Delta, CO to Lakewood, CO is 271.6 miles and takes about 5h 15m via I 70 BUS and US 50, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Colorado, connecting two points in the Mountain West region. Most of your driving will be on highways, making for a straightforward trip. Given the relatively short duration and highway focus, this is a solid option for a single-day drive between these two locations.
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
135.8 miles from Delta, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70 BUS
226.5 mi
4h 14m
US 50
27.7 mi
33m
32 Road
5.4 mi
9m
Main Street
5 mi
7m
West 6th Avenue Freeway
4.9 mi
5m
North Wadsworth Boulevard
1.4 mi
2m
East 4th Street
0.1 mi
<1m
South Wadsworth Boulevard
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70 BUS
— 226.5 mi, about 4h 14m
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 Delta, CO and Lakewood, CO.
1
Start on this road
187 ft·15 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto East 4th Street
0.1 mi·19 sec·East 4th Street
3
Turn right onto US 50
5.0 mi·7 min·Main Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
4
Continue on US 50
16 mi·18 min·US 50
5
Continue on US 50
12 mi·14 min·US 50
6
Continue on CO 141
5.4 mi·9 min·32 Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
Turn right onto I 70 BUS; US 6
0.3 mi·34 sec·I 70 BUS; US 6
8
Continue on I 70 BUS; US 6
0.8 mi·1 min·I 70 BUS; US 6
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 BUS
225 mi·4 hr 12 min·I 70 BUS
Toward I 70 East: DenverUse the slight right lane.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 261Toward US 6 East: 6th Avenue, LakewoodUse the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto US 6
4.9 mi·5 min·West 6th Avenue Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward CO 121 South: Wadsworth BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn slight right onto CO 121
1.4 mi·2 min·North Wadsworth Boulevard
14
Continue on CO 121
369 ft·15 sec·South Wadsworth Boulevard
Use the left lane.
15
Arrive at destination
CO 121
Trip Plan
This 5h 15m drive is easily manageable in a single day. Aim to depart Delta, CO in the morning to allow ample daylight for your drive. With a fuel cost estimated at $42, fill up before you leave to avoid the need for frequent stops. The bulk of your travel, 226.5 miles, will be on I 70 BUS, so plan for that extensive highway segment. Consider a brief stop midway to stretch your legs and break up the drive, though with only 271.6 miles, flexibility is key.
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 135.8 miles from Delta, CO, or about 2h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 226.5 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 60 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 135.8 miles or 2h 40m 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 18m
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 Delta, 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 Delta, CO
This is one driving day of about 271.6 miles and 5h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Delta, 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 I 70 BUS for about 226.5 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 269.9 — 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|East 4th Street
Turn right onto East 4th Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 50 / Main Street
Turn right onto US 50 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
7
39.3 mi into trip|~52m in|I 70 BUS
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 BUS toward I 70 East: Denver
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 70 East: Denver
8
264.7 mi into trip|~5h 5m 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
269.9 mi into trip|~5h 11m 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
$41.41 one way
$82.83 round trip
$3.87/gal25.4 MPG avg95 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$44.02
$88.05
premium
$4.45
$47.62
$95.23
diesel
$4.80
$51.28
$102.57
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
81.5
1
$28.52
$13.04
Efficient EV
67.9
0
$23.77
$10.86
EV Truck/SUV
108.6
1
$38.02
$17.38
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Delta, CO
Late night
in Delta on Sunday
Local time
1:00 AM
MDT
Current temp
59°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
ENE 5 mph21% 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
Late night
in Lakewood on Sunday
Local time
1:00 AM
MDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Clear
SW 3 to 8 mph12% 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
6 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 15m 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.
Colorado National Monument
National Monument
Colorado National Monument preserves one of the grand landscapes of the American West. But this treasure is much more than a monument. Towering monoliths exist within a vast plateau and canyon panoram...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
$25
near mile 37.5
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 about 95% of your 271.6 miles on highways. The longest continuous stretch of highway driving is 226.5 miles on I 70 BUS. After your extensive time on I 70 BUS and US 50, you'll transition to 32 Road for the final segment. Expect a consistent highway cruise for the majority of this route.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 226.5 mi on I 70 BUS.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 BUS and US 50. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East 4th Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 15m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 50 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 39.3 miles (I 70 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
10,575 ft4,725 ft
Total Climb
6,090 ft
Total Descent
5,530 ft
Highest Point
10,575 ft
~194 mi in
Elevation Range
5,850 ft
Notable High Points
5,199 ft at ~19.4 miles+240 ft prominence
10,575 ft at ~194 miles+735 ft prominence
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Delta is a town in the Southwestern part of the Rocky Mountains state of Colorado. It is also in the West Elks American Viticultural Area (AVA), a part of Colorado's Wine Country and home to the highest wine vineyards in North America.
Delta is a hub for tourism and recreation, including camping, hiking, fishing, hunting and mountain bike riding. Delta is highly cognizant of preserving its history. The town has more than 20 beautiful murals depicting its fruit orchards and other past times. There are several buildings in town on the National Historic Register, including the Egyptian Theater, an "Egyptian Revival" art deco movie house from the 1920s.
In 2020, it was home to 9,000 people.
Top landmarks
•Egyptian Theatre — movie theater in Delta, Colorado, United States
•Delta County Bank Building — department store in Delta, Colorado
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
The longest stretch is about 226.5 miles on I 70 BUS. 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 (East 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 50 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 39.3 miles (I 70 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Colorado National Monument and 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 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.5 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.
