Origin
Denver, CO
Evening in Denver on Sunday
Local time
7:36 PM
MDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Denver, CO to Lakewood, CO
Drive Time
15m
Distance
8.1 mi
13 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 14m
★
6 AM
0h 15m
8 AM
0h 18m
10 AM
0h 16m
12 PM
0h 16m
3 PM
0h 16m
5 PM
0h 18m
8 PM
0h 14m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Denver, CO
MINEIA MARTINS
Lakewood, CO
Cedric Fauntleroy
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Denver to Lakewood, this 7.9-mile transit is a quick and straightforward trip across the Mountain West. You can easily complete the entire journey in about 15 minutes, making it an ideal candidate for a one-day outing. Budgeting for your trip is incredibly simple, as you will only need about $1 for fuel. Since the drive is so short, there is no need to worry about overnight logistics or complex planning. You will navigate entirely through local streets rather than major highways, providing a direct connection between these two Colorado cities. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a local visit, this route offers a practical and efficient way to move between these nearby urban centers.
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
4 miles from Denver, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 8m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. You will spend 0% of your time on highways, relying instead on a network of city streets including East Colfax Avenue, Grant Street, and East 8th Avenue. Because this is entirely a local experience, there are no long highway stretches to speak of, with the longest uninterrupted segment being 0 miles on East Colfax Avenue. The personality of this route is defined by consistent urban navigation rather than open-road cruising. You should prepare for frequent turns and steady city traffic as you transition across the 7.9-mile distance.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West 6th Avenue Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 4.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 15m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (I 70 Business; US 40; US 287 / East Colfax Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Grant Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
I 70 Business; US 40; US 287 / East Colfax Avenue
Turn right onto I 70 Business; US 40; US 287 / East Colfax Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Grant Street
Turn right onto Grant Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
East 8th Avenue
Turn right onto East 8th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
6.3 mi into trip
|
~11m 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 |
|---|---|---|
| West 6th Avenue Freeway | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| North Wadsworth Boulevard | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| East 8th Avenue | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Grant Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| North Kalamath Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| South Wadsworth Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Colfax Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
West 6th Avenue Freeway
— 4.4 mi, about 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Denver, CO and Lakewood, CO.
1
Start on this road
379 ft
·
29 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
62 ft
·
8 sec
3
Turn right onto I 70 Business; US 40; US 287
358 ft
·
14 sec
·
East Colfax Avenue
4
Turn right onto Grant Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Grant Street
Use the right lane.
5
Turn right onto East 8th Avenue
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
East 8th Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on North Kalamath Street
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
North Kalamath Street
7
Continue on 6
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
West 6th Avenue Freeway
Toward West 6th Avenue Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward CO 121 South: Wadsworth Boulevard
Use the right lane.
9
Turn straight onto CO 121
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
North Wadsworth Boulevard
10
Continue on CO 121
369 ft
·
15 sec
·
South Wadsworth Boulevard
Use the left lane.
11
Arrive at destination
CO 121
Trip Plan
Because this trip only takes 15 minutes, you have maximum flexibility regarding your departure time. You won't need to plan for any stops, as the distance is short enough to drive straight through without a break. Keep in mind that since you are navigating local roads, traffic patterns on streets like East 8th Avenue can fluctuate, so check your GPS for real-time congestion before you head out. With such a low fuel cost of $1, you don't need to worry about scouting gas stations along the way. Your best bet is to simply enjoy the efficiency of this direct route and focus on navigating the turns safely as you make your way into Lakewood.
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 4 miles from Denver, CO, or about 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 4.4 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 8.1 miles or 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 4 miles or 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 12m
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 Denver, 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 Denver, CO
This is one driving day of about 8.1 miles and 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Denver, 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 West 6th Avenue Freeway for about 4.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 4 mi from Denver, CO · 8m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
4 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 8.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 4 miles from Denver, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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
$1.23 one way
$2.45 round trip
$3.85/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.08 | $1.30 | $2.60 |
| premium | $4.43 | $1.41 | $2.83 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $1.80 | $3.60 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$26–$51
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.4 | 0 | $0.85 | $0.39 |
| Efficient EV | 2 | 0 | $0.71 | $0.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.13 | $0.52 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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.
Destination
Lakewood, CO
Evening in Lakewood on Sunday
Local time
7:36 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
15m 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 Denver, CO to Lakewood, CO covers 8.1 miles and takes about 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West 6th Avenue Freeway, North Wadsworth Boulevard, East 8th Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 4 miles from Denver, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.23 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 straightforward 15m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (I 70 Business; US 40; US 287 / East Colfax Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Grant Street): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Denver, CO to Lakewood, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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