Spanning 106 miles through the heart of the Colorado Mountain West, this trip from Lakewood to Edwards is a straightforward journey typically taking about 2 hours and 6 minutes. Because the drive is highly efficient, it serves perfectly as a one-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $16 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating out of Lakewood via South Wadsworth Boulevard and the West 6th Avenue Freeway connects you quickly to the primary artery of this route. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that keeps you moving across the state, making it an ideal choice if you prioritize reaching your destination quickly and reliably.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
53 miles from Lakewood, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
97.7 mi
1h 54m
West 6th Avenue Freeway
5.2 mi
6m
South Wadsworth Boulevard
1.5 mi
2m
Edwards Access Road
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 97.7 mi, about 1h 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakewood, CO and Edwards, 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 WestUse 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 JunctionUse the slight right lane.
5
Merge onto I 70
98 mi·1 hr 54 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward Edwards
7
Enter roundabout onto I 70 Business
250 ft·5 sec·Edwards Access Road
8
Continue on I 70 Business
314 ft·6 sec·Edwards Access Road
9
Enter roundabout onto I 70 Business
106 ft·2 sec·Edwards Access Road
10
Continue on I 70 Business
301 ft·6 sec·Edwards Access Road
11
Enter roundabout onto I 70 Business
76 ft·1 sec·Edwards Access Road
12
Continue on I 70 Business
0.4 mi·40 sec·Edwards Access Road
13
Turn right
211 ft·15 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given that this route is a relatively short two-hour sprint, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time to avoid peak traffic. Since there are no mandatory stops listed, you can easily complete the entire 106-mile trek in one go without needing to plan for breaks. However, always be mindful of the high-speed nature of I-70, as the nearly 98-mile interstate stretch requires constant focus. Check local traffic reports before you leave Lakewood, as mountain transit can be unpredictable. Keeping your fuel tank topped off before leaving the urban area ensures you won't have to worry about stops while navigating the long, uninterrupted interstate section.
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 53 miles from Lakewood, CO, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.7 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 23 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53 miles or 1h 3m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Edwards, 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.
+
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 Lakewood, CO
This is one driving day of about 106 miles and 2h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 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 97.7 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 105.4 — 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.
6
105.4 mi into trip|~2h 4m in|I 70 Business / Edwards Access Road
Enter roundabout onto I 70 Business / Edwards Access Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.97 one way
$31.94 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$16.91
$33.82
premium
$4.39
$18.34
$36.67
diesel
$5.61
$23.40
$46.81
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.8
0
$11.13
$5.09
Efficient EV
26.5
0
$9.27
$4.24
EV Truck/SUV
42.4
0
$14.84
$6.78
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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 19, 2026
Origin
Lakewood, CO
Late night
in Lakewood on Tuesday
Local time
3:12 AM
MDT
Current temp
34°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Edwards, CO
Late night
in Edwards on Tuesday
Local time
3:12 AM
MDT
Current temp
28°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
25°F
Georgetown, CO
53 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
6 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
2h 6m 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 trip is heavily highway-focused, with 97% of your travel occurring on major thoroughfares. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-70, which accounts for a significant 97.7-mile stretch of the journey. Expect a fast-paced experience where the road demands your full attention as you transition from the metro area into the mountain terrain. While the route lacks technical local roads, the sheer length of the interstate segment defines the character of the trip. Behind the wheel, you will feel the consistency of the highway as you maintain steady speeds for the duration of the drive.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 97.7 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and West 6th Avenue Freeway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 6m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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.
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.
The longest stretch is about 97.7 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 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 Edwards, CO before heading back.
