Origin
Lakewood, CO
Evening in Lakewood on Sunday
Local time
5:08 PM
MDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lakewood, CO to Cañon City, CO
Drive Time
2h 28m
Distance
118.3 mi
190 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 19m
★
6 AM
2h 29m
8 AM
2h 49m
10 AM
2h 36m
12 PM
2h 34m
3 PM
2h 37m
5 PM
2h 48m
8 PM
2h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lakewood, CO
Cedric Fauntleroy
Cañon City, CO
RDNE Stock project
Trip Overview
If you are looking to head south from Lakewood to Cañon City, you are in for a 118.3-mile journey across the Mountain West. Clocking in at approximately 2 hours and 28 minutes, this trip is perfectly suited as a straightforward day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking overnight accommodations. You should budget about $16 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Since the route involves navigating through North Valley Highway, South Nevada Avenue, and 3rd Street, you will experience a shift from suburban corridors to the more localized atmosphere of Cañon City. It is a practical, manageable drive that gets you from the Denver metro area to the heart of the region without an exhausting time commitment.
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
59.1 miles from Lakewood, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 6m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. With only 9% of the trip spent on major highways, the vast majority of your time will be spent navigating local roads and transitions. The longest stretch you will encounter is a 60.6-mile segment on North Valley Highway, which serves as the primary backbone of your trek. Because this route is technical and avoids long, high-speed highway stretches, you should prepare for a varied driving experience that changes rhythm as you move between different municipal road segments. It is the kind of drive where you will want to stay alert for frequent turns and shifting speed limits.
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.
North Valley Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 60.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 118.3 miles you will encounter 12 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 1.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles (US 6 / West 6th Avenue Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.3 miles (US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1.3 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward US 6 East: Denver
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 6 East: Denver
5
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 6 / West 6th Avenue Freeway
Merge onto US 6 / West 6th Avenue Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
7
4.3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
US 6
Take the exit onto US 6 toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs
5
5.4 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 25 / North Valley Highway
Merge onto I 25 / North Valley Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8
73.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
Take the exit toward CO 115 South: Tejon Street, Nevada Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 140
Toward CO 115 South: Tejon Street, Nevada Avenu...
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Valley Highway | 60.6 mi | 1h 5m |
| South Nevada Avenue | 30.6 mi | 40m |
| 3rd Street | 9.5 mi | 16m |
| Monument Valley Freeway | 7.8 mi | 9m |
| Royal Gorge Boulevard | 3.7 mi | 7m |
| West 6th Avenue Freeway | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| South Wadsworth Boulevard | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| US 6 | 0.6 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
North Valley Highway
— 60.6 mi, about 1h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakewood, CO and Cañon City, CO.
1
Start on CO 121
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South Wadsworth Boulevard
Use the none lane.
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward US 6 East: Denver
Use the slight right lane.
3
Merge onto US 6
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
West 6th Avenue Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit onto US 6
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
·
US 6
Toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 25 South: Colorado Springs
6
Merge onto I 25
61 mi
·
1 hr 5 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 25
7.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Monument Valley Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 140
Toward CO 115 South: Tejon Street, Nevada Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn right onto CO 115
31 mi
·
40 min
·
South Nevada Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn right onto CR 123
9.5 mi
·
16 min
·
3rd Street
Use the right lane.
11
At end of road, turn left onto Mackenzie Avenue
126 ft
·
7 sec
·
Mackenzie Avenue
12
Turn right onto US 50
3.7 mi
·
7 min
·
Royal Gorge Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn right onto South 4th Street
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
South 4th Street
14
Turn right onto Macon Avenue
90 ft
·
4 sec
·
Macon Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
Macon Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your own schedule. Because the drive is continuous with zero designated stops, make sure to handle any necessary errands or vehicle checks before you pull out of Lakewood. Keep in mind that the majority of your 118.3 miles will be on local roads, so factor in potential traffic delays when timing your departure to avoid peak local commuting hours. Given the $16 fuel estimate, consider topping off your tank before you leave to ensure you don't have to hunt for a station mid-route. Staying focused on the frequent turns required by the local road transitions will make your time behind the wheel much more efficient.
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 59.1 miles from Lakewood, CO, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60.6 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 80 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.1 miles or 1h 6m 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cañon City, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lakewood, 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 Lakewood, CO
This is one driving day of about 118.3 miles and 2h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Lakewood, 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 North Valley Highway for about 60.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 59.1 mi from Lakewood, CO · 1h 6m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
59 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 59.1 miles from Lakewood, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before North Valley Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 60.6 miles.
Arriving in Cañon City, CO
The final approach into Cañon City, 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 Cañon City, 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
$17.93 one way
$35.85 round trip
$3.85/gal
25.4 MPG avg
41 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.08 | $19.02 | $38.04 |
| premium | $4.43 | $20.65 | $41.29 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $26.28 | $52.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 35.5 | 0 | $12.42 | $5.68 |
| Efficient EV | 29.6 | 0 | $10.35 | $4.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 47.3 | 0 | $16.56 | $7.57 |
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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
Cañon City, CO
Evening in Cañon City on Sunday
Local time
5:08 PM
MDT
Current temp
41°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
23 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
2h 28m 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 Lakewood, CO to Cañon City, CO covers 118.3 miles and takes about 2h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Valley Highway, South Nevada Avenue, 3rd Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 59.1 miles from Lakewood, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.93 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 118.3 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles (US 6 / West 6th Avenue Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.3 miles (US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Lakewood, CO to Cañon City, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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