This 76-mile drive from Cimarron Hills to Lakewood, Colorado, is a straightforward 1.5-hour journey. Primarily utilizing Ronald Reagan Highway and West 6th Avenue Freeway, it's an easy day trip within the Mountain West region. With a fuel cost estimated at $11, this route is budget-friendly. The drive offers a practical way to navigate between these two Colorado locations without needing an overnight stop, making it ideal for a quick transit or a day of local exploration.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38 miles from Cimarron Hills, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ronald Reagan Highway
55.4 mi
59m
North Powers Boulevard
11.2 mi
14m
West 6th Avenue Freeway
2.5 mi
3m
Interquest Parkway
2.2 mi
3m
North Wadsworth Boulevard
1.5 mi
3m
Palmer Park Boulevard
1.1 mi
2m
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
0.9 mi
1m
US 6
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Highway
— 55.4 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cimarron Hills, CO and Lakewood, CO.
1
Start on Palmer Park Boulevard
1.1 mi·2 min·Palmer Park Boulevard
2
Turn right onto CO 21
11 mi·14 min·North Powers Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
3
At end of road, turn left onto CO 83
2.2 mi·3 min·Interquest Parkway
Use the left lane.
4
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward I 25 North: DenverUse the slight right lane.
5
Merge onto I 25
55 mi·59 min·Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 209A-BToward US 6 West: 6th AvenueUse the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·53 sec
Exit 209BToward US 6 West: 6th Avenue, LakewoodUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on US 6
0.9 mi·1 min·Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 6
0.1 mi·10 sec·US 6
Toward US 6
10
Merge onto US 6
2.5 mi·3 min·West 6th Avenue Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward CO 121 South: Wadsworth BoulevardUse the right lane.
12
Turn straight onto CO 121
1.5 mi·3 min·North Wadsworth Boulevard
13
Continue on CO 121
369 ft·15 sec·South Wadsworth Boulevard
Use the left lane.
14
Arrive at destination
CO 121
Trip Plan
Given the manageable 1.5-hour duration, this drive is best tackled as a single-day excursion. Aim to depart Cimarron Hills in the morning to avoid potential afternoon traffic as you approach Lakewood. With only 76 miles and an estimated fuel cost of $11, you won't need frequent stops, but it's wise to fuel up before leaving Cimarron Hills. Pay close attention to the transitions between the Ronald Reagan Highway and West 6th Avenue Freeway, as these can be busy points.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 38 miles from Cimarron Hills, CO, or about 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.4 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 17 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38 miles or 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lakewood, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cimarron Hills, CO so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Cimarron Hills, CO
This is one driving day of about 76 miles and 1h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Cimarron Hills, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Ronald Reagan Highway for about 55.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 12.3 and 74.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
12.3 mi into trip|~17m in|CO 83 / Interquest Parkway
At end of road, turn left onto CO 83 / Interquest Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
14.5 mi into trip|~20m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 25 North: Denver
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 25 North: Denver
7
70.2 mi into trip|~1h 20m in
Take the exit toward US 6 West: 6th Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 209A-B
Toward US 6 West: 6th Avenue
9
70.3 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 6 West: 6th Avenue, Lakewood
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 209B
Toward US 6 West: 6th Avenue, Lakewood
6
74.3 mi into trip|~1h 26m in
Take the exit toward CO 121 South: Wadsworth Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward CO 121 South: Wadsworth Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.45 one way
$22.90 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$12.12
$24.25
premium
$4.39
$13.15
$26.29
diesel
$5.61
$16.78
$33.56
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.8
0
$7.98
$3.65
Efficient EV
19
0
$6.65
$3.04
EV Truck/SUV
30.4
0
$10.64
$4.86
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Cimarron Hills, CO
Afternoon
in Cimarron Hills on Saturday
Local time
12:33 PM
MDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lakewood, CO
Afternoon
in Lakewood on Saturday
Local time
12:33 PM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
30 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 30m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
National Monument
Beneath a grassy mountain valley in central Colorado lies one of the richest and most diverse fossil deposits in the world. Petrified redwood stumps up to 14 feet wide and thousands of detailed fossil...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
$10
near mile 18.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile for this 76-mile trip. While 6% of the route is on highways, much of it involves navigating local roads like North Powers Boulevard. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 55.4 miles on Ronald Reagan Highway. This suggests a drive that transitions between faster-paced highway segments and more involved local road driving, requiring your attention to traffic signals and intersections.
Only 6% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55.4 mi on Ronald Reagan Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.3 miles in near CO 83 / Interquest Parkway.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 76 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 12.3 miles (CO 83 / Interquest Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 70.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 30m. Total distance: 76 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 55.4 miles on Ronald Reagan Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Lakewood, CO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 12.3 miles (CO 83 / Interquest Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 70.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lakewood, CO before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
