Origin
Lakewood, CO
Late night in Lakewood on Tuesday
Local time
4:23 AM
MDT
Current temp
34°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lakewood, CO to Breckenridge, 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 42m
Distance
76.1 mi
123 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 35m
★
6 AM
1h 43m
8 AM
1h 58m
10 AM
1h 48m
12 PM
1h 47m
3 PM
1h 49m
5 PM
1h 57m
8 PM
1h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lakewood, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Breckenridge, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Lakewood, CO to Breckenridge, CO is 76.1 miles and takes about 1h 42m via I 70, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Colorado, moving from the Mountain West region to another part of the Mountain West. Expect a drive that is primarily on the interstate, making it a straightforward journey. With a recommended one-day trip, you can easily fit this into a weekend or a day trip from the Denver area. It's a short hop that gets you quickly into a popular mountain destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.1 miles from Lakewood, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 70 | 57.9 mi | 1h 10m |
| CO 9 | 9.3 mi | 16m |
| West 6th Avenue Freeway | 5.2 mi | 6m |
| South Wadsworth Boulevard | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Wellington Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North Pine Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| North French Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 57.9 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakewood, CO and Breckenridge, CO.
1
Start on CO 121
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
South Wadsworth Boulevard
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward US 6 West
Use the right lane.
3
Merge onto US 6
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
West 6th Avenue Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
Toward I 70 West: Grand Junction
Use the slight right lane.
5
Merge onto I 70
58 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit onto CO 9
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
CO 9
Toward CO 9: Frisco, Breckenridge
Use the right lane.
7
Enter roundabout onto CO 9
225 ft
·
3 sec
·
CO 9
8
Continue on CO 9
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
CO 9
Use the straight lane.
9
Enter roundabout onto CO 9
108 ft
·
1 sec
·
CO 9
10
Continue on CO 9
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
CO 9
11
Enter roundabout onto CO 9
118 ft
·
2 sec
·
CO 9
12
Continue on CO 9
5.1 mi
·
8 min
·
CO 9
Use the straight lane.
13
Enter roundabout onto CO 9
96 ft
·
1 sec
·
CO 9
14
Continue on CO 9
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
CO 9
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on CO 9
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Main Street
Use the straight lane.
16
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
104 ft
·
3 sec
·
Main Street
17
Continue on Main Street
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
18
Turn left onto North French Street
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
North French Street
19
Turn left onto Wellington Road
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
Wellington Road
20
Turn right onto Royal Tiger Road
401 ft
·
12 sec
·
Royal Tiger Road
21
Turn right onto North Pine Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
North Pine Street
22
Arrive at destination
South Pine Street
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of just over 1.5 hours, this is a perfect same-day trip, offering plenty of flexibility for when you depart. You won't need to worry about breaking up a long drive, so plan to leave when it suits you best. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, though the estimated cost of $11 suggests it won't be a major concern for this distance. A good tip for this route is to check the traffic conditions on I 70 before you leave, as it can get busy, especially on weekends and holidays.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 38.1 miles from Lakewood, CO, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57.9 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 17 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.1 miles or 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Breckenridge, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lakewood, CO so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lakewood, CO
This is one driving day of about 76.1 miles and 1h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Lakewood, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 70 for about 57.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
38 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 38.1 miles from Lakewood, 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 175 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 65.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.5 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward US 6 West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward US 6 West
5
1.6 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 6 / West 6th Avenue Freeway
Merge onto US 6 / West 6th Avenue Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
6.8 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the exit toward I 70 West: Grand Junction
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 70 West: Grand Junction
5
7.4 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 70
Merge onto I 70
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
65.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
|
CO 9
Take the exit onto CO 9 toward CO 9: Frisco, Breckenridge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward CO 9: Frisco, Breckenridge
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.47 one way
$22.93 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $12.14 | $24.28 |
| premium | $4.39 | $13.16 | $26.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.80 | $33.60 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.8 | 0 | $7.99 | $3.65 |
| Efficient EV | 19 | 0 | $6.66 | $3.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.4 | 0 | $10.65 | $4.87 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Destination
Breckenridge, CO
Late night in Breckenridge on Tuesday
Local time
4:23 AM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
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 42m 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 drive is overwhelmingly a highway-focused experience, with 95% of the route utilizing major roadways like I 70 and West 6th Avenue Freeway. You'll encounter a 57.9-mile stretch on I 70, which means extended periods of consistent highway driving. The character of the road is largely about efficient travel, moving you directly from point A to point B. While predominantly interstate, the final portion on CO 9 might offer a slight shift in scenery as you approach your destination.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 57.9 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and CO 9. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 76.1 miles you will encounter 17 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 1.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles (US 6 / West 6th Avenue Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Lakewood, CO
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 42m. Total distance: 76.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 57.9 miles on I 70. 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 Breckenridge, 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 1.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles (US 6 / West 6th Avenue Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Breckenridge, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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