Origin
Lakewood, CO
Late night in Lakewood on Sunday
Local time
4:12 AM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lakewood, CO to Indian Hills, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
21m
Distance
13.5 mi
22 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 19m
★
6 AM
0h 21m
8 AM
0h 25m
10 AM
0h 22m
12 PM
0h 22m
3 PM
0h 23m
5 PM
0h 25m
8 PM
0h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lakewood, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Indian Hills, CO
Jacob Moore
Trip Overview
This short 13.5-mile drive from Lakewood to Indian Hills, Colorado, is a quick 21-minute trip perfect for a single day. With a highway share of 65%, you'll experience a mostly highway-focused journey. The estimated fuel cost is around $2, making it an economical option. Since it's such a brief excursion within the same Mountain West region and state, you won't need an overnight stay. This route offers a straightforward transition, ideal for a quick scenic hop or an easy commute.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Hampden Avenue Freeway | 8.8 mi | 11m |
| South Wadsworth Boulevard | 3.9 mi | 7m |
| Parmalee Gulch Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Santa Clara Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Hiawatha Trail | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
West Hampden Avenue Freeway
— 8.8 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakewood, CO and Indian Hills, CO.
1
Start on CO 121
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
South Wadsworth Boulevard
2
Continue on CO 121
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
South Wadsworth Boulevard
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on CO 121
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
South Wadsworth Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward US 285 South
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Merge onto US 285
8.8 mi
·
11 min
·
West Hampden Avenue Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn right onto CH 120
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Parmalee Gulch Road
7
Turn left onto Santa Clara Road
465 ft
·
20 sec
·
Santa Clara Road
8
Continue on Santa Clara Road
298 ft
·
13 sec
·
Santa Clara Road
9
Keep slight left at fork onto Hiawatha Trail
173 ft
·
7 sec
·
Hiawatha Trail
10
Arrive at destination
Hiawatha Trail
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 13.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CO 121 / South Wadsworth Boulevard
Continue onto CO 121 / South Wadsworth Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
3.9 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the ramp toward US 285 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward US 285 South
5
4.2 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
US 285 / West Hampden Avenue Freeway
Merge onto US 285 / West Hampden Avenue Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
13 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
CH 120 / Parmalee Gulch Road
Turn right onto CH 120 / Parmalee Gulch Road
Navigation decision point
5
13.5 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
Hiawatha Trail
Keep slight left at fork onto Hiawatha Trail
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.03 one way
$4.07 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $2.15 | $4.31 |
| premium | $4.39 | $2.34 | $4.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.98 | $5.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.1 | 0 | $1.42 | $0.65 |
| Efficient EV | 3.4 | 0 | $1.18 | $0.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.89 | $0.86 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Indian Hills, CO
Late night in Indian Hills on Sunday
Local time
4:12 AM
MDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
21m 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?
Expect a highway-centric experience for much of this 13.5-mile journey, with 65% of the drive on main roads like West Hampden Avenue Freeway and South Wadsworth Boulevard. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 8.8 miles on the West Hampden Avenue Freeway, allowing for a consistent pace. As you transition to Parmalee Gulch Road, the character of the drive may shift, offering a different feel as you approach your destination. This blend provides a dynamic yet manageable driving experience.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8.8 mi on West Hampden Avenue Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on West Hampden Avenue Freeway and South Wadsworth Boulevard. You will hit about 6 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near CO 121 / South Wadsworth Boulevard.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 13.5 miles you will encounter 6 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 0.2 miles (CO 121 / South Wadsworth Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.2 miles (US 285 / West Hampden Avenue Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 21m. Total distance: 13.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 8.8 miles on West Hampden Avenue Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.2 miles (CO 121 / South Wadsworth Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.2 miles (US 285 / West Hampden Avenue Freeway): 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 Indian Hills, 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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