Glenwood Springs to Lakewood is 152.6 miles and takes about 2 hours 59 minutes via I 70, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Colorado, moving from the Mountain West region to the Mountain West region. It's a primarily highway-focused trip, making it a straightforward option for a single-day journey. You'll find yourself on interstates for almost the entire 152.6 miles, so it's best suited for those who prefer efficient travel over winding scenic byways.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
76.3 miles from Glenwood Springs, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
145.3 mi
2h 48m
West 6th Avenue Freeway
4.9 mi
5m
North Wadsworth Boulevard
1.4 mi
2m
Laurel Street
0.1 mi
<1m
West 6th Street
0.1 mi
<1m
South Wadsworth Boulevard
<0.1 mi
<1m
Pine Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 145.3 mi, about 2h 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Glenwood Springs, CO and Lakewood, CO.
1
Start on Pine Street
123 ft·8 sec·Pine Street
2
Turn right onto West 6th Street
0.1 mi·21 sec·West 6th Street
3
Enter roundabout onto Laurel Street
144 ft·2 sec·Laurel Street
4
Continue on Laurel Street
448 ft·23 sec·Laurel Street
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
6
Merge onto I 70
145 mi·2 hr 48 min·I 70
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 261Toward US 6 East: 6th Avenue, LakewoodUse the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto US 6
4.9 mi·5 min·West 6th Avenue Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward CO 121 South: Wadsworth BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn slight right onto CO 121
1.4 mi·2 min·North Wadsworth Boulevard
11
Continue on CO 121
369 ft·15 sec·South Wadsworth Boulevard
Use the left lane.
12
Arrive at destination
CO 121
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of under three hours, this trip is easily completed in a single day. Aiming for a morning departure from Glenwood Springs will allow you ample time to reach Lakewood before evening. With a fuel cost estimated at $23, keeping your tank full is a good idea, though you won't need to worry excessively about finding gas stations given the highway nature of the route. The longest stretch on I 70 is substantial, so consider a brief stop about halfway through to stretch your legs and stay refreshed.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 76.3 miles from Glenwood Springs, CO, or about 1h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 145.3 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 34 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.3 miles or 1h 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 25m
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 Glenwood Springs, 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 Glenwood Springs, CO
This is one driving day of about 152.6 miles and 2h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Glenwood Springs, 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 for about 145.3 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 150.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Laurel Street
Enter roundabout onto Laurel Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|I 70
Merge onto I 70
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
145.7 mi into trip|~2h 49m 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
150.9 mi into trip|~2h 55m 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
$22.99 one way
$45.98 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$24.34
$48.69
premium
$4.39
$26.40
$52.80
diesel
$5.61
$33.69
$67.38
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.8
0
$16.02
$7.32
Efficient EV
38.2
0
$13.35
$6.10
EV Truck/SUV
61
0
$21.36
$9.77
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (66% 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Glenwood Springs, CO
Night
in Glenwood Springs on Saturday
Local time
10:51 PM
MDT
Current temp
37°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lakewood, CO
Night
in Lakewood on Saturday
Local time
10:51 PM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
24°F
Frisco, CO
76 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
7 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
2h 59m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with a 98% highway share. Expect to spend the bulk of your time on I 70, which offers a consistent, fast-paced experience for long stretches. The longest uninterrupted section of driving is 145.3 miles on I 70, meaning you can cover significant ground without needing to navigate complex interchanges. While the primary roads are interstates, the character is less about monotonous grinding and more about steady progress across the landscape.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 145.3 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and West 6th Avenue Freeway. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Laurel Street.
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 152.6 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.1 miles (Laurel Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 0.4 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Glenwood Springs is located in the western half of Colorado, United States of America, right where the south central, Front Range, and northwestern regions meet. It is in Garfield County roughly halfway between Vail and Aspen. Resting at about the same elevation as Denver, Glenwood Springs is famous for its hot springs pool.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 59m. Total distance: 152.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 145.3 miles on I 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Laurel Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 0.4 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
