Origin
Las Animas, CO
Morning in Las Animas on Saturday
Local time
8:01 AM
MDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Las Animas, CO to Lakewood, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 17m
Distance
198 mi
319 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
3h 5m
★
6 AM
3h 17m
8 AM
3h 41m
10 AM
3h 26m
12 PM
3h 23m
3 PM
3h 27m
5 PM
3h 40m
8 PM
3h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Las Animas, CO
RDNE Stock project
Lakewood, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Las Animas, CO to Lakewood, CO covers 198 miles and takes about 3h 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Ambassador Thompson Boulevard, West 3rd Street, South Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.83 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
99 miles from Las Animas, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 38m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 17m. Total distance: 198 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 17m drive with frequent turns across 198 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Ambassador Thompson Boulevard 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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Las Animas, CO to Lakewood, CO is easy. At 3h 17m 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 Las Animas, CO to Lakewood, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ambassador Thompson Boulevard | — | — |
| West 3rd Street | — | — |
| South Main Street | — | — |
| Paul Harvey Boulevard | — | — |
| William White Boulevard | — | — |
| César Chávez Memorial Highway | — | — |
| I 25 North | — | — |
| North Freeway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Ambassador Thompson Boulevard
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Las Animas, CO and Lakewood, CO.
1
Start on Elm Avenue
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Elm Avenue
2
Turn right onto Ambassador Thompson Boulevard
20 mi
·
33 min
·
Ambassador Thompson Boulevard
3
Continue on West 3rd Street
9.3 mi
·
15 min
·
West 3rd Street
4
Continue straight
19 mi
·
31 min
5
Turn right onto South Main Street
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
South Main Street
6
Turn left
21 mi
·
27 min
7
Continue straight
7.6 mi
·
12 min
8
Take the exit slight right
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
9
Turn right onto Paul Harvey Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Paul Harvey Boulevard
10
At the end of the road, turn left onto William White Boulevard
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
William White Boulevard
11
Turn right onto César Chávez Memorial Highway
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
César Chávez Memorial Highway
12
Take the exit slight right toward I 25 North: Denver
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
I 25 North: Denver
13
Merge slight left onto North Freeway
1.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Freeway
14
Continue on John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
13 mi
·
12 min
·
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
15
Continue on Ronald Reagan Highway
23 mi
·
23 min
·
Ronald Reagan Highway
16
Continue on Monument Valley Freeway
8.5 mi
·
9 min
·
Monument Valley Freeway
17
Continue on Ronald Reagan Highway
61 mi
·
1 hr 5 min
·
Ronald Reagan Highway
18
Take the exit slight right toward US 6 West: 6th Avenue
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
US 6 West: 6th Avenue
19
Keep slight right to continue on US 6 West: 6th Avenue, Lakewood
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
US 6 West: 6th Avenue, Lakewood
20
Continue on Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
21
Keep slight left to continue on US 6
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
US 6
22
Merge slight left onto West 6th Avenue Freeway
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
West 6th Avenue Freeway
23
Take the exit slight right toward CO 121 South: Wadsworth Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
CO 121 South: Wadsworth Boulevard
24
Turn straight onto North Wadsworth Boulevard
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
North Wadsworth Boulevard
25
Continue on South Wadsworth Boulevard
367 ft
·
15 sec
·
South Wadsworth Boulevard
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 99 miles from Las Animas, CO, or about 1h 38m 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 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 99 miles or 1h 38m 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 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lakewood, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Las Animas, 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 Las Animas, CO
This is one driving day of about 198 miles and 3h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Las Animas, 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 99 mi from Las Animas, CO · 1h 38m into the drive
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 99 miles from Las Animas, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lakewood, CO
The final approach into Lakewood, 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 Lakewood, 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
$29.83 one way
$59.67 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
69 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $31.59 | $63.17 |
| premium | $4.39 | $34.25 | $68.50 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $43.72 | $87.43 |
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: 69.3 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 | 59.4 | 0 | $20.79 | $9.50 |
| Efficient EV | 49.5 | 0 | $17.33 | $7.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 79.2 | 0 | $27.72 | $12.67 |
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
Lakewood, CO
Morning in Lakewood on Saturday
Local time
8:01 AM
MDT
Current temp
44°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 17m 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 Las Animas, CO to Lakewood, CO covers 198 miles and takes about 3h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Ambassador Thompson Boulevard, West 3rd Street, South Main Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 99 miles from Las Animas, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $29.83 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 Las Animas, CO to Lakewood, CO is easy. At 3h 17m 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 Las Animas, CO to Lakewood, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Las Animas, CO to Lakewood, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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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