How far is Golden, CO from Denver, CO?

The driving distance from Golden, CO to Denver, CO is about 15.3 miles (24.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 24m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 12.6 miles (20.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 48m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM MDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
15.36 mi
00h 24m
Flight
12.61 mi
20.29 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Golden.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
12.61 mi
Kilometers
20.29 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
15.36 mi
Kilometers
24.72 km
Drive Time
00h 24m

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 00h 24m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Denver
Thu, Apr 23, 12:43 AM MDT
Return by in Golden
Thu, Apr 23, 1:07 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Golden
2026-04-23T00:19
Arrive Denver
Thu, Apr 23, 12:43 AM MDT
Route Timing
00h 24m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM MDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:24 AM to 7:24 PM MDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:42 PM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Golden
10:00 PM MDT
Flexible departure

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
Lakewood
CO

The fifth most populous city in Colorado.

From Golden
7.6 mi
00h 12m
To Denver
7.8 mi
00h 12m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
60°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
13 to 23 mph W
Destination
68°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
8 to 18 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on 12th Street

    654 ft · 22 sec · 12th Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Ford Street

    673 ft · 15 sec · Ford Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Jackson Street

    1.3 km · 2 min · Jackson Street

  4. 4

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward South Golden Road

    32 m · 2 sec · South Golden Road

  5. 5

    Exit the roundabout onto South Golden Road

    2849 ft · 1 min · South Golden Road

  6. 6

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Johnson Road

    11 m · 1 sec · Johnson Road

  7. 7

    Exit the roundabout onto Johnson Road

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Johnson Road

  8. 8

    Turn left onto West 6th Avenue

    11.3 mi · 16 min · West 6th Avenue

  9. 9

    Turn left onto North Lincoln Street

    1.4 km · 3 min · North Lincoln Street

  10. 10

    Turn right onto East 14th Avenue

    108 m · 17 sec · East 14th Avenue

  11. 11

    Turn left

    109 m · 28 sec

  12. 12

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
12 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
0 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
77.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
West 6th Avenue
11.3 mi · 74%
Johnson Road
1.24 mi · 8%
North Lincoln Street
0.88 mi · 6%
Jackson Street
0.81 mi · 5%
South Golden Road
0.56 mi · 4%
Ford Street
0.13 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

West 6th Avenue

Turn left onto West 6th Avenue

11.3 mi · 00h 16m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 24m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2.7 mi
12.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lakewood
00h 12m from Golden
Leave By
7:42 PM MDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers leaving Golden and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers near Denver.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 15.3 miles (24.7 km) and usually takes 00h 24m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Lakewood is a useful midpoint, sitting about 7.6 miles from Golden and 7.8 miles from Denver.

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

The direct path is about 12.6 miles (20.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.7 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM MDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:42 PM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.00 one way or $3.99 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 4.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers around Golden and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers near Denver.

Stop Ideas Near Lakewood

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Lakewood and the surrounding midpoint area.
Municipal Court Park
Scenic stop 8.8 mi away

Municipal Court Park

Westminster , CO
3025 W 76th Ave, Westminster, CO 80030
Rating 3.8/5 94 reviews Park
Denver City Council
Meeting point 6.4 mi away

Denver City Council

Denver , CO
1437 Bannock St rm 451, Denver, CO 80202
Rating 3.6/5 92 reviews City government office,County government office
Town Hall Arts Center
Nearby stop 9.2 mi away

Town Hall Arts Center

Littleton , CO
2450 Main St, Littleton, CO 80120
Rating 4.7/5 204 reviews Performing arts theater,Art gallery
City of Littleton
Scenic stop 9 mi away

City of Littleton

Littleton , CO
2255 W Berry Ave, Littleton, CO 80165
Rating 5.0/5 1 reviews City government office,Local government office,Museum

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Lakewood.

BUS

Denver (Bus Station), Colorado

9 mi away
1055 19th Street
RAIL

Union Station

9 mi away
1701 Wynkoop Street
BUS

Pine Junction, CO

38 mi away
76 Mount Evans Boulevard
BUS

Boulder, Colorado

43 mi away
30th & Diagonal Highway

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Golden and Denver. Straight-line distance: 12.61 mi (20.29 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Golden

County seat of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States

Population20,347
Coordinates39.7555400, -105.2211000
Altitude1730
CountryUnited States
Denver

#2 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
Start: 12th Street (-105.221099, 39.755539)
End: (-104.984198, 39.739139)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 25 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 30m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 23m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 18m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 15m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 13m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 11m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.54 gal
2.05 L · about $2.00
Round trip
$3.99
1.08 gal · 4.1 L
Estimated CO2
4.8 kg one way
Round trip: 9.6 kg / 21 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.70 $2.00 $3.99
Mid-grade $4.08 $2.21 $4.41
Premium $4.39 $2.37 $4.74
Diesel $4.74 $2.56 $5.12

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Golden and Denver. The current time is 00:19:21.

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.