Origin
Lakewood, CO
Evening in Lakewood on Sunday
Local time
6:27 PM
MDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lakewood, CO to Parker, CO
Drive Time
37m
Distance
27.6 mi
44 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 43m
10 AM
0h 39m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 43m
8 PM
0h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lakewood, CO
Cedric Fauntleroy
Parker, CO
Egor Komarov
Trip Overview
Spanning 27.6 miles, this trip from Lakewood to Parker is a straightforward commute that typically takes about 37 minutes to complete. Because the travel time is so brief, you can easily handle this as a single-day excursion without needing any overnight stops. Your route will utilize the North Valley Highway, E-470, and the West 6th Avenue Freeway to navigate the Mountain West region. Budgeting approximately $4 for fuel makes this an incredibly affordable transit between these two Colorado hubs. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that serves as an efficient link for your travel plans.
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
13.8 miles from Lakewood, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 18m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that balances faster highway segments with more technical maneuvers. Only 12 miles of this 27.6-mile journey are spent on highways, meaning you will spend a significant portion of your time navigating local road patterns. You will encounter a longest stretch of 13.9 miles while traveling on the North Valley Highway, which offers a brief period of consistent speed. As you transition between the West 6th Avenue Freeway and the E-470, the road's personality shifts from freeway efficiency to the more localized, turn-focused environment that defines this route.
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 13.9 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 1.3 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 27.6 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 1.3 miles: 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; at 19.3 miles: 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
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
8
19.3 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Take the exit toward E-470 North, CO 470 West: Limon, Grand Junction
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 194
Toward E-470 North, CO 470 West: Limon, Grand J...
8
19.5 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Keep slight left at fork toward E-470 North: Limon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 194
Toward E-470 North: Limon
7
24.7 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the exit toward CO 83
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 5
Toward CO 83
Towns Along This Route
Between Lakewood, CO and Parker, CO, road signs point toward Colorado Springs, E-470 North, Grand Junction and E-470 North: Limon.
Colorado Springs
4.3 mi in
|
~6m
|
via US 6
E-470 North
19.3 mi in
|
~25m
Grand Junction
19.3 mi in
|
~25m
E-470 North: Limon
19.5 mi in
|
~25m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Valley Highway | 13.9 mi | 16m |
| E-470 | 4.4 mi | 4m |
| West 6th Avenue Freeway | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| South Parker Road | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| South Wadsworth Boulevard | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| US 6 | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| East Mainstreet | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Pikes Peak Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
North Valley Highway
— 13.9 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakewood, CO and Parker, 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
14 mi
·
16 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 194
Toward E-470 North, CO 470 West: Limon, Grand Junction
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 194
Toward E-470 North: Limon
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto E470
4.4 mi
·
4 min
·
E-470
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 5
Toward CO 83
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn slight right
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward CO 83 South: Parker Road
12
Merge onto CO 83
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
South Parker Road
Use the none lane.
13
Turn left onto East Mainstreet
0.2 mi
·
50 sec
·
East Mainstreet
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn left onto South Pikes Peak Drive
100 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Pikes Peak Drive
15
Arrive at destination
South Pikes Peak Drive
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick 37-minute trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours is always a smart move. You will not need to plan for any formal stops, as the distance is short enough to complete in one go. Keep your $4 fuel budget in mind when filling up, as you won't find many reasons to pull off the road for logistics once you are underway. Given the turn-heavy nature of the local sections, stay alert at intersections when transitioning off the highway segments. Use the directness of this route to your advantage, keeping your itinerary simple and 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 13.8 miles from Lakewood, CO, or about 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 13.9 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 27.6 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 13.8 miles or 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Parker, 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 27.6 miles and 37m.
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 13.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 13.8 mi from Lakewood, CO · 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
14 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 27.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 13.8 miles from Lakewood, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Parker, CO
The final approach into Parker, 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 Parker, 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
$4.18 one way
$8.36 round trip
$3.85/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.08 | $4.44 | $8.88 |
| premium | $4.43 | $4.82 | $9.63 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $6.13 | $12.26 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.53
E-470
(4.4 mi)
$0.53
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.3 | 0 | $2.90 | $1.32 |
| Efficient EV | 6.9 | 0 | $2.42 | $1.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11 | 0 | $3.86 | $1.77 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Parker, CO
Evening in Parker on Sunday
Local time
6:27 PM
MDT
Current temp
38°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
26 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
37m 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 Parker, CO covers 27.6 miles and takes about 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Valley Highway, E-470, West 6th Avenue Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 13.8 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 $4.18 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 12 significant decision points across 27.6 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 1.3 miles: 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; at 19.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Lakewood, CO and Parker, CO, road signs point toward Colorado Springs, E-470 North, Grand Junction and E-470 North: Limon.
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