Seattle to Denver Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Seattle, WA to Denver, CO (1315 miles). Denver's Mountain West distribution hub rounds out Seattle's eastbound reach via I-90.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Seattle to Denver?
Seattle to Denver is a 1,315-mile lane paying about $2,696 - $3,222 per load, near $2.05 - $2.45 a mile. Freight is mostly retail distribution, energy equipment and consumer goods.
- Distance
- 1315 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $2,696 - $3,222
- Rate per mile
- $2.05 - $2.45
- Transit time
- 2-3 days
- Deadhead risk
- 35-40%
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.
Seattle to Denver
Seattle to Denver is a 1,315-mile, 2-to-3-day run southeast, mostly on I-90 to I-80/I-25. Denver sits where I-25, I-70 and I-76 meet, with more than $320 billion in freight flowing through the metro each year, and the route crosses the Cascades, the Rockies' approach through southern Wyoming, and the high plains along the way.
Origin
Seattle, WA
Destination
Denver, CO
Distance
1315 miles
Transit Time
2-3 days
Average Rate
$2,696 - $3,222
Rate per Mile
$2.05 - $2.45
1,315-mile lane, typically a 2-3 day run
Denver is the Mountain West's logistics hub, with more than $320 billion in freight a year
Crosses the Cascades and southern Wyoming's high plains
Seattle to Denver: route facts a driver should know
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.
Washington's freight system moves over 500 million tons of goods a year
Washington's freight system moves more than 500 million tons of goods annually, valued at over $600 billion, with Seattle serving as the primary distribution hub for the Pacific Northwest.
Source: Washington Trucking Associations, freight corridors overview. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Seattle to Denver?
About $1397.54 this week. The lane is 1,315 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 202 gallons, and diesel is averaging $6.91 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
- 1,315 mi
- Diesel needed
- 202 gal
- Price used
- $6.91/gal
- Fuel cost
- $1397.54
Common Freight Types
Retail distribution, energy equipment and consumer goods fill the trailers heading southeast.
- Retail Distribution
- Energy Equipment
- Consumer Goods
What makes the Seattle to Denver lane difficult?
The length requires a full multi-day HOS plan
Understanding and preparing for this challenge helps optimize your operations and maximize profitability on this lane.
Southern Wyoming's I-80 stretch is known for high wind and winter closures
Southern Wyoming's I-80 stretch is known for high wind and winter closures.
Snoqualmie Pass at the start of the route can also see winter weather
Snoqualmie Pass at the start of the route can also see winter weather.
What freight moves on the Seattle to Denver lane?
What travels between Seattle 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
- •Consumer goods
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Retail distribution (holiday surge)
- •Energy equipment (steady)
- •Consumer goods (steady)
When is the Seattle to Denver lane busiest?
Retail timing and mountain winter weather both shape 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?
Retail distribution climbs from October through December.
Produce Season?
Not a major factor on this route.
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Steady energy-sector freight
- •Ski-season freight into the mountains
Hurricane Risk?
None. Winter mountain and plains weather at both ends of this route is the real seasonal risk.
Seasonal Strategy Summary
This lane runs steady year-round, without a major seasonal swing to plan around.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Seattle to Denver lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need a weather plan.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
3-5 days out is typical for a haul this long.
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 winter delivery without a weather contingency at both ends.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Seattle to Denver
- •
This is a long haul at 1,325 miles, so plan for multiple days and rest stops.
- •
Rail-linked freight is worth asking about given Denver's new 620-acre rail park.
- •
Port-linked freight out of Seattle is another option here.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Seattle to Denver lane?
Denver's role as the Mountain West's logistics hub gives good odds on a westbound load.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the westbound load:
- •Denver, CO
- •Regional distribution hubs near Denver
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 35-40%
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:
- •This lane has higher deadhead risk than coastal West Coast routes, since freight density is lower across the Mountain West. Plan multi-stop backhauls through Boise or Salt Lake City. Don't expect a direct return load.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Denver's expanding intermodal rail capacity gives you real backhaul options.
- •
Seattle's massive freight volume keeps westbound loads flowing too.
- •
Give yourself real recovery time after this long run before your next dispatch.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Seattle to Denver lane?
Three notes before this long cross-country run.
Plan your rest stops and any 34-hour restart before you leave Seattle on a run this long.
Check WYDOT conditions before crossing southern Wyoming in winter.
Check Snoqualmie Pass conditions too, since both ends of this route can see winter weather.
Check conditions at both the Cascades and the Rockies before departure; this route crosses both.
This is one of the longest lanes we track. Plan multiple rest stops across more than 1,300 miles.
Seattle to Denver Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, mountain weather, and Denver's freight position.
The lane data shows about $2,696 - $3,222 per load, or $2.05 - $2.45 a mile, across 1,315 miles.
Typically 2-3 days, requiring 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 Washington freight lanes we dispatch
- Seattle to Chicago
- Seattle to Boise
- Seattle to Salt Lake City
- Seattle to Yakima
- Seattle to Vancouver
- Seattle to Everett
Local resources
Also serving the other end of this lane
Dry Van owner-operator, West Coast: +$2,010/week after moving to $2.62/mi on general freight / consumer goods freight.
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