How far is Cortez, CO from Longmont, CO?
The driving distance from Cortez, CO to Longmont, CO is about 426.6 miles (686.6 km), with a travel time of about 07h 30m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 270.4 miles (435.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 15h 01m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT.
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 07h 30m.
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.
Human settlement in Colorado, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Cortez and Longmont.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cortez and Longmont.
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1
Start on the route
65 m · 18 sec
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2
Turn right onto North Market Street
59 m · 13 sec · North Market Street
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3
Turn left onto East Main Street
1.7 mi · 4 min · East Main Street
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4
Continue on East Mancos Road
16.4 mi · 24 min · East Mancos Road
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5
Continue on US 160
26.7 mi · 32 min · US 160
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6
Take the exit right toward US 160 East, US 550 South
1140 ft · 31 sec
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7
Merge slight left onto Camino del Rio
3.8 mi · 6 min · Camino del Rio
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8
Continue on Highway 160
52.7 mi · 1 hr 8 min · Highway 160
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9
Continue on San Juan Street
2.6 mi · 5 min · San Juan Street
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10
Continue on Pagosa Street
57.8 mi · 1 hr 21 min · Pagosa Street
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11
Continue on Grand Avenue
1 km · 2 min · Grand Avenue
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12
Turn left onto Oak Street
13.1 mi · 19 min · Oak Street
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13
Turn left onto Gunbarrel Road
23.1 mi · 33 min · Gunbarrel Road
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14
Continue on 8th Street
1780 ft · 43 sec · 8th Street
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15
Turn straight
1663 ft · 41 sec
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16
Turn straight
40.2 mi · 51 min
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17
Continue straight
11.2 mi · 18 min
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18
Continue straight
9.7 mi · 16 min
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19
Take the exit slight right toward US 285 North
1151 ft · 22 sec
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20
Merge slight left
73.9 mi · 1 hr 34 min
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21
Continue straight
27.8 mi · 40 min
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22
Take the exit slight right toward CO 470 West: West CO 470 to I-70
1552 ft · 53 sec
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23
Merge slight left
5.3 mi · 6 min
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24
Take the exit slight right toward I 70: Grand Junction, Denver
955 ft · 16 sec
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25
Keep slight right to continue on I 70 East: Denver
1.3 km · 2 min
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26
Merge slight left
8.5 mi · 10 min
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27
Keep slight left to continue on Heartland Expressway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Heartland Expressway
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28
Take the exit slight right toward CO 95: Sheridan Boulevard
1606 ft · 40 sec
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29
Turn left onto Sheridan Boulevard
4.6 mi · 8 min · Sheridan Boulevard
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30
Turn left onto US 36 West: Boulder
1765 ft · 37 sec
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31
Keep slight left to continue on US 36 West
876 ft · 23 sec
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32
Merge slight left onto Denver–Boulder Turnpike
1.5 km · 1 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike
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33
Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike
1.9 mi · 2 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike
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34
Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike
1.2 km · 52 sec · Denver–Boulder Turnpike
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35
Take the exit slight right toward CO 121: Wadsworth Parkway
1951 ft · 42 sec
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36
Turn right
1257 ft · 30 sec
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37
Continue straight
5.7 mi · 8 min
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38
Continue straight
1106 ft · 19 sec
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39
Continue straight
11.5 mi · 16 min
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40
Turn right onto 5th Avenue
109 m · 20 sec · 5th Avenue
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41
Turn right onto Kimbark Street
52 m · 9 sec · Kimbark Street
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42
Turn right
57 m · 16 sec
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43
Turn right
33 m · 8 sec
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44
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Cortez and Longmont.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
US 285 North
Merge slight left
73.9 mi · 01h 34m
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.
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Cortez and Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Longmont.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Cortez to Longmont?
The road trip is about 426.6 miles (686.6 km) and usually takes 07h 30m 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?
Saguache is a useful midpoint, sitting about 202.9 miles from Cortez and 223.7 miles from Longmont.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 270.4 miles (435.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 156.2 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 MDT. 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 $65.69 one way or $131.39 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 133.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Cortez and Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Longmont.
Stop Ideas Near Saguache
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 Saguache.
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Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Cortez and Longmont. Straight-line distance: 270.43 mi (435.21 km).
#1 Cortez
Town in and county seat of Montezuma County, Colorado, United States
| Population | 8,734 |
| Coordinates | 37.3488800, -108.5859300 |
| Altitude | 1887 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Longmont
The most populous city in Boulder County, Colorado.
| Population | 98,445 |
| Coordinates | 40.1672100, -105.1019300 |
| Altitude | 1519 |
| Country | United States |
End: (-105.101861, 40.16721)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 687 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 14h 12m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 10h 39m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 08h 31m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 07h 06m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 06h 05m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 19m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.37 | $65.69 | $131.39 |
| Mid-grade | $4.77 | $71.74 | $143.49 |
| Premium | $5.10 | $76.82 | $153.63 |
| Diesel | $6.22 | $93.61 | $187.22 |
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 · Sep 23, 2026