Origin
Lakewood, CO
Afternoon in Lakewood on Saturday
Local time
2:57 PM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lakewood, CO to Las Animas, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 17m
Distance
197.8 mi
318 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 5m
★
6 AM
4h 18m
8 AM
4h 44m
10 AM
4h 27m
12 PM
4h 24m
3 PM
4h 28m
5 PM
4h 43m
8 PM
4h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lakewood, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Las Animas, CO
RDNE Stock project
Trip Overview
The drive from Lakewood, CO to Las Animas, CO covers 197.8 miles and takes about 4h 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 6 East, West 6th Avenue Freeway, I 25 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.80 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
98.9 miles from Lakewood, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 8m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 6 East | — | — |
| West 6th Avenue Freeway | — | — |
| I 25 | — | — |
| I 25 South | — | — |
| North Valley Highway | — | — |
| Monument Valley Freeway | — | — |
| Ronald Reagan Highway | — | — |
| John F | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
US 6 East
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakewood, CO and Las Animas, CO.
1
Start on South Wadsworth Boulevard
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South Wadsworth Boulevard
2
Take the ramp slight right toward US 6 East: Denver
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
US 6 East: Denver
3
Merge slight left onto West 6th Avenue Freeway
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
West 6th Avenue Freeway
4
Take the exit slight right toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
·
I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs
5
Take the exit slight right toward I 25 South: Colorado Springs
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 25 South: Colorado Springs
6
Merge slight left onto North Valley Highway
61 mi
·
1 hr 5 min
·
North Valley Highway
7
Continue on Monument Valley Freeway
8.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Monument Valley Freeway
8
Continue on Ronald Reagan Highway
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
Ronald Reagan Highway
9
Keep slight left to continue on Ronald Reagan Highway
23 mi
·
23 min
·
Ronald Reagan Highway
10
Continue on John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
13 mi
·
12 min
·
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
11
Continue on North Freeway
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
North Freeway
12
Take the exit slight right toward US 50 West, CO 47 East: Cañon City
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
US 50 West, CO 47 East: Cañon City
13
Merge slight right onto César Chávez Memorial Highway
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
César Chávez Memorial Highway
14
Take the exit slight left
230 ft
·
7 sec
15
Continue on Pete Jimenez Parkway
515 ft
·
14 sec
·
Pete Jimenez Parkway
16
Continue on William White Boulevard
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
William White Boulevard
17
Turn right onto Paul Harvey Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Paul Harvey Boulevard
18
Take the ramp left
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
19
Merge slight left
1.0 mi
·
1 min
20
Continue straight
6.6 mi
·
10 min
21
Turn left
21 mi
·
27 min
22
Turn right
1.7 mi
·
3 min
23
Turn left onto East Cranston Avenue
28 mi
·
46 min
·
East Cranston Avenue
24
Continue on West 1st Street
20 mi
·
33 min
·
West 1st Street
25
Turn left onto Elm Avenue
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
Elm Avenue
26
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 98.9 miles from Lakewood, CO, or about 2h 8m 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 44 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 98.9 miles or 2h 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 3h 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Las Animas, 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 197.8 miles and 4h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Lakewood, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
99 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 44 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 98.9 miles from Lakewood, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.80 one way
$59.60 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
69 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $31.55 | $63.11 |
| premium | $4.39 | $34.22 | $68.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $43.67 | $87.34 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 59.3 | 0 | $20.77 | $9.49 |
| Efficient EV | 49.5 | 0 | $17.31 | $7.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 79.1 | 0 | $27.69 | $12.66 |
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 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
Las Animas, CO
Afternoon in Las Animas on Saturday
Local time
2:57 PM
MDT
Current temp
48°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
4 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
4h 17m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
197.8 mi in 4h 17m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: US 6 East.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
Navigation is easy, but the length (4h 17m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots, so this is more about pacing than navigation skill.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Lakewood, CO to Las Animas, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 17m. Total distance: 197.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Lakewood, CO to Las Animas, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Las Animas, CO, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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