In the U.S. state of Colorado, U.S. Route 40

U.S. Route 40

U.S. Route 40 is an east–west United States highway. As with most routes whose numbers end in a zero, U.S. 40 once traversed the entire United States. It is one of the original 1920s U.S. Highways, and its first termini were San Francisco, California, and Atlantic City, New Jersey...

is a major east–west route. It crosses the Rocky Mountains, passing over the Continental Divide three times before reaching the front range. It then traverses through the Denver Metro Area, then exits by following I-70 and US 287. It is concurrent with US 287 for about 145 miles to Kit Carson

Kit Carson, Colorado

The historic Town of Kit Carson is a Statutory Town in Cheyenne County, Colorado, United States. The population was 253 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Kit Carson is located at ....

. US 40 exits into Kansas east of Arapahoe

Arapahoe, Colorado

Arapahoe is an unincorporated town and U.S. Post Office in Cheyenne County, Colorado, United States. The ZIP Code of the Arapahoe Post Office is 80802.-History:...

 in Cheyenne

Cheyenne County, Colorado

Cheyenne County is the fifth least densely populated of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 2,231 at U.S. Census 2000...

.

Route description

Entering Colorado

Colorado

Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...

 to the south of Dinosaur National Monument

Dinosaur National Monument

Dinosaur National Monument is a National Monument located on the southeast flank of the Uinta Mountains on the border between Colorado and Utah at the confluence of the Green and Yampa Rivers. Although most of the monument area is in Moffat County, Colorado, the Dinosaur Quarry is located in Utah...

, U.S. 40 runs east through the small town of Dinosaur

Dinosaur, Colorado

The Town of Dinosaur is a Statutory Town located in Moffat County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 320 at the U.S. Census 2000....

 along Brontosaurus Boulevard. The route continues a generally easterly course though Moffat

Moffat County, Colorado

Moffat County is the northwesternmost and the second most extensive of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 13,184 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is Craig.- History :...

 and Routt

Routt County, Colorado

Routt County is the 15th most extensive of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 19,690 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is Steamboat Springs.- History :...

 counties, passing through several small communities along the way. It generally follows the course of the Yampa River

Yampa River

The Yampa River is a tributary of the Green River, approximately 250 mi long, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It's located in the Southwestern United States...

. U.S. 40 becomes Lincoln Avenue as it runs through historic downtown Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Steamboat Springs, Colorado

The city of Steamboat Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Routt County, Colorado, United States. The city is also known as "Steamboat," "The Boat," or "Ski Town USA". As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,088.The city is an...

.

U.S. 40 crosses the Continental Divide

Continental Divide

The Continental Divide of the Americas, or merely the Continental Gulf of Division or Great Divide, is the name given to the principal, and largely mountainous, hydrological divide of the Americas that separates the watersheds that drain into the Pacific Ocean from those river systems that drain...

 three times on its trip through Colorado, mostly in the vicinity of Winter Park

Winter Park, Colorado

Winter Park is a Home Rule Municipality in Grand County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 662 at the 2000 census, although tourists and seasonal workers significantly increase the population....

. Taking a circuitous route through Rabbit Ears Pass

Rabbit Ears Pass

Rabbit Ears Pass is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of northern Colorado in the United States.The pass straddles the continental divide at the southern end of the Park Range along the boundary between Grand and Jackson counties...

, Muddy Pass

Muddy Pass

Muddy Pass is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of northern Colorado in the United States.The pass straddles the continental divide along the boundary between Jackson and Grand counties. The pass separates North Park and the headwaters of the North Platte River with Middle Park near the...

 and Berthoud Pass

Berthoud Pass

Berthoud Pass is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado in the United States.The pass is located west of Denver, and provides a high route between upper Clear Creek Canyon to the upper valley of the Fraser River in Middle Park to the north...

 it descends the escarpment along the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains

Rocky Mountains

The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...

. Just to the east of Empire

Empire, Colorado

The historic Town of Empire is a Statutory Town located in Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States. The population was 355 at the U.S. Census 2000. The town is a former mining settlement that flourished during the Colorado Silver Boom in the late 19th century. It is located in the valley Clear...

