How far is Denver, CO from Rocky Ford, CO?

The driving distance from Denver, CO to Rocky Ford, CO is about 163.4 miles (262.9 km), with a travel time of about 03h 23m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 134.9 miles (217.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 47m 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
163.36 mi
03h 23m
Flight
134.92 mi
217.13 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
134.92 mi
Kilometers
217.13 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
163.36 mi
Kilometers
262.91 km
Drive Time
03h 23m

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 23m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Rocky Ford
Sun, Apr 19, 6:30 AM MDT
Return by in Denver
Sun, Apr 19, 9:53 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Denver
2026-04-19T03:06
Arrive Rocky Ford
Sun, Apr 19, 6:30 AM MDT
Route Timing
03h 23m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:24 AM to 11:24 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
10:12 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

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
Fountain
CO

City in Colorado, United States

From Denver
81.7 mi
01h 41m
To Rocky Ford
81.6 mi
01h 41m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
71°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
3 to 8 mph SSE
Destination
77°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Denver and Rocky Ford.

  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

    56.9 mi · 1 hr · South Valley Highway

  12. 12

    Continue on Monument Valley Freeway

    8.8 mi · 10 min · Monument Valley Freeway

  13. 13

    Continue on Ronald Reagan Highway

    915 ft · 12 sec · Ronald Reagan Highway

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on Ronald Reagan Highway

    22.7 mi · 23 min · Ronald Reagan Highway

  15. 15

    Continue on John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway

    12.9 mi · 13 min · John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway

  16. 16

    Continue on North Freeway

    1.8 mi · 2 min · North Freeway

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward US 50 West, CO 47 East: Cañon City

    1834 ft · 47 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight right onto César Chávez Memorial Highway

    3.7 mi · 5 min · César Chávez Memorial Highway

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight left

    70 m · 7 sec

  20. 20

    Continue on Pete Jimenez Parkway

    157 m · 14 sec · Pete Jimenez Parkway

  21. 21

    Continue on William White Boulevard

    2.8 mi · 4 min · William White Boulevard

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Paul Harvey Boulevard

    2024 ft · 1 min · Paul Harvey Boulevard

  23. 23

    Take the ramp left

    1041 ft · 29 sec

  24. 24

    Merge slight left

    1.6 km · 2 min

  25. 25

    Continue straight

    6.6 mi · 11 min

  26. 26

    Turn left

    20.7 mi · 27 min

  27. 27

    Turn right

    1.7 mi · 3 min

  28. 28

    Turn left onto East Cranston Avenue

    17.7 mi · 30 min · East Cranston Avenue

  29. 29

    Turn right onto North Main Street

    527 ft · 14 sec · North Main Street

  30. 30

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Main Street

Car Route Details

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

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
30 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
18.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
South Valley Highway
56.9 mi · 35%
Ronald Reagan Highway
22.9 mi · 14%
East Cranston Avenue
17.7 mi · 11%
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
12.9 mi · 8%
Monument Valley Freeway
8.76 mi · 5%
Paul Harvey Boulevard
8.15 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

South Valley Highway

Merge slight left onto South Valley Highway

56.9 mi · 01h 00m

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 23m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+28.5 mi
134.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Fountain
01h 41m from Denver
Leave By
10:12 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Denver and Sunny near Rocky Ford.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Denver to Rocky Ford?

The road trip is about 163.4 miles (262.9 km) and usually takes 03h 23m 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?

Fountain is a useful midpoint, sitting about 81.7 miles from Denver and 81.6 miles from Rocky Ford.

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

The direct path is about 134.9 miles (217.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 28.5 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:12 AM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $21.30 one way or $42.60 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 51.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Denver and Sunny near Rocky Ford.

Stop Ideas Near Fountain

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

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

BUS

Colorado Springs, Colorado

20 mi away
120 South Weber Street
BUS

Pueblo, Colorado

42 mi away
1080 Chinook Lane
BUS

Pine Junction, CO

106 mi away
76 Mount Evans Boulevard
BUS

Salida, CO

114 mi away
54 Jones Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Denver and Rocky Ford. Straight-line distance: 134.92 mi (217.13 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
Rocky Ford

#2 Rocky Ford

City in Colorado

Population3,806
Coordinates38.0525100, -103.7202300
Altitude1274
CountryUnited States
Start: Denver (-104.9847, 39.73915)
End: Rocky Ford (-103.72023, 38.05251)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 263 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 26m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 05m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 16m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 43m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 20m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 02m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.76 gal
21.82 L · about $21.30
Round trip
$42.60
11.52 gal · 43.64 L
Estimated CO2
51.2 kg one way
Round trip: 102.4 kg / 226 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.70 $21.30 $42.60
Mid-grade $4.08 $23.52 $47.05
Premium $4.39 $25.29 $50.58
Diesel $4.74 $27.29 $54.57

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Denver and Rocky Ford. The current time is 03:06:10.

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.