The Cost of Driving From California to Colorado: How Much Will It Cost You in Gas?

If you're planning a road trip from California to Colorado, you'll need to budget for gas, tolls, and other travel expenses. To give you an idea of what to expect, we've broken down the cost of several different routes.

Route 1: Los Angeles to Denver

If you're leaving from Los Angeles, the first route you might consider is I-15 and I-70, which takes you through Las Vegas and Salt Lake City. This route is approximately 1,007 miles and takes about 15 hours to complete. Based on current gas prices ($3.30 per gallon), you'll spend around $162 on gas for a midsize car.

Tolls: There are no tolls on this route.

Route 2: San Francisco to Denver

Another option is to drive from San Francisco, taking I-80 and I-70 through Reno and Salt Lake City. This route is slightly longer at 1,229 miles, and should take around 18 hours to drive. Gas prices are about the same as Route 1, and you can expect to spend around $191 on gas for a midsize car.

Tolls: There are no tolls on this route.

Route 3: San Diego to Denver

If you're located in San Diego, you can take I-15 through Las Vegas and then I-70 to Denver. This route is about 1,025 miles long and should take around 15 hours to drive. Gas prices are the same as Routes 1 and 2, so you'll spend around $164 on gas for a midsize car.

Tolls: There are no tolls on this route.

Route 4: Sacramento to Denver

The final route we'll look at is for those driving from Sacramento. You can head east on I-80, then south on I-76 before joining up with I-70. This route is around 1,017 miles long and should take around 15 hours to drive. Gas prices are the same as for the other routes, so you'll spend around $162 on gas for a midsize car.

Tolls: There are no tolls on this route.

Conclusion

As you can see, the cost of driving from California to Colorado largely depends on which route you take. However, you can expect to spend between $160 and $190 on gas for a midsize car. Don't forget to factor in other expenses like food and lodging as well, and have a safe trip!