Origin
Arvada, CO
Late night in Arvada on Sunday
Local time
1:54 AM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Arvada, CO to Lyons, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
55m
Distance
37.1 mi
60 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 51m
★
6 AM
0h 56m
8 AM
1h 5m
10 AM
0h 59m
12 PM
0h 58m
3 PM
0h 59m
5 PM
1h 4m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arvada, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Lyons, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Arvada to Lyons is 37.1 miles and takes about 55 minutes via 28th Street and the Denver–Boulder Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Colorado, moving from the Mountain West region to the same region. You'll experience a mixed drive that's mostly highway but includes some local street navigation. It's a straightforward journey, perfect for a quick excursion or a segment of a larger Colorado road trip. Consider this route when you want a simple, efficient drive between these two points.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 28th Street | 15.5 mi | 22m |
| Denver–Boulder Turnpike | 10.8 mi | 12m |
| Wadsworth Parkway | 3.9 mi | 6m |
| Wadsworth Boulevard | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| Ute Highway | 1 mi | 1m |
| Wadsworth Bypass | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Ralston Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
28th Street
— 15.5 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arvada, CO and Lyons, CO.
1
Start on this road
41 ft
·
5 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Ammons Street
58 ft
·
7 sec
·
Ammons Street
3
Turn left
313 ft
·
25 sec
4
At end of road, turn right onto Allison Street
172 ft
·
13 sec
·
Allison Street
5
Turn left onto Ralston Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Ralston Road
6
Turn left onto CO 121
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Wadsworth Bypass
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
Continue on CO 121
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Wadsworth Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on CO 121
3.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Wadsworth Parkway
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on CO 121
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
Interlocken Loop
Use the left lane.
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward US 36 West: Boulder
Use the right lane.
11
Merge onto US 36
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 36
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on US 36
16 mi
·
22 min
·
28th Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
17
Turn left onto US 36
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Ute Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
18
Continue on US 36
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on US 36
31 ft
·
1 sec
·
West Main Street
Use the slight right lane.
20
Arrive at destination
US 36
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.5 miles from Arvada, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 17.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Ammons Street
Turn right onto Ammons Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Allison Street
At end of road, turn right onto Allison Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
10.2 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
US 36 / Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36 / Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
13.1 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
US 36 / Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36 / Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
17.7 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
US 36 / Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto US 36 / Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.59 one way
$11.18 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $5.92 | $11.84 |
| premium | $4.39 | $6.42 | $12.84 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.19 | $16.38 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.75
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
(10.8 mi)
$0.75
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$1
Total
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.90 | $1.78 |
| Efficient EV | 9.3 | 0 | $3.25 | $1.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.19 | $2.37 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Lyons, CO
Late night in Lyons on Sunday
Local time
1:54 AM
MDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
28 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
55m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive with a 40% highway share, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on faster roads like the Denver–Boulder Turnpike. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 15.5 miles on 28th Street, offering a sustained period of consistent speed. As you progress, the drive transitions from more urban-feeling roads in the Arvada area to a more open feel as you approach Lyons. This mixed profile means you'll get a taste of both city approaches and more direct highway travel, keeping the driving experience varied.
40% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.5 mi on 28th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Ammons Street.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 37.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 55m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Ammons Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Allison Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 10.2 miles (US 36 / Denver–Boulder Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Arvada, CO
Full guide →Arvada is a city of about 125,000 in the Denver Metropolitan Area of the U.S. state of Colorado. A former farming community in Jefferson and Adams counties, the city is now a residential suburb of Denver. Olde Town Arvada lies 7 miles (11 km) northwest of the Colorado State Capitol and 9 miles (14 km) east of the Front Range foothills.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 55m. Total distance: 37.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (40%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.5 miles on 28th Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.75 in tolls one way, starting with Denver–Boulder Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Lyons, CO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Ammons Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Allison Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 10.2 miles (US 36 / Denver–Boulder Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Rocky Mountain National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lyons, CO before heading back.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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