Denver to Lamar is 208 miles and takes about 4 hours via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and US 40, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Colorado, moving from the Mountain West region to the same region. Expect a mix of highway cruising and surface roads as you head southeast. Given the relatively short duration, this is a straightforward drive suitable for a single day.
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
103.8 miles from Denver, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
76.6 mi
1h 16m
US 40
62.3 mi
1h 13m
West 15th Street
29.8 mi
35m
US 287
17.5 mi
20m
I 70
9 mi
12m
US 50
5.9 mi
9m
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
2.4 mi
2m
Park Avenue West
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 76.6 mi, about 1h 16m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~3,740 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,758
Quietest
2 AM
~391 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 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 Denver, CO and Lamar, CO.
1
Start on this road
379 ft·29 sec·this road
2
Turn right
62 ft·11 sec
3
Turn left onto I 70 Business; US 40; US 287
362 ft·14 sec·East Colfax Avenue
4
Turn right onto North Lincoln Street
0.5 mi·1 min·North Lincoln Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
Continue on 20th Street
500 ft·18 sec·20th Street
6
Turn right onto North Broadway
0.4 mi·1 min·North Broadway
7
Turn left onto Park Avenue West
1.0 mi·2 min·Park Avenue West
Toward I 25Use the left lane.
8
Take the ramp
458 ft·11 sec
Toward I 25 North, I 70: Fort Collins, Limon, Grand JunctionUse the right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward I 70: Limon, Grand Junction
10
Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway
1.0 mi·1 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Toward I 70
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·40 sec
12
Merge onto I 70
9.0 mi·12 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
2.4 mi·2 min·Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on I 70
77 mi·1 hr 16 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Exit 363Toward US 40, US 287: Hugo, Kit CarsonUse the slight right lane.
16
Turn right onto US 40; US 287
62 mi·1 hr 13 min·US 40; US 287
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on US 287; CR 40
18 mi·20 min·US 287; CR 40
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on US 287; CO 96
30 mi·35 min·West 15th Street
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on US 50; US 287
5.9 mi·9 min·US 50; US 287
Use the straight lane.
20
Turn right onto West Elm Street
436 ft·19 sec·West Elm Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Arrive at destination
West Elm Street
Trip Plan
This 4-hour drive is easily manageable in a single day, so you can leave Denver at your leisure. Consider departing mid-morning to avoid early rush hour and arrive in Lamar with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you move onto surface roads; the estimated fuel cost is $37. Ensure you have enough gas before leaving the main highway segments.
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 103.8 miles from Denver, CO, or about 1h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.6 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 46 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.8 miles or 1h 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lamar, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Denver, 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 Denver, CO
This is one driving day of about 207.6 miles and 4h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Denver, 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 Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 76.6 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 91.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.2 mi into trip|~4m in|Park Avenue West
Turn left onto Park Avenue West toward I 25
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 25
6
2.2 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the ramp toward I 25 North, I 70: Fort Collins, Limon, Grand Junction
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 25 North, I 70: Fort Collins, Limon, G...
7
2.3 mi into trip|~6m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 70: Limon, Grand Junction
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70: Limon, Grand Junction
6
12.7 mi into trip|~21m in|I 70 / Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70 / Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
91.7 mi into trip|~1h 40m in
Take the exit toward US 40, US 287: Hugo, Kit Carson
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 363
Toward US 40, US 287: Hugo, Kit Carson
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.37 one way
$70.73 round trip
$4.33/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.58
$37.40
$74.80
premium
$4.90
$40.08
$80.16
diesel
$6.18
$50.50
$101.00
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.3
0
$21.80
$9.96
Efficient EV
51.9
0
$18.17
$8.30
EV Truck/SUV
83
1
$29.06
$13.29
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Oct 16, 2026
Origin
Denver, CO
Morning
in Denver on Saturday
Local time
7:43 AM
MDT
Current temp
59°F
Sunny
SE 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 12:33AM MDT until October 16 at 9:00AM MDT by NWS Pueblo CO
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 12:33AM MDT until October 16 at 9:00AM MDT by NWS Pueblo CO
Destination
Lamar, CO
Morning
in Lamar on Saturday
Local time
7:43 AM
MDT
Current temp
56°F
Areas Of Frost then Sunny
N 5 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 12:33AM MDT until October 16 at 9:00AM MDT by NWS Pueblo CO
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 12:33AM MDT until October 16 at 9:00AM MDT by NWS Pueblo CO
71°F
Limon, CO
104 mi in
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 46% of this 208-mile drive on the highway. The longest continuous stretch on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway is 76.6 miles. After this, the profile shifts to mixed highway and surface roads. Expect a change in driving conditions as you transition from higher-speed highway segments to potentially slower surface roads.
46% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 76.6 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 around 1.2 miles in near Park Avenue West.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 207.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (Park Avenue West): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
5,655 ft3,619 ft
Total Climb
757 ft
Total Descent
2,414 ft
Highest Point
5,655 ft
~74.1 mi in
Elevation Range
2,035 ft
Notable High Points
5,572 ft at ~29.7 miles+150 ft prominence
5,655 ft at ~74.1 miles+274 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Denver, CO to Lamar, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Kit Carson along the way.
Denver is the capital of the western U.S. state of Colorado and the dominant city of the Rocky Mountain Region. Founded in 1858 as the placer gold mining camp known as the Cherry Creek Diggings, the "Mile-High City" is today the most populous city within a 560-mile (900 km) radius and the center of the Front Range Urban Corridor of more than five million residents. Denver embraces its cowboy and mining past but also looks toward the future with a vibrant arts and performing arts scene, dozens of great outdoor festivals, and distinct neighborhoods each offering a unique experience. You'll find everything a cosmopolitan city has to offer including a spectacular view of and easy access to the beautiful Rocky Mountains, which arise only 12 miles (19 km) west of the Colorado State Capitol.
Top landmarks
•Denver Art Museum — museum in Denver, Colorado, United States
•Denver Mint — United States Mint branch in Denver, Colorado
•Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception — church in Colorado, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h. Total distance: 207.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 76.6 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 12 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.
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 Lamar, CO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 12 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (Park Avenue West): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Lamar, CO, but most travelers stay overnight.
