Origin
Ridgway, CO
Night in Ridgway on Sunday
Local time
11:33 PM
MDT
Current temp
34°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ridgway, CO to Lakewood, CO
Drive Time
5h 7m
Distance
282 mi
454 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$43
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 54m
★
6 AM
5h 8m
8 AM
5h 35m
10 AM
5h 17m
12 PM
5h 15m
3 PM
5h 19m
5 PM
5h 34m
8 PM
5h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lakewood, CO
Cedric Fauntleroy
Trip Overview
The drive from Ridgway, CO to Lakewood, CO covers 282 miles and takes about 5h 7m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Charlotte Street, Sherman Street, Confluence Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $42.73 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
141 miles from Ridgway, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 33m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 7m drive with frequent turns across 282 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.
North Charlotte Street 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 7m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Ridgway, CO to Lakewood, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Charlotte Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Sherman Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Confluence Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West 5th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| G Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| G50 Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 32 Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 70 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
North Charlotte Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ridgway, CO and Lakewood, CO.
1
Start on the route
82 ft
·
7 sec
·
the route
2
Turn right onto North Charlotte Street
0.1 mi
·
37 sec
·
North Charlotte Street
3
Turn left onto Sherman Street
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Sherman Street
4
Turn left
30 mi
·
40 min
5
Continue straight
17 mi
·
20 min
6
Turn left onto Confluence Drive
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Confluence Drive
7
Turn left onto West 5th Street
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
West 5th Street
8
Continue on G Road
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
G Road
9
Continue on G Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
G Road
10
Continue on G50 Road
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
G50 Road
11
At the end of the road, turn left
15 mi
·
17 min
12
Continue straight
12 mi
·
14 min
13
Continue on 32 Road
5.4 mi
·
9 min
·
32 Road
14
Turn right
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
15
Continue straight
0.8 mi
·
1 min
16
Keep slight right to continue on I 70 East: Denver
225 mi
·
4 hr 12 min
·
I 70 East: Denver
17
Take the exit slight right toward US 6 East: 6th Avenue, Lakewood
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
US 6 East: 6th Avenue, Lakewood
18
Merge slight left onto West 6th Avenue Freeway
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
West 6th Avenue Freeway
19
Take the exit slight right toward CO 121 South: Wadsworth Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
CO 121 South: Wadsworth Boulevard
20
Turn slight right onto North Wadsworth Boulevard
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
North Wadsworth Boulevard
21
Continue on South Wadsworth Boulevard
367 ft
·
15 sec
·
South Wadsworth Boulevard
22
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 141 miles from Ridgway, CO, or about 2h 33m 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 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 141 miles or 2h 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 12m
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 Ridgway, 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 Ridgway, CO
This is one driving day of about 282 miles and 5h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Ridgway, 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 141 mi from Ridgway, CO · 2h 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
141 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 141 miles from Ridgway, 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
$42.73 one way
$85.47 round trip
$3.85/gal
25.4 MPG avg
99 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.08 | $45.34 | $90.68 |
| premium | $4.43 | $49.22 | $98.43 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $62.65 | $125.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 98.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 84.6 | 1 | $29.61 | $13.54 |
| Efficient EV | 70.5 | 0 | $24.67 | $11.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 112.8 | 1 | $39.48 | $18.05 |
Gas CO2
99 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Night in Lakewood on Sunday
Local time
11:33 PM
MDT
Current temp
64°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
30 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
5h 7m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Ridgway, CO to Lakewood, CO covers 282 miles and takes about 5h 7m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Charlotte Street, Sherman Street, Confluence Drive. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 141 miles from Ridgway, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $42.73 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 7m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Ridgway, CO to Lakewood, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Ridgway, CO to Lakewood, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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