, it merges with Interstate 70

Interstate 70

Interstate 70 is an Interstate Highway in the United States that runs from Interstate 15 near Cove Fort, Utah, to a Park and Ride near Baltimore, Maryland. It was the first Interstate Highway project in the United States. I-70 approximately traces the path of U.S. Route 40 east of the Rocky...

 for the first time. US 40 and I-70 will frequently share pavement across the U.S. The route leaves I-70 at exit 244, to the west of Idaho Springs

Idaho Springs, Colorado

The City of Idaho Springs is a municipality in the U.S. state of Colorado that is the most populous settlement in Clear Creek County, Colorado. Idaho Springs is located in Clear Creek Canyon, in the mountains upstream from Golden, some thirty miles west of Denver...

 and rejoins it again at between exits 252 and 254 in El Rancho. It parallels I-70, mostly as a frontage road

Frontage road

A frontage road is a non-limited access road running parallel to a higher-speed road, usually a freeway, and feeding it at appropriate points of access...

, until the intersection with Colorado State Highway 26

Colorado State Highway 26

State Highway 26 is a long state highway in Denver, Colorado. SH 26 consists of a portion of Alameda Avenue, a city street in Denver. The route begins at State Highway 95 and travels due east towards downtown Denver before reaching its eastern end at the Kalamath Street.-Route description:The...

 to the south of Golden

Golden, Colorado

The City of Golden is a home rule municipality that is the county seat of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Golden lies along Clear Creek at the edge of the foothills of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Founded during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush on 16 June 1859, the mining camp was...

Beginning in Golden, US 40 becomes Colfax Avenue

Colfax Avenue

Colfax Avenue is the main street that runs east–west through the Denver-Aurora metropolitan area in Colorado. As U.S. Highway 40, it was one of two principal highways serving Denver before the Interstate Highway System was constructed. In the local street system, it lies 15 blocks north of the zero...

, the main east–west thoroughfare through the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area

Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area

The Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area is a United States Census Bureau defined Metropolitan Statistical Area in the State of Colorado that includes the City and County of Denver and nine suburban counties. The Census Bureau estimates that the population was 2,357,404 on...

. Along with US 40, the entire route along Colfax Avenue is cosigned as Business Loop 70. The route travels northeast through Golden, then turns due east to travel through Lakewood

Lakewood, Colorado

Lakewood is a Home Rule Municipality that is the most populous city in Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Lakewood is the fifth most populous city in the State of Colorado and the 172nd most populous city in the United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that in April 1, 2010...

, Denver

Denver, Colorado

The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...

, and Aurora

Aurora, Colorado

City of Aurora is a Home Rule Municipality spanning Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas counties in Colorado. Aurora is an eastern suburb of the Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area . The city is the third most populous city in the Colorado and the 56th most populous city in the...

. Among the sights to be seen along US 40 is Lake Steam Bath, once the location of a thriving health industry centered on tuberculosis

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...

 sanatorium

Sanatorium

A sanatorium is a medical facility for long-term illness, most typically associated with treatment of tuberculosis before antibiotics...

s. Also along Colfax Avenue in Denver is the Denver branch of the United States Mint

United States Mint

The United States Mint primarily produces circulating coinage for the United States to conduct its trade and commerce. The Mint was created by Congress with the Coinage Act of 1792, and placed within the Department of State...

, which produces 50 million coins per day. US 40 rejoins I-70 at exit 288, just to the east of Aurora.

At exit 359 in Limon

Limon, Colorado

Limon is a Statutory Town that is the most populous town in Lincoln County, Colorado, United States immediately east of Elbert County. The population was 2,071 at the 2000 census. Limon has been called the "Hub City" of Eastern Colorado because Interstate 70, U.S. Highways 24, 40, and 287, and...

, US 40 leaves I-70 along Main Street, which it shares with Business Loop 70, US 24

U.S. Route 24

U.S. Route 24 is one of the original United States highways of 1926. It originally ran from Pontiac, Michigan, in the east to Kansas City, Missouri, in the west. Today, the highway's eastern terminus is west of Clarkston, Michigan, at an intersection with I-75 and its western terminus is near...

