How far is Ouray, CO from Denver, CO?

The driving distance from Ouray, CO to Denver, CO is about 301.3 miles (484.9 km), with a travel time of about 05h 28m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 186.9 miles (300.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 56m 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
301.28 mi
05h 28m
Flight
186.92 mi
300.82 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Ouray.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
186.92 mi
Kilometers
300.82 km
Flight Time
00h 22m

Driving Distance

Road route
301.28 mi
Kilometers
484.86 km
Drive Time
05h 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 05h 28m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Denver
Sun, Apr 19, 7:18 AM MDT
Return by in Ouray
Sun, Apr 19, 12:46 PM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Ouray
2026-04-19T01:49
Arrive Denver
Sun, Apr 19, 7:18 AM MDT
Route Timing
05h 28m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:28 AM to 1:28 PM MDT

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

Leave by
6:04 AM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Ouray
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
New Castle
CO

Colorado

From Ouray
166.1 mi
02h 44m
To Denver
135.2 mi
02h 44m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
51°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
10 mph SSW
Destination
71°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
3 to 8 mph SSE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on 6th Avenue

    4 m · 3 sec · 6th Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Main Street

    36.3 mi · 50 min · Main Street

  3. 3

    Continue on North Townsend Avenue

    3.7 mi · 6 min · North Townsend Avenue

  4. 4

    Continue straight

    17.1 mi · 21 min

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Confluence Drive

    1.4 km · 2 min · Confluence Drive

  6. 6

    Turn left onto West 5th Street

    1105 ft · 27 sec · West 5th Street

  7. 7

    Continue on G Road

    1.6 mi · 3 min · G Road

  8. 8

    Continue on G Road

    1.2 km · 1 min · G Road

  9. 9

    Continue on G50 Road

    2.1 mi · 3 min · G50 Road

  10. 10

    At the end of the road, turn left

    26.4 mi · 31 min

  11. 11

    Continue on 32 Road

    5.5 mi · 9 min · 32 Road

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Grand Army of the Republic Highway

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Grand Army of the Republic Highway

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on I 70 East: Denver

    225.4 mi · 4 hr 14 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward US 6 East: 6th Avenue, Lakewood

    1795 ft · 44 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto West 6th Avenue Freeway

    10.1 mi · 14 min · West 6th Avenue Freeway

  16. 16

    Turn left onto North Lincoln Street

    1.4 km · 3 min · North Lincoln Street

  17. 17

    Turn right onto East 14th Avenue

    108 m · 17 sec · East 14th Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn left

    109 m · 28 sec

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
19 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
1 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 70 East
225 mi · 75%
Main Street
36.3 mi · 12%
North Townsend Avenue
20.9 mi · 7%
West 6th Avenue Freeway
10.1 mi · 3%
32 Road
5.47 mi · 2%
G Road
2.34 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 70 East

Keep slight right to continue on I 70 East: Denver

225 mi · 04h 14m

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
05h 28m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+114.4 mi
186.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
New Castle
02h 44m from Ouray
Leave By
6:04 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Ouray and Sunny near Denver.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 301.3 miles (484.9 km) and usually takes 05h 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?

New Castle is a useful midpoint, sitting about 166.1 miles from Ouray and 135.2 miles from Denver.

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

The direct path is about 186.9 miles (300.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 114.4 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 6:04 AM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $39.31 one way or $78.62 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 94.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Ouray and Sunny near Denver.

Stop Ideas Near New Castle

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

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

RAIL

Glenwood Springs

19 mi away
413 7th Street
BUS

Vail, Colorado

102 mi away
241 South Frontage Road East
RAIL

Grand Junction

105 mi away
339 South 1st Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Ouray and Denver. Straight-line distance: 186.92 mi (300.82 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Ouray

Human settlement in Ouray County, Colorado, United States of America

Population1,046
Coordinates38.0227700, -107.6714500
Altitude2375
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: 6th Avenue (-107.67145, 38.022766)
End: (-104.984198, 39.739139)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 485 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 02m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 31m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 01m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 01m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 18m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 45m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.63 gal
40.24 L · about $39.31
Round trip
$78.62
21.26 gal · 80.48 L
Estimated CO2
94.5 kg one way
Round trip: 188.9 kg / 416 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.70 $39.31 $78.62
Mid-grade $4.08 $43.41 $86.83
Premium $4.39 $46.68 $93.35
Diesel $4.74 $50.35 $100.71

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 Ouray and Denver. The current time is 01:49:42.

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.