Origin
Colorado Springs, CO
Evening in Colorado Springs on Sunday
Local time
5:12 PM
MDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Colorado Springs, CO to Lakewood, CO
Drive Time
1h 24m
Distance
73.5 mi
118 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 18m
★
6 AM
1h 25m
8 AM
1h 38m
10 AM
1h 30m
12 PM
1h 28m
3 PM
1h 30m
5 PM
1h 37m
8 PM
1h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lakewood, CO
Cedric Fauntleroy
Trip Overview
Traveling between Colorado Springs and Lakewood covers 73.5 miles, a journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 24 minutes. Since this route is well within the limits of a single day, you can easily complete it in one go without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $11 on fuel for the trip, making it an affordable option for travelers moving between these Mountain West hubs. You will navigate a combination of the Ronald Reagan Highway, Monument Valley Freeway, and West 6th Avenue Freeway. Given the manageable duration, this drive is perfect for those seeking a straightforward transition between these two Colorado locations. It is a practical, efficient path that keeps your travel time minimal while offering a direct connection across the region.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
36.7 miles from Colorado Springs, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 41m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention as you transition between major thoroughfares. While the route includes a significant 60.9-mile stretch on the Ronald Reagan Highway, only about 11% of the total distance is classified as highway driving, meaning you will spend much of your time navigating local connectors. The character of the road shifts as you move through the various freeway segments, keeping the experience dynamic rather than monotonous. You will find yourself adjusting to different road types frequently, which breaks up the 73.5-mile trek. Be prepared for a varied driving environment that keeps you engaged behind the wheel from start to finish.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Ronald Reagan Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 60.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 0.2 miles in near North Cascade Avenue.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 73.5 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (North Cascade Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (West Bijou Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 67.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Cascade Avenue
Turn right onto North Cascade Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
West Bijou Street
Turn left onto West Bijou Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
67.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m 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
67.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m 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
71.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m 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
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan Highway | 60.9 mi | 1h 5m |
| Monument Valley Freeway | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| West 6th Avenue Freeway | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| North Wadsworth Boulevard | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| West Bijou Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Pikes Peak Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Cascade Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Highway
— 60.9 mi, about 1h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colorado Springs, CO and Lakewood, CO.
1
Start on East Pikes Peak Avenue
0.2 mi
·
47 sec
·
East Pikes Peak Avenue
2
Turn right onto North Cascade Avenue
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
North Cascade Avenue
3
Turn left onto West Bijou Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
West Bijou Street
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward I 25
5
Merge onto I 25
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Monument Valley Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 25
61 mi
·
1 hr 5 min
·
Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 209A-B
Toward US 6 West: 6th Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 209B
Toward US 6 West: 6th Avenue, Lakewood
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on US 6
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 6
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
US 6
Toward US 6
11
Merge onto US 6
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
West 6th Avenue Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward CO 121 South: Wadsworth Boulevard
Use the right lane.
13
Turn straight onto CO 121
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
North Wadsworth Boulevard
Use the none lane.
14
Continue on CO 121
369 ft
·
15 sec
·
South Wadsworth Boulevard
Use the left lane.
15
Arrive at destination
CO 121
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short trip, you have the advantage of total flexibility in your departure time. Since the entire drive takes less than an hour and a half, you do not need to worry about scheduling formal rest stops unless you simply want a break. Keep in mind that with zero planned stops required, you can tailor your pace to suit your own schedule. To ensure a smooth experience, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $11 budget is a baseline estimate that can fluctuate based on your vehicle's efficiency. My best advice is to account for potential traffic when transitioning onto the West 6th Avenue Freeway, as local road conditions can vary significantly during peak travel hours.
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 36.7 miles from Colorado Springs, CO, or about 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60.9 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 73.5 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.7 miles or 41m 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 9m
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 Colorado Springs, CO so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Colorado Springs, CO
This is one driving day of about 73.5 miles and 1h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Colorado Springs, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Ronald Reagan Highway for about 60.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 36.7 mi from Colorado Springs, CO · 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 73.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.7 miles from Colorado Springs, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Ronald Reagan Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 60.9 miles.
Arriving in Lakewood, CO
The final approach into Lakewood, CO usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Lakewood, CO.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.14 one way
$22.28 round trip
$3.85/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.08 | $11.82 | $23.64 |
| premium | $4.43 | $12.83 | $25.66 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $16.33 | $32.66 |
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: 25.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.1 | 0 | $7.72 | $3.53 |
| Efficient EV | 18.4 | 0 | $6.43 | $2.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.4 | 0 | $10.29 | $4.70 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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.
Destination
Lakewood, CO
Evening in Lakewood on Sunday
Local time
5:12 PM
MDT
Current temp
64°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
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 24m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Colorado Springs, CO to Lakewood, CO covers 73.5 miles and takes about 1h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Ronald Reagan Highway, Monument Valley Freeway, West 6th Avenue Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36.7 miles from Colorado Springs, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.14 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 73.5 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (North Cascade Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (West Bijou Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 67.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Colorado Springs, CO to Lakewood, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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