, US 287

U.S. Route 287

U.S. Route 287 is a north–south United States highway. It is long. It serves as the major truck route between the Texas cities of Fort Worth and Amarillo...

, and SH 71

Colorado State Highway 71

State Highway 71 is a long state highway passing several other highways in northern and central Colorado. The route runs south from the Nebraska border to La Junta.-Route description:...

. US 40/US 287 continues to the southeast to the town of Kit Carson

Kit Carson, Colorado

The historic Town of Kit Carson is a Statutory Town in Cheyenne County, Colorado, United States. The population was 253 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Kit Carson is located at ....

. From there, it leaves US 287 and continues east through the towns of Cheyenne Wells

Cheyenne Wells, Colorado

Cheyenne Wells is a Statutory Town that is the county seat and most populous town of Cheyenne County, Colorado, United States. The population was 1,010 at the 2000 census.J. L...

 and Arapahoe

Arapahoe, Colorado

Arapahoe is an unincorporated town and U.S. Post Office in Cheyenne County, Colorado, United States. The ZIP Code of the Arapahoe Post Office is 80802.-History:...

 before entering the state of Kansas.

Major intersections

County	Location	Mile	Destinations	Notes
Moffat Moffat County, Colorado Moffat County is the northwesternmost and the second most extensive of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 13,184 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is Craig.- History :...		0.000	- Utah U.S. Route 40 in Utah The west end of U.S. Route 40 is in the U.S. state of Utah at Silver Creek Junction with Interstate 80. From there it heads southeast through Heber City and east into Colorado on its way to the Mid-Atlantic.-Route description:U.S...	Western terminus of US 40 in Colorado
	Dinosaur Dinosaur, Colorado The Town of Dinosaur is a Statutory Town located in Moffat County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 320 at the U.S. Census 2000....	3
	Maybell Maybell, Colorado Maybell is an unincorporated town and a U.S. Post Office in Moffat County, Colorado, United States. The Maybell Post Office has the ZIP Code 81640.The lowest temperature ever recorded in the state of Colorado was -61°F at Maybell on February 1, 1985....	59
	Craig Craig, Colorado The City of Craig is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Moffat County, Colorado, United States. The population was 9,189 at the 2000 census...	88.5
		89.5	– Craig-Moffat County Airport Craig-Moffat Airport Craig-Moffat Airport , also known as Craig-Moffat County Airport, is a public airport located two miles southeast of the central business district of Craig, a city in Moffat County, Colorado, United States.Although most U.S...
Routt Routt County, Colorado Routt County is the 15th most extensive of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 19,690 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is Steamboat Springs.- History :...	Steamboat Springs Steamboat Springs, Colorado The city of Steamboat Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Routt County, Colorado, United States. The city is also known as "Steamboat," "The Boat," or "Ski Town USA". As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,088.The city is an...	134	Mount Werner Road	Interchange
		136
Grand Grand County, Colorado Grand County is the 21st largest of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 12,442 at U.S. Census 2000...		156
	Kremmling Kremmling, Colorado Kremmling is a Statutory Town in Grand County, Colorado, United States. The population was 1,578 at the 2000 census. The town sits along the upper Colorado River in the lower arid section of Middle Park between Byers Canyon and Gore Canyon...	184
		207.5
	Granby Granby, Colorado The Town of Granby is a Statutory Town that is the most populous town in Grand County, Colorado, United States. Granby is situated along U.S. Highway 40 in Middle Park about west of Denver, Colorado, southwest of Rocky Mountain National Park...	211
Clear Creek Clear Creek County, Colorado Clear Creek County is one of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 9,322 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is Georgetown...	Empire Empire, Colorado The historic Town of Empire is a Statutory Town located in Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States. The population was 355 at the U.S. Census 2000. The town is a former mining settlement that flourished during the Colorado Silver Boom in the late 19th century. It is located in the valley Clear...	247		Western end of I-70 overlap
Jefferson Jefferson County, Colorado Jefferson County , whose slogan is the "Gateway to the Rocky Mountains", is the fourth most populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. Located along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, Jefferson County is adjacent to the west side of the state capital, Denver....		266
