Origin
Boulder, CO
Night in Boulder on Saturday
Local time
10:35 PM
MDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Boulder, CO to Lakewood, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
43m
Distance
28.6 mi
46 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 40m
★
6 AM
0h 43m
8 AM
0h 51m
10 AM
0h 46m
12 PM
0h 45m
3 PM
0h 46m
5 PM
0h 50m
8 PM
0h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Boulder, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Lakewood, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 28.6-mile journey from Boulder to Lakewood, Colorado, is an easy 43-minute drive, making it a perfect day trip. You'll navigate primarily via the Denver–Boulder Turnpike, North Wadsworth Boulevard, and Sheridan Boulevard, with about half of the route on highways. Given the short distance and modest fuel cost of around $4, there's no need to split this drive or book an overnight stay. The entire trip stays within the Mountain West region, offering a convenient connection between two Colorado communities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Denver–Boulder Turnpike | 14.9 mi | 17m |
| North Wadsworth Boulevard | 5.8 mi | 11m |
| Sheridan Boulevard | 4.3 mi | 7m |
| 28th Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Heartland Expressway | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| Arapahoe Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| South Wadsworth Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 19th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
— 14.9 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Boulder, CO and Lakewood, CO.
1
Start on this road
87 ft
·
6 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto 19th Street
143 ft
·
13 sec
·
19th Street
3
Turn left onto Arapahoe Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Arapahoe Avenue
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
4
Turn right onto US 36
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
28th Street
5
Turn straight onto US 36
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
0.8 mi
·
53 sec
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward CO 95 South: Sheridan Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn right onto CO 95
4.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Sheridan Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I 76 West
15
Merge onto I 76
0.7 mi
·
47 sec
·
Heartland Expressway
16
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 1A
Toward CO 121: Wadsworth Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
Toward CO 121 South: Wadsworth Boulevard
Use the left / right lanes.
18
Turn left onto CO 121
5.8 mi
·
11 min
·
North Wadsworth Boulevard
Use the left lane.
19
Continue on CO 121
369 ft
·
15 sec
·
South Wadsworth Boulevard
Use the left lane.
20
Arrive at destination
CO 121
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 22.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Arapahoe Avenue
Turn left onto Arapahoe Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
6
16.3 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Take the exit toward CO 95 South: Sheridan Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward CO 95 South: Sheridan Boulevard
5
16.6 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
CO 95 / Sheridan Boulevard
Turn right onto CO 95 / Sheridan Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
22 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the exit toward CO 121: Wadsworth Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward CO 121: Wadsworth Boulevard
7
22.6 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CO 121 South: Wadsworth Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward CO 121 South: Wadsworth Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.31 one way
$8.62 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $4.56 | $9.12 |
| premium | $4.39 | $4.95 | $9.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.31 | $12.63 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.04
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
(14.9 mi)
$1.04
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Tolls
$1
Total
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.00 | $1.37 |
| Efficient EV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.50 | $1.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.4 | 0 | $4.00 | $1.83 |
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
Lakewood, CO
Night in Lakewood on Saturday
Local time
10:35 PM
MDT
Current temp
44°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
43m 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 mixed drive on this route, with 54% of it on highways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 14.9 miles along the Denver–Boulder Turnpike. This segment offers a taste of faster-paced highway driving before transitioning to more local roads like North Wadsworth Boulevard and Sheridan Boulevard. The character of the drive shifts as you move from the more open turnpike to the more developed urban streets leading into Lakewood.
54% 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: 14.9 mi on Denver–Boulder Turnpike.
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 Arapahoe Avenue.
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 18 decision points packed into just 28.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 43m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Arapahoe Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 16.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.6 miles (CO 95 / Sheridan Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 43m. Total distance: 28.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (54%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.9 miles on Denver–Boulder Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.04 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 Lakewood, 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 (Arapahoe Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 16.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.6 miles (CO 95 / Sheridan Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lakewood, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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