How far is Denver, CO from Palmer Lake, CO?

The driving distance from Denver, CO to Palmer Lake, CO is about 49.5 miles (79.6 km), with a travel time of about 01h 01m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 42.8 miles (68.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 03m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM MDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
49.49 mi
01h 01m
Flight
42.78 mi
68.85 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Denver.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
42.78 mi
Kilometers
68.85 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
49.49 mi
Kilometers
79.64 km
Drive Time
01h 01m

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 01h 01m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Palmer Lake
Sat, May 30, 12:58 PM MDT
Return by in Denver
Sat, May 30, 2:00 PM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Denver
2026-05-30T11:57
Arrive Palmer Lake
Sat, May 30, 12:58 PM MDT
Route Timing
01h 01m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM MDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:02 AM to 11:02 AM MDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:26 PM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Denver
9:30 PM MDT
Morning start is best

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
Castle Pines
CO

City in Douglas County, Colorado, United States of America

From Denver
24.7 mi
00h 30m
To Palmer Lake
24.7 mi
00h 30m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Today

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, May 30 10:00 AM MDT
Wind
6 to 9 mph NNW
Destination
63°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
10 to 25 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Denver and Palmer Lake.

  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

    1.1 mi · 3 min · Grant Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto East Speer Boulevard

    138 m · 13 sec · East Speer Boulevard

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Logan Street

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Logan Street

  7. 7

    Turn left onto East Buchtel South Boulevard

    1774 ft · 39 sec · East Buchtel South Boulevard

  8. 8

    Continue on East Buchtel South Boulevard

    861 ft · 17 sec · East Buchtel South Boulevard

  9. 9

    Take the ramp slight left toward I 25 South

    1.3 km · 2 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 25 South

    1016 ft · 25 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto South Valley Highway

    41.4 mi · 44 min · South Valley Highway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward County Line Road

    1603 ft · 43 sec

  13. 13

    Turn right onto County Line Road;West Palmer Divide Avenue

    2.5 mi · 5 min · County Line Road;West Palmer Divide Avenue

  14. 14

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Spruce Mountain Road

    71 m · 7 sec · Spruce Mountain Road

  15. 15

    Continue straight

    2072 ft · 1 min

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Pie Corner

    610 ft · 31 sec · Pie Corner

  17. 17

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Upper Glenway

    68 m · 10 sec · Upper Glenway

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Upper Glenway

Car Route Details

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

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
18 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
36.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
South Valley Highway
41.4 mi · 84%
Logan Street
1.79 mi · 4%
County Line Road
1.57 mi · 3%
West Palmer Divide Avenue
1.26 mi · 3%
Grant Street
1.15 mi · 2%
I 25 South
0.97 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

South Valley Highway

Merge slight left onto South Valley Highway

41.4 mi · 00h 44m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 01m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+6.7 mi
42.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Castle Pines
00h 30m from Denver
Leave By
4:26 PM MDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Denver and Sunny near Palmer Lake.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Denver to Palmer Lake?

The road trip is about 49.5 miles (79.6 km) and usually takes 01h 01m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Castle Pines is a useful midpoint, sitting about 24.7 miles from Denver and 24.7 miles from Palmer Lake.

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

The direct path is about 42.8 miles (68.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 6.7 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM MDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:26 PM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.47 one way or $12.94 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 15.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Denver and Sunny near Palmer Lake.

Stop Ideas Near Castle Pines

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

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

BUS

Denver (Bus Station), Colorado

34 mi away
1055 19th Street
RAIL

Union Station

34 mi away
1701 Wynkoop Street
BUS

Pine Junction, CO

43 mi away
76 Mount Evans Boulevard
BUS

Colorado Springs, Colorado

70 mi away
120 South Weber Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Denver and Palmer Lake. Straight-line distance: 42.78 mi (68.85 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
Palmer Lake

#2 Palmer Lake

City in El Paso County, Colorado, United States of America

Population3,037
Coordinates39.1222100, -104.9172000
Altitude2224
CountryUnited States
Start: Denver (-104.9847, 39.73915)
End: Palmer Lake (-104.9172, 39.12221)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 80 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 38m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 14m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 59m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 49m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 42m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 37m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.75 gal
6.61 L · about $6.47
Round trip
$12.94
3.5 gal · 13.22 L
Estimated CO2
15.6 kg one way
Round trip: 31.1 kg / 69 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.70 $6.47 $12.94
Mid-grade $4.08 $7.15 $14.29
Premium $4.39 $7.68 $15.37
Diesel $4.74 $8.29 $16.58

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 · May 30, 2026

There is no time difference between Denver and Palmer Lake. The current time is 11:57:24.

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.