Cedaredge to Lakewood is 258.6 miles and takes about 5h 30m via Gerald R. Ford Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Colorado, moving from the Mountain West region to the same region. Expect a trip primarily on surface roads, offering a more grounded perspective of the landscape. It's a straightforward, single-day trip that doesn't require overnight planning, making it a convenient option for a quick transit.
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
129.3 miles from Cedaredge, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Gerald R. Ford Memorial Highway
130.9 mi
2h 30m
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
68.9 mi
1h 14m
Grand Mesa National Scenic & Historic Byway
39.2 mi
1h 5m
De Beque Cutoff Road
11.1 mi
26m
West 6th Avenue Freeway
4.9 mi
5m
North Wadsworth Boulevard
1.4 mi
2m
North Grand Mesa Drive
1.2 mi
2m
Northwest Aspen Avenue
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Gerald R. Ford Memorial Highway
— 130.9 mi, about 2h 30m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,405 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,990
Quietest
2 AM
~79 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cedaredge, CO and Lakewood, CO.
131 mi·2 hr 30 min·Gerald R. Ford Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 261Toward US 6 East: 6th Avenue, LakewoodUse the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto US 6
4.9 mi·5 min·West 6th Avenue Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward CO 121 South: Wadsworth BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn slight right onto CO 121
1.4 mi·2 min·North Wadsworth Boulevard
13
Continue on CO 121
369 ft·15 sec·South Wadsworth Boulevard
Use the left lane.
14
Arrive at destination
CO 121
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 30m estimated drive time, starting your trip in Cedaredge in the morning is advisable to make the most of daylight. With only one recommended stop and a manageable distance, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on fuel levels, especially as you move away from the longer highway segments; the estimated fuel cost is $39. The transition from highway to surface roads will be noticeable, so be prepared for potential slowdowns as you approach Lakewood.
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 129.3 miles from Cedaredge, CO, or about 3h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 130.9 miles.
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 57 miles or 1h 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 129.3 miles or 3h 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 35m
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 Cedaredge, 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 Cedaredge, CO
This is one driving day of about 258.6 miles and 5h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Cedaredge, 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.
The longest stretch is on Gerald R. Ford Memorial Highway for about 130.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 257 — 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|Northwest Aspen Avenue
Turn right onto Northwest Aspen Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|CO 65 / North Grand Mesa Drive
At end of road, turn left onto CO 65 / North Grand Mesa Drive
Navigation decision point
5
51.9 mi into trip|~1h 36m in|I 70 / Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
Merge onto I 70 / Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
251.8 mi into trip|~5h 20m in
Take the exit toward US 6 East: 6th Avenue, Lakewood
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 261
Toward US 6 East: 6th Avenue, Lakewood
6
257 mi into trip|~5h 27m in
Take the exit toward CO 121 South: Wadsworth Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CO 121 South: Wadsworth Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.43 one way
$78.86 round trip
$3.87/gal25.4 MPG avg91 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$41.92
$83.83
premium
$4.45
$45.34
$90.67
diesel
$4.80
$48.83
$97.66
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
77.6
0
$27.15
$12.41
Efficient EV
64.7
0
$22.63
$10.34
EV Truck/SUV
103.4
1
$36.20
$16.55
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Forecast as of Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Cedaredge, CO
Afternoon
in Cedaredge on Saturday
Local time
2:56 PM
MDT
Current temp
62°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NE 0 to 5 mph11% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 12:00PM MDT until July 20 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Denver CO
Destination
Lakewood, CO
Afternoon
in Lakewood on Saturday
Local time
2:56 PM
MDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Clear
W 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 12:00PM MDT until July 20 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Denver CO
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
3 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 30m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park
National Park
Big enough to be overwhelming, yet still intimate enough to feel the pulse of time. Come see some of the steepest cliffs, oldest rock, and craggiest spires in North America. Forces of nature and the G...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend most of your time on surface roads, with highways making up a 2% share of the total mileage. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 130.9 miles on Gerald R. Ford Memorial Highway. After this, you'll transition to primarily surface roads for the remainder of the trip. This means you can expect more frequent intersections and varied speed limits as you navigate through towns and rural areas.
Only 2% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 130.9 mi on Gerald R. Ford Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Northwest Aspen Avenue.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 258.6 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Northwest Aspen Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (CO 65 / North Grand Mesa Drive): Navigation decision point; at 51.9 miles (I 70 / Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
Lakewood is a city of about 160,000 in the Denver Metropolitan Area of the western U.S. state of Colorado. The city lies in Jefferson County, immediately west of Denver and east of the Front Range foothills.
Top landmarks
•Lakewood Cultural Center — museum in Colorado, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 30m. Total distance: 258.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (2%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 130.9 miles on Gerald R. Ford Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 11 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 11 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Northwest Aspen Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (CO 65 / North Grand Mesa Drive): Navigation decision point; at 51.9 miles (I 70 / Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lakewood, CO before the return drive.
