Origin
Lakewood, CO
Late night in Lakewood on Wednesday
Local time
1:05 AM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lakewood, CO to Colorado City, CO
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
2h 36m
Distance
142.3 mi
229 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 26m
★
6 AM
2h 37m
8 AM
2h 58m
10 AM
2h 44m
12 PM
2h 42m
3 PM
2h 45m
5 PM
2h 57m
8 PM
2h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lakewood, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Colorado City, CO
gabesdotphotos photographer
Trip Overview
The drive from Lakewood, CO to Colorado City, CO covers 142.3 miles and takes about 2h 36m 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 turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.44 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
71.2 miles from Lakewood, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 18m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 36m drive with frequent turns across 142.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 6 East 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 Lakewood, CO to Colorado City, CO is easy. At 2h 36m 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 Lakewood, CO to Colorado City, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 6 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West 6th Avenue Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 25 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 25 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Valley Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Monument Valley Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Ronald Reagan Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| John F | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
US 6 East
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakewood, CO and Colorado City, 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
2.6 mi
·
2 min
·
North Freeway
12
Take the exit slight right toward 29th Street
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
29th Street
13
Merge slight left onto North Freeway
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Freeway
14
Take the exit slight right toward 13th Street
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
13th Street
15
Continue straight
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
16
Merge slight left onto North Freeway
6.1 mi
·
7 min
·
North Freeway
17
Continue on John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
18 mi
·
18 min
·
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
18
Take the exit slight right toward CO 165 West: Colorado City, Rye
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
CO 165 West: Colorado City, Rye
19
Turn right
2.5 mi
·
4 min
20
Turn right onto Bent Brothers Boulevard
171 ft
·
9 sec
·
Bent Brothers Boulevard
21
Turn right
167 ft
·
12 sec
22
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 71.2 miles from Lakewood, CO, or about 1h 18m 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 80 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.2 miles or 1h 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 2h 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Colorado 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 142.3 miles and 2h 36m.
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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 71.2 mi from Lakewood, CO · 1h 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
71 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 71.2 miles from Lakewood, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Colorado City, CO
The final approach into Colorado 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 Colorado 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
$21.44 one way
$42.88 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
50 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $22.70 | $45.40 |
| premium | $4.39 | $24.62 | $49.23 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $31.42 | $62.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 42.7 | 0 | $14.94 | $6.83 |
| Efficient EV | 35.6 | 0 | $12.45 | $5.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 56.9 | 0 | $19.92 | $9.11 |
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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
Colorado City, CO
Late night in Colorado City on Wednesday
Local time
1:05 AM
MDT
Current temp
71°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
27 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
2h 36m 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 Colorado City, CO covers 142.3 miles and takes about 2h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 6 East, West 6th Avenue Freeway, I 25. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 71.2 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 $21.44 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Lakewood, CO to Colorado City, CO is easy. At 2h 36m 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 Lakewood, CO to Colorado City, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Lakewood, CO to Colorado City, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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