St. Louis to Denver Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting St. Louis, MO to Denver, CO (853 miles). Denver's distribution and energy-sector freight supports a solid I-70 connection.
What do truck dispatch rates run from St. Louis to Denver?
St. Louis to Denver is an 853-mile lane paying about $1,962 - $2,303 per load, near $2.30 - $2.70 a mile. Freight is mostly food products, energy equipment and consumer goods.
- Distance
- 853 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $1,962 - $2,303
- Rate per mile
- $2.30 - $2.70
- Transit time
- 1-2 days
- Deadhead risk
- 25-30%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing and shift with fuel prices over this long haul. See our dispatch fee structure.
St. Louis to Denver
St. Louis to Denver is an 853-mile, roughly 13-hour run west on I-70. Denver sits where I-25, I-70 and I-76 meet, described as the undisputed logistics hub of the Mountain West, with more than $320 billion in freight flowing through the metro each year.
Origin
St. Louis, MO
Destination
Denver, CO
Distance
853 miles
Transit Time
1-2 days
Average Rate
$1,962 - $2,303
Rate per Mile
$2.30 - $2.70
853-mile lane, about 13 hours west
Denver is the Mountain West's logistics hub, with more than $320 billion in freight a year
Crosses Missouri and Kansas farmland
St. Louis to Denver: route facts a driver should know
Colorado requires chains on I-70's mountain corridor from September through May
Colorado law requires chains or approved traction devices on I-70 between Morrison and Dotsero from September 1 through May 31, with Colorado State Patrol enforcing it heavily from October through April.
Source: Colorado Department of Transportation, truck safety campaign. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Union Pacific just opened a 620-acre rail park east of Denver
Denver hosts intermodal rail yards for both BNSF and Union Pacific, and in 2025 Union Pacific opened its 620-acre Rocky Mountain Rail Park east of the city.
Source: Progressive Railroading, Union Pacific Colorado rail park. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for St. Louis to Denver?
About $838.17 this week. The lane is 853 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 131 gallons, and diesel is averaging $6.39 a gallon on this lane (week of October 19, 2026). The U.S. average diesel price is up 10 cents this week.
An estimate. It uses EIA's weekly average for the two regions this lane connects, not the price at each pump. Your mpg and fuel card discounts change it.
- Distance
- 853 mi
- Diesel needed
- 131 gal
- Price used
- $6.39/gal
- Fuel cost
- $838.17
Common Freight Types
Food products, energy equipment and consumer goods fill the trailers heading west.
- Retail Distribution
- Energy Equipment
- Consumer Goods
What makes the St. Louis to Denver lane difficult?
The length requires a realistic HOS plan
Understanding and preparing for this challenge helps optimize your operations and maximize profitability on this lane.
Kansas and eastern Colorado plains can see sudden severe weather
Kansas and eastern Colorado plains can see sudden severe weather.
I-70 through the Rocky Mountain foothills can see winter weather near the destination
I-70 through the Rocky Mountain foothills can see winter weather near the destination.
What freight moves on the St. Louis to Denver lane?
What travels between St. Louis and Denver, and when the busy weeks fall.
Primary Commodities
- •Retail Distribution
- •Energy Equipment
- •Consumer Goods
Secondary Commodities
- •Energy equipment
- •Denver International Airport-area air cargo freight
- •Food products
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Food products (steady)
- •Energy equipment (steady)
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
When is the St. Louis to Denver lane busiest?
Retail timing sets the main peak on this long haul.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays, cushioned by steady energy-sector freight.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Consumer goods climb from October through December.
Produce Season?
A modest factor tied to fall harvest freight along the plains.
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Steady energy-sector freight
- •Fall harvest freight along the route
Hurricane Risk?
None. Sudden plains storms and winter mountain weather are the real risks here.
Seasonal Strategy Summary
Winter (October through April) is the defining season on this lane. Chain law enforcement on I-70's mountain corridor is strict, so build in extra time and carry the right equipment.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the St. Louis to Denver lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need extra planning.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
3-4 days out is typical for this haul.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical energy-sector freight tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a fixed delivery across the plains during severe weather without a contingency.
Rate Negotiation Tips for St. Louis to Denver
- •
Carry chains on this lane from September through May. Colorado enforces its I-70 mountain chain law aggressively.
- •
At 853 miles, plan for a full two-day trip with real weather buffer time in winter.
- •
Rail-linked freight out of St. Louis is worth checking on this end too.
How do I find a backhaul load on the St. Louis to Denver lane?
Denver's role as the Mountain West's logistics hub makes an eastbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Denver, CO
- •Regional distribution hubs near Denver
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 25-30%
Denver's $320 billion in annual freight volume and its energy sector both add backhaul options.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Denver is a big distribution gateway that offers some backhaul options. But the long route keeps deadhead risk high.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Denver's dual rail-yard access gives you real backhaul options heading back toward St. Louis.
- •
St. Louis's own rail and river-port density keeps eastbound freight flowing too.
- •
Check freight tied to the new Rocky Mountain Rail Park for a return load.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the St. Louis to Denver lane?
Three notes before this long plains run.
Plan your rest stops before you leave St. Louis on a run this long.
Watch for sudden severe weather across the Kansas and eastern Colorado plains.
Check winter conditions near Denver in the foothills.
Confirm your truck carries chains before dispatching this lane between September and May.
St. Louis to Denver Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, HOS planning, and Denver's freight hub status.
The lane data shows about $1,962 - $2,303 per load, or $2.30 - $2.70 a mile, across 853 miles.
Typically requires a full HOS plan across the drive.
It sits where I-25, I-70 and I-76 meet, and more than $320 billion in freight flows through the metro each year.
Generally reasonable, given Denver's scale as a regional hub.
Other Missouri freight lanes we dispatch
- St. Louis to Memphis
- St. Louis to Atlanta
- St. Louis to Indianapolis
- St. Louis to Nashville
- St. Louis to Oklahoma City
- St. Louis to Omaha
Local resources
Also serving the other end of this lane
Dry Van owner-operator, Midwest: +$1,950/week after moving to $2.65/mi on produce / auto parts freight.
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