Cheyenne to Denver Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Cheyenne, WY to Denver, CO (100 miles). A short, high-frequency corridor connecting Cheyenne to Colorado's Mountain West distribution hub via I-25.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Cheyenne to Denver?
Cheyenne to Denver is a 100-mile lane paying about $285 - $330 per load, near $2.85 - $3.30 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, distribution/e-commerce-connected freight and rail/intermodal-connected freight.
- Distance
- 100 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $265 - $310
- Rate per mile
- $2.65 - $3.10
- Transit time
- Same day / 1.5-2 hrs
- Deadhead risk
- 10-15%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing for a short, high-rate-per-mile lane. See our dispatch fee structure.
Cheyenne to Denver
Cheyenne to Denver is a 100-mile, roughly 1.5-hour run south on I-25, connecting Wyoming's biggest freight crossroads to Colorado's Front Range distribution and energy hub. Cheyenne's Swan Ranch Industrial Park, the largest logistics hub in the Rocky Mountain region, feeds steady freight into Denver's dense, growing warehousing and e-commerce network.
Origin
Cheyenne, WY
Destination
Denver, CO
Distance
100 miles
Transit Time
Same day / 1.5-2 hrs
Average Rate
$265 - $310
Rate per Mile
$2.65 - $3.10
100-mile lane, about 1.5 hours on I-25
Connects Cheyenne's Swan Ranch Industrial Park to Denver's Front Range distribution hub
One of Wyoming's shortest, most heavily traveled corridors
Cheyenne to Denver: route facts a driver should know
Cheyenne became Union Pacific's Mountain Division headquarters in 1867
Union Pacific designated Cheyenne its Mountain Division headquarters on July 4, 1867, and the city grew into a key helper-locomotive and repair-shop town for trains climbing Sherman Hill toward the Rockies.
Source: WyoHistory.org, Wyoming State Historical Society. 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 Cheyenne to Denver?
About $98.80 this week. The lane is 100 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 15 gallons, and diesel is averaging $6.42 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 this region, not the price at each pump. Your mpg and fuel card discounts change it.
- Distance
- 100 mi
- Diesel needed
- 15 gal
- Price used
- $6.42/gal
- Fuel cost
- $98.80
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, distribution/e-commerce-connected freight and rail/intermodal-connected freight fill the trailers heading south.
- Consumer Goods
- Energy Equipment
- Retail Distribution
What makes the Cheyenne to Denver lane difficult?
A very short lane keeps per-load rates in a tighter range
A very short lane keeps per-load rates in a tighter range.
I-25 through the Cheyenne-Denver corridor can see periodic congestion
I-25 through the Cheyenne-Denver corridor can see periodic congestion.
Winter weather along the Front Range can affect road conditions
Winter weather along the Front Range can affect road conditions.
What freight moves on the Cheyenne to Denver lane?
What travels between Cheyenne and Denver, and why the Swan Ranch-to-Front Range connection matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Consumer Goods
- •Energy Equipment
- •Retail Distribution
Secondary Commodities
- •Distribution/e-commerce-connected freight (Denver)
- •Rail/intermodal-connected freight (Swan Ranch)
- •Consumer goods
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •Distribution/e-commerce-connected freight (steady)
- •Rail/intermodal-connected freight (steady)
When is the Cheyenne to Denver lane busiest?
Steady distribution freight and the Q4 e-commerce peak both shape this lane.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Consumer goods and distribution-connected freight both climb from October through December.
Produce Season?
Not a major factor on this lane.
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Steady distribution/e-commerce freight year-round
- •Summer freight demand
Hurricane Risk?
None. Winter weather along the Front Range is this corridor's 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 Cheyenne to Denver lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need a weather check.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
Same-day booking is typical for this short, fast-turning lane.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical distribution/e-commerce-connected freight tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a fast winter delivery without checking Front Range road conditions.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Cheyenne to Denver
- •
At 100 miles, this is a comfortable one-day run, all on I-25.
- •
Rail-linked freight is worth asking about given Denver's new 620-acre rail park.
- •
This short lane pairs well with a same-day round trip.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Cheyenne to Denver lane?
Denver's growing distribution network makes a northbound 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: 10-15%
With Denver's dense e-commerce and warehousing base, there is real backhaul variety.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Denver's distribution scale supports strong, reliable backhaul availability.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Denver's expanding intermodal rail capacity gives you real backhaul options.
- •
Cheyenne's rail-town freight base keeps northbound loads flowing too.
- •
This lane is short enough to plan more than one trip a day.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Cheyenne to Denver lane?
Three notes before this Front Range corridor run.
This lane pairs well with multiple turns in a single day.
Build in a buffer for periodic I-25 congestion.
Check Front Range winter conditions before a late-fall through early-spring run.
A short, direct I-25 run connecting Wyoming's capital to Colorado's biggest freight market.
Cheyenne to Denver Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, Denver's distribution hub, and market conditions.
The lane data shows about $285 - $330 per load, or $2.85 - $3.30 a mile, across 100 miles.
About 1.5 hours for the 100 miles.
It connects Cheyenne's Swan Ranch Industrial Park, the Rocky Mountain region's largest logistics hub, to Denver's growing distribution network.
Yes, generally, given the metro's dense and growing distribution network.
Other Wyoming freight lanes we dispatch
- Cheyenne to Salt Lake City
- Cheyenne to Sioux Falls
- Cheyenne to Billings
- Cheyenne to Gillette
- Cheyenne to Rock Springs
- Cheyenne to Casper
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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