35 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 43m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 32m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 25m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 21m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 18m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 16m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.70 | $2.81 | $5.62 |
| Mid-grade | $4.08 | $3.10 | $6.21 |
| Premium | $4.39 | $3.34 | $6.67 |
| Diesel | $4.74 | $3.60 | $7.20 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.