Origin
Lafayette, CO
Evening in Lafayette on Sunday
Local time
5:06 PM
MDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lafayette, CO to Denver, CO
Drive Time
34m
Distance
21.6 mi
35 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 31m
★
6 AM
0h 34m
8 AM
0h 40m
10 AM
0h 36m
12 PM
0h 36m
3 PM
0h 37m
5 PM
0h 40m
8 PM
0h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lafayette, CO
Matheus Bertelli
Denver, CO
MINEIA MARTINS
Trip Overview
The drive from Lafayette, CO to Denver, CO covers 21.6 miles and takes about 34m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Public Road, South 112th Street, US 36 East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.27 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
10.8 miles from Lafayette, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 17m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 34m drive with frequent turns across 21.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Public Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Lafayette, CO to Denver, CO is easy. At 34m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Lafayette, CO to Denver, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Public Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South 112th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 36 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Denver–Boulder Turnpike | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 25 south | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Valley Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 38th Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Park Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
South Public Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lafayette, CO and Denver, CO.
1
Start on the route
207 ft
·
17 sec
·
the route
2
Turn right
49 ft
·
9 sec
3
Turn left onto South Public Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Public Road
4
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward South 112th Street
75 ft
·
2 sec
·
South 112th Street
5
Exit the roundabout onto South 112th Street
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
South 112th Street
6
Turn left onto South 112th Street
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
South 112th Street
7
Continue straight
0.5 mi
·
1 min
8
Turn left onto US 36 East: Denver
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
US 36 East: Denver
9
Merge slight left onto Denver–Boulder Turnpike
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
10
Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
11
Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
12
Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
13
Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
14
Take the exit slight right toward I 25 south: Denver
0.5 mi
·
47 sec
·
I 25 south: Denver
15
Continue on I 25 south: Denver
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
I 25 south: Denver
16
Merge slight left onto North Valley Highway
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
North Valley Highway
17
Take the exit slight right toward 38th Avenue, Park Avenue, Downtown
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
38th Avenue, Park Avenue, Downtown
18
Keep slight left to continue on Park Avenue, Downtown
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
Park Avenue, Downtown
19
Continue on Park Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Park Avenue
20
Turn straight onto Park Avenue West
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Park Avenue West
21
Continue on West 22nd Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West 22nd Street
22
Turn right onto North Broadway
1.0 mi
·
3 min
·
North Broadway
23
Turn left onto East 14th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
East 14th Avenue
24
Turn left
358 ft
·
28 sec
25
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 10.8 miles from Lafayette, CO, or about 17m into the drive.
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 21.6 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 10.8 miles or 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Denver, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lafayette, 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 Lafayette, CO
This is one driving day of about 21.6 miles and 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Lafayette, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 10.8 mi from Lafayette, CO · 17m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
11 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 21.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 10.8 miles from Lafayette, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Denver, CO
The final approach into Denver, 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 Denver, 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
$3.27 one way
$6.55 round trip
$3.85/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.08 | $3.47 | $6.95 |
| premium | $4.43 | $3.77 | $7.54 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $4.80 | $9.60 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.27 | $1.04 |
| Efficient EV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.89 | $0.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.02 | $1.38 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Denver, CO
Evening in Denver on Sunday
Local time
5:06 PM
MDT
Current temp
66°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
25 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
34m 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 Lafayette, CO to Denver, CO covers 21.6 miles and takes about 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Public Road, South 112th Street, US 36 East. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 10.8 miles from Lafayette, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.27 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.
The drive from Lafayette, CO to Denver, CO is easy. At 34m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Lafayette, CO to Denver, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Lafayette, CO to Denver, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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