	Golden Golden, Colorado The City of Golden is a home rule municipality that is the county seat of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Golden lies along Clear Creek at the edge of the foothills of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Founded during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush on 16 June 1859, the mining camp was...	275		I-70 exit #260
Denver	Denver	276		I-70 exit #261; Eastern end of I-70 overlap
		279	Kipling Street
		282
		283.5	Sheridan Boulevard
		285		Western end of US 287 overlap
		286.5
Adams Adams County, Colorado Adams County is the fifth most populous of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the county population was 441,603 in 2010 census, a 21.4% increase since 2000 census. Adams County is named for Alva Adams, Governor of the...	Aurora Aurora, Colorado City of Aurora is a Home Rule Municipality spanning Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas counties in Colorado. Aurora is an eastern suburb of the Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area . The city is the third most populous city in the Colorado and the 56th most populous city in the...	296
		300		Western end of US 36 overlap
		302	E-470 E-470 E-470 is a 46-mile limited-access tollway traversing the eastern portion of the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area in Colorado. The toll road is not a state highway, but is instead maintained by the E-470 Public Highway Authority.-Route description:... - Denver International Airport Denver International Airport Denver International Airport , often referred to as DIA, is an airport in Denver, Colorado. By land size, at , it is the largest international airport in the United States, and the third largest international airport in the world after King Fahd International Airport and Montréal-Mirabel... , Boulder Boulder, Colorado Boulder is the county seat and most populous city of Boulder County and the 11th most populous city in the U.S. state of Colorado. Boulder is located at the base of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of... , Colorado Springs Colorado Springs, Colorado Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado...	I-70 exit #284
		314		I-70 exit #304
Arapahoe Arapahoe County, Colorado As of the census of 2000, there were 487,967 people, 190,909 households, and 125,809 families residing in the county. The population density was 608 people per square mile . There were 196,835 housing units at an average density of 245 per square mile...		328		I-70 exit #316; eastern end of US 36 overlap
Lincoln Lincoln County, Colorado Lincoln County is the tenth most extensive of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 6,087 at U.S. Census 2000...	Limon Limon, Colorado Limon is a Statutory Town that is the most populous town in Lincoln County, Colorado, United States immediately east of Elbert County. The population was 2,071 at the 2000 census. Limon has been called the "Hub City" of Eastern Colorado because Interstate 70, U.S. Highways 24, 40, and 287, and...	382
		386		I-70 exit #359; eastern end of I-70 overlap
	Hugo Hugo, Colorado The Town of Hugo is a Statutory Town that is the county seat of Lincoln County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 885 at the U.S...	398	County Highway 109 / County Road 31 – Genoa Genoa, Colorado Genoa is a Statutory Town located in Lincoln County, Colorado, United States. The population was 211 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Genoa is located at ....
		399	County Highway 109 / County Road 32 (3rd Ave) – Karval Karval, Colorado Karval is an unincorporated town and a U.S. Post Office in Lincoln County, Colorado, United States. The Karval Post Office has the ZIP Code 80823.-External links:*...
Cheyenne Cheyenne County, Colorado Cheyenne County is the fifth least densely populated of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 2,231 at U.S. Census 2000...	Aroya Aroya, Colorado Aroya is a small, rural unincorporated community in Cheyenne County, Colorado, United States at the eastern end of State Highway 94 near its junction with U.S. Highway 40/U.S. Highway 287. The name Arroyo appears on some older maps. The town was named "Aroya" because of a gulch nearby . The gulch...	425.5
	Kit Carson Kit Carson, Colorado The historic Town of Kit Carson is a Statutory Town in Cheyenne County, Colorado, United States. The population was 253 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Kit Carson is located at ....	445
		446		Eastern end of US 287 overlap
	Cheyenne Wells Cheyenne Wells, Colorado Cheyenne Wells is a Statutory Town that is the county seat and most populous town of Cheyenne County, Colorado, United States. The population was 1,010 at the 2000 census.J. L...	471
		487	– Kansas Kansas Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...	Eastern terminus of US 40 in Colorado