How far is Loveland, CO from Cortez, CO?
The driving distance from Loveland, CO to Cortez, CO is about 427.4 miles (687.9 km), with a travel time of about 09h 32m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 282.8 miles (455.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 19h 05m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 09h 32m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
Town in Colorado, USA
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Rain Showers then Partly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Loveland and Cortez.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Loveland and Cortez.
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1
Start on East 6th Street
40 m · 10 sec · East 6th Street
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2
Turn right onto North Cleveland Avenue
1.2 km · 2 min · North Cleveland Avenue
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3
Continue on South Lincoln Avenue
1 km · 1 min · South Lincoln Avenue
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4
Turn left onto 14th Street Southeast
3.7 mi · 7 min · 14th Street Southeast
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5
Continue on East State Highway 402
2084 ft · 42 sec · East State Highway 402
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6
Take the ramp slight right toward I 25 South
2404 ft · 59 sec
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7
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
27.2 mi · 27 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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8
Continue on North Valley Highway
3187 ft · 36 sec · North Valley Highway
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9
Keep slight right to continue on North Valley Highway
8.8 mi · 11 min · North Valley Highway
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10
Keep slight right to continue on North Valley Highway
1.5 mi · 2 min · North Valley Highway
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11
Take the exit slight right toward I 76 West: Arvada, Grand Junction
1.5 km · 2 min
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12
Merge slight left onto Heartland Expressway
5.2 mi · 6 min · Heartland Expressway
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13
Merge slight left
8.7 mi · 10 min
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14
Take the exit slight right toward CO 470 East: Colorado Springs
1.1 km · 51 sec
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15
Merge slight left
5.1 mi · 6 min
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16
Take the exit slight right toward US 285 South: Fairplay
1.1 km · 1 min
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17
Merge slight left
101.5 mi · 2 hr 13 min
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18
At the end of the road, turn left
11.1 mi · 18 min
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19
Continue straight
10 mi · 16 min
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20
Turn left
40.4 mi · 51 min
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21
Turn slight left
23.5 mi · 34 min
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22
Turn right onto West Highway 112
13.1 mi · 19 min · West Highway 112
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23
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
1 km · 2 min · Grand Avenue
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24
Continue on West U.S. Highway 160
57.8 mi · 1 hr 21 min · West U.S. Highway 160
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25
Continue on San Juan Street
2.6 mi · 5 min · San Juan Street
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26
Continue on US 160
10.5 mi · 14 min · US 160
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27
Continue straight
46.1 mi · 1 hr
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28
Take the exit slight left
588 ft · 25 sec
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29
At the end of the road, turn left
44.9 mi · 1 hr 1 min
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30
Turn right onto North Market Street
59 m · 11 sec · North Market Street
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31
Turn left
65 m · 16 sec
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32
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Loveland and Cortez.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
US 285 South
Merge slight left
101 mi · 02h 14m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Rain Showers then Partly Sunny leaving Loveland and Sunny near Cortez.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Loveland to Cortez?
The road trip is about 427.4 miles (687.9 km) and usually takes 09h 32m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Bonanza is a useful midpoint, sitting about 212.4 miles from Loveland and 215.1 miles from Cortez.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 282.8 miles (455.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 144.6 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 7:30 AM MDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $65.22 one way or $130.44 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 134 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Rain Showers then Partly Sunny around Loveland and Sunny near Cortez.
Stop Ideas Near Bonanza
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Bonanza.
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Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Loveland and Cortez. Straight-line distance: 282.87 mi (455.23 km).
#1 Loveland
The eighth most populous city in Colorado.
| Population | 83,517 |
| Coordinates | 40.3977600, -105.0749800 |
| Altitude | 1519 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Cortez
Town in and county seat of Montezuma County, Colorado, United States
| Population | 8,734 |
| Coordinates | 37.3488800, -108.5859300 |
| Altitude | 1887 |
| Country | United States |
End: Cortez (-108.58593, 37.34888)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 688 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 14h 14m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 10h 41m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 08h 32m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 07h 07m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 06h 06m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 19m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.33 | $65.22 | $130.44 |
| Mid-grade | $4.72 | $71.16 | $142.33 |
| Premium | $5.06 | $76.35 | $152.70 |
| Diesel | $6.52 | $98.28 | $196.55 |
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 · Oct 15, 2026