Origin
Coal Creek, CO
Morning in Coal Creek on Tuesday
Local time
9:30 AM
MDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Coal Creek, CO to Lyons, CO
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 9m
Distance
39.2 mi
63 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 4m
★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 13m
12 PM
1h 12m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Coal Creek, CO
Braeson Holland
Lyons, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Coal Creek to Lyons is 39.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 9 minutes via 28th Street and CO 93, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Colorado, connecting two points in the Mountain West region. Expect a turn-heavy local experience rather than an open highway cruise. Given its short distance and duration, this trip is ideal for a single-day excursion, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 28th Street | 15.5 mi | 22m |
| CO 93 | 9.7 mi | 15m |
| Coal Creek Canyon Drive | 9.2 mi | 15m |
| Copperdale Lane | 1.2 mi | 4m |
| Ute Highway | 1 mi | 1m |
| Coal Creek Heights Drive | 1 mi | 4m |
| Main Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 27th Way | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
28th Street
— 15.5 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Coal Creek, CO and Lyons, CO.
1
Start on Beauty Lane
516 ft
·
22 sec
·
Beauty Lane
2
Continue on Coal Creek Heights Drive
1.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Coal Creek Heights Drive
3
At end of road, turn left onto Ridge Road
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Ridge Road
4
Continue on Ridge Road
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
Ridge Road
5
Turn right onto Copperdale Lane
1.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Copperdale Lane
6
At end of road, turn right onto CO 72
9.2 mi
·
15 min
·
Coal Creek Canyon Drive
7
Turn left onto CO 93
9.7 mi
·
15 min
·
CO 93
Use the left lane.
8
Turn right onto 27th Way
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
27th Way
9
Turn slight right
235 ft
·
10 sec
Toward CR 56 east: Baseline Road east
10
Turn slight right onto US 36 Spur
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Baseline Road
11
Turn left
216 ft
·
7 sec
Toward US 36 West: Estes Park, 28th Street north
Use the left lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward US 36 West: Estes Park, 28th Street north
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on US 36
16 mi
·
22 min
·
28th Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Turn left onto US 36
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Ute Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Continue on US 36
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on US 36
31 ft
·
1 sec
·
West Main Street
Use the slight right lane.
17
Arrive at destination
US 36
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.6 miles from Coal Creek, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 21.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
Ridge Road
At end of road, turn left onto Ridge Road
Navigation decision point
4
1.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
Copperdale Lane
Turn right onto Copperdale Lane
Navigation decision point
6
11.7 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
CO 93
Turn left onto CO 93
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
9
21.9 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Turn left toward US 36 West: Estes Park, 28th Street north
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward US 36 West: Estes Park, 28th Street nort...
9
21.9 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 36 West: Estes Park, 28th Street north
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 36 West: Estes Park, 28th Street nort...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.91 one way
$11.81 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $6.25 | $12.51 |
| premium | $4.39 | $6.78 | $13.56 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.65 | $17.31 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.12 | $1.88 |
| Efficient EV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.43 | $1.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.7 | 0 | $5.49 | $2.51 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Morning in Lyons on Tuesday
Local time
9:30 AM
MDT
Current temp
54°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
12 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
1h 9m 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?
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with only 25% of the journey on highways. You'll navigate a total of 39.2 miles, with the longest uninterrupted stretch measuring 15.5 miles along 28th Street. The road conditions will likely shift, moving from more urban or suburban thoroughfares to winding local roads, particularly as you enter Coal Creek Canyon Drive. Be prepared for frequent adjustments in direction and speed as you progress towards Lyons.
Only 25% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 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?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near Ridge Road.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 39.2 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: at 1.1 miles (Ridge Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (Copperdale Lane): Navigation decision point; at 11.7 miles (CO 93): Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Coal Creek, CO and Lyons, CO, road signs point toward Cr 56 East: Baseline Road East and 28Th Street North.
Cr 56 East: Baseline Road East
21.7 mi in
|
~42m
28Th Street North
21.9 mi in
|
~42m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 9m. Total distance: 39.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads 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.
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: at 1.1 miles (Ridge Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (Copperdale Lane): Navigation decision point; at 11.7 miles (CO 93): 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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