How far is Denver, CO from Carbondale, CO?

The driving distance from Denver, CO to Carbondale, CO is about 171.2 miles (275.6 km), with a travel time of about 03h 28m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 120.9 miles (194.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 57m 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
171.26 mi
03h 28m
Flight
120.84 mi
194.47 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Denver.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
120.84 mi
Kilometers
194.47 km
Flight Time
00h 14m

Driving Distance

Road route
171.26 mi
Kilometers
275.62 km
Drive Time
03h 28m

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 03h 28m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Carbondale
Wed, Apr 29, 9:59 AM MDT
Return by in Denver
Wed, Apr 29, 1:28 PM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Denver
2026-04-29T06:30
Arrive Carbondale
Wed, Apr 29, 9:59 AM MDT
Route Timing
03h 28m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:29 AM to 11:29 AM MDT

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

Leave by
10:02 AM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Denver
9:00 PM MDT
Early departure recommended

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
Frisco
CO

Town in Summit County, Colorado, United States of America

From Denver
85.5 mi
01h 44m
To Carbondale
85.7 mi
01h 44m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
60°F
Wednesday

Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 29 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
2 to 8 mph NNW
Destination
27°F
Overnight

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Wed, Apr 29 2:00 AM MDT
Wind
0 mph

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Denver and Carbondale.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Denver and Carbondale.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    115 m · 29 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right

    19 m · 9 sec

  3. 3

    Turn right onto East Colfax Avenue

    109 m · 14 sec · East Colfax Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Grant Street

    1.2 km · 2 min · Grant Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto East 8th Avenue

    1.4 km · 3 min · East 8th Avenue

  6. 6

    Continue on North Kalamath Street

    733 ft · 23 sec · North Kalamath Street

  7. 7

    Continue on West 6th Avenue Freeway

    9.5 mi · 12 min · West 6th Avenue Freeway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 70 West: Grand Junction

    1.1 km · 56 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    144.9 mi · 2 hr 45 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward CO 82 East: Glenwood Springs, Aspen

    747 ft · 21 sec

  11. 11

    Continue on Laurel Street

    119 m · 15 sec · Laurel Street

  12. 12

    Continue on Grand Avenue

    1204 ft · 45 sec · Grand Avenue

  13. 13

    Turn right onto 8th Street

    2084 ft · 49 sec · 8th Street

  14. 14

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Midland Avenue

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Midland Avenue

  15. 15

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward 27th Street

    54 m · 3 sec · 27th Street

  16. 16

    Exit the roundabout onto 27th Street

    636 ft · 13 sec · 27th Street

  17. 17

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward 27th Street

    26 m · 2 sec · 27th Street

  18. 18

    Exit the roundabout onto 27th Street

    692 ft · 19 sec · 27th Street

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Glen Avenue

    9.8 mi · 16 min · Glen Avenue

  20. 20

    Turn right

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  21. 21

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Main Street

    68 m · 3 sec · Main Street

  22. 22

    Exit the roundabout onto Main Street

    2385 ft · 53 sec · Main Street

  23. 23

    Turn left onto North 4th Street

    610 ft · 27 sec · North 4th Street

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Merrill Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Denver and Carbondale.

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
24 steps
15 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
1 merges, 8 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
14 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 70 West
146 mi · 85%
Glen Avenue
9.82 mi · 6%
West 6th Avenue Freeway
9.5 mi · 6%
Midland Avenue
1.64 mi · 1%
East 8th Avenue
0.9 mi · 1%
Grant Street
0.76 mi
Longest Stretch

I 70 West

Merge slight left

145 mi · 02h 45m

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
03h 28m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+50.3 mi
120.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Frisco
01h 44m from Denver
Leave By
10:02 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Denver and Mostly Cloudy near Carbondale.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Denver to Carbondale?

The road trip is about 171.2 miles (275.6 km) and usually takes 03h 28m 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?

Frisco is a useful midpoint, sitting about 85.5 miles from Denver and 85.7 miles from Carbondale.

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

The direct path is about 120.9 miles (194.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 50.3 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 10:02 AM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.34 one way or $44.67 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 53.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Denver and Mostly Cloudy near Carbondale.

Stop Ideas Near Frisco

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

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

BUS

Frisco, Colorado

1 mi away
1010 Meadow Drive
BUS

Vail, Colorado

22 mi away
241 South Frontage Road East
BUS

Fairplay, CO

40 mi away
620 US Highway 285
RAIL

Fraser – Winter Park

48 mi away
205 Fraser Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Denver and Carbondale. Straight-line distance: 120.84 mi (194.47 km).

Denver

#1 Denver

The twentieth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Denver metropolitan area.

Population735,538
Coordinates39.7391500, -104.9847000
Altitude1609
CountryUnited States
Carbondale

#2 Carbondale

Town of the United States

Population6,729
Coordinates39.4022100, -107.2111600
Altitude1881
CountryUnited States
Start: Denver (-104.9847, 39.73915)
End: Carbondale (-107.21116, 39.40221)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 276 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 42m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 16m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 25m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 51m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 26m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 08m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.04 gal
22.88 L · about $22.34
Round trip
$44.67
12.08 gal · 45.76 L
Estimated CO2
53.7 kg one way
Round trip: 107.4 kg / 237 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.70 $22.34 $44.67
Mid-grade $4.08 $24.67 $49.33
Premium $4.39 $26.52 $53.04
Diesel $4.74 $28.61 $57.22

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 · Apr 29, 2026

There is no time difference between Denver and Carbondale. The current time is 06:30:57.

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.