How far is Denver International Airport, CO from Grand Junction, CO?

The driving distance from Denver International Airport, CO to Grand Junction, CO is about 266.8 miles (429.3 km), with a travel time of about 05h 06m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 214 miles (344.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 13m 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
266.79 mi
05h 06m
Flight
213.98 mi
344.37 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Denver International Airport.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
213.98 mi
Kilometers
344.37 km
Flight Time
00h 25m

Driving Distance

Road route
266.79 mi
Kilometers
429.35 km
Drive Time
05h 06m

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 05h 06m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Grand Junction
Wed, Aug 26, 9:30 PM MDT
Return by in Denver International Airport
Thu, Aug 27, 2:37 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Denver International Airport
2026-08-26T16:23
Arrive Grand Junction
Wed, Aug 26, 9:30 PM MDT
Route Timing
05h 06m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:07 AM to 1:07 PM MDT

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

Leave by
6:46 AM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Denver International Airport
9:00 PM MDT
Early departure recommended

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.

Mid-route stop
Edwards
CO

Location in Colorado, USA

From Denver International Airport
133.2 mi
02h 33m
To Grand Junction
133.5 mi
02h 33m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
87°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Aug 26 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
2 to 8 mph ESE
Destination
95°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Aug 26 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph ENE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Denver International Airport and Grand Junction.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Denver International Airport and Grand Junction.

  1. 1

    Start on Terminal East Departures

    2634 ft · 2 min · Terminal East Departures

  2. 2

    Continue on Terminal East Exit

    2236 ft · 38 sec · Terminal East Exit

  3. 3

    Continue on Peña Boulevard

    11.2 mi · 14 min · Peña Boulevard

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway

    1 mi · 1 min · Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway

  5. 5

    Keep slight right to continue on Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway

    2.8 mi · 4 min · Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway

    149.7 mi · 2 hr 53 min · Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway

  7. 7

    Continue on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

    80.8 mi · 1 hr 26 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

  8. 8

    Continue on Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway

    13.2 mi · 14 min · Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 70 Business, US 6, US 50: Clifton, Grand Junction, Delta

    1.6 mi · 3 min

  10. 10

    Continue straight

    4.2 mi · 7 min

  11. 11

    Continue straight

    1.3 mi · 2 min

  12. 12

    Turn left onto South 13th Street

    107 m · 10 sec · South 13th Street

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South 13th Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Denver International Airport and Grand Junction.

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
13 steps
1 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
4.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
154 mi · 58%
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
80.8 mi · 30%
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
13.2 mi · 5%
Peña Boulevard
11.2 mi · 4%
I 70 Business
7.08 mi · 3%
Terminal East Departures
0.5 mi
Longest Stretch

Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway

Keep slight left to continue on Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway

150 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
05h 06m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+52.8 mi
214 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Edwards
02h 33m from Denver International Airport
Leave By
6:46 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Denver International Airport and Sunny near Grand Junction.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Denver International Airport to Grand Junction?

The road trip is about 266.8 miles (429.3 km) and usually takes 05h 06m 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?

Edwards is a useful midpoint, sitting about 133.2 miles from Denver International Airport and 133.5 miles from Grand Junction.

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

The direct path is about 214 miles (344.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 52.8 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 6:46 AM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $34.84 one way or $69.67 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 83.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Denver International Airport and Sunny near Grand Junction.

Stop Ideas Near Edwards

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Edwards, 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 Edwards.

BUS

Vail, Colorado

21 mi away
241 South Frontage Road East
BUS

Frisco, Colorado

43 mi away
1010 Meadow Drive
RAIL

Glenwood Springs

63 mi away
413 7th Street
BUS

Fairplay, CO

70 mi away
620 US Highway 285

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Denver International Airport and Grand Junction. Straight-line distance: 213.98 mi (344.37 km).

Denver International Airport

#1 Denver International Airport

Airport in Denver, Colorado, United States

Population0
Coordinates39.8589100, -104.6732600
Altitude1637
CountryUnited States
Grand Junction

#2 Grand Junction

The most populous city in Mesa County, Colorado.

Population63,447
Coordinates39.0638700, -108.5506500
Altitude1400
CountryUnited States
Start: Denver International Airport (-104.67326, 39.85891)
End: Grand Junction (-108.55065, 39.06387)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 429 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 53m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 40m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 20m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 26m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 48m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 19m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.42 gal
35.64 L · about $34.84
Round trip
$69.67
18.84 gal · 71.28 L
Estimated CO2
83.7 kg one way
Round trip: 167.4 kg / 369 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.70 $34.84 $69.67
Mid-grade $4.08 $38.47 $76.94
Premium $4.39 $41.36 $82.73
Diesel $4.74 $44.62 $89.25

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 · Aug 26, 2026

There is no time difference between Denver International Airport and Grand Junction. The current time is 16:23:58.

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.