Lakewood, CO to Lamar, CO is 214 miles and takes about 4 hours 6 minutes via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and US 40, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Mountain West region, transitioning from the Denver metro area towards southeastern Colorado. Expect a mix of highway cruising and surface road driving as you head east. With a recommended one-day drive, you'll have plenty of flexibility to depart at your leisure and still arrive with time to spare.
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
107 miles from Lakewood, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 57m 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
North Valley Highway
3.2 mi
4m
West 6th Avenue Freeway
2.7 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 76.6 mi, about 1h 16m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~3,803 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,757
Quietest
2 AM
~394 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Lakewood, CO and Lamar, CO.
1
Start on CO 121
1.3 mi·2 min·South Wadsworth Boulevard
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward US 6 East: DenverUse the slight right lane.
3
Merge onto US 6
2.7 mi·3 min·West 6th Avenue Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit onto US 6
1.3 mi·2 min·US 6
Toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado SpringsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Merge onto I 25
3.2 mi·4 min·North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·19 sec
Exit 214AToward I 70: Limon, Grand JunctionUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway
1.0 mi·1 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Toward I 70
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·40 sec
9
Merge onto I 70
9.0 mi·12 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
2.4 mi·2 min·Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on I 70
77 mi·1 hr 16 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Exit 363Toward US 40, US 287: Hugo, Kit CarsonUse the slight right lane.
13
Turn right onto US 40; US 287
62 mi·1 hr 13 min·US 40; US 287
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 287; CR 40
18 mi·20 min·US 287; CR 40
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on US 287; CO 96
30 mi·35 min·West 15th Street
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on US 50; US 287
5.9 mi·9 min·US 50; US 287
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn right onto West Elm Street
436 ft·19 sec·West Elm Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Arrive at destination
West Elm Street
Trip Plan
Given this is a 4-hour drive, it's best tackled in a single day, allowing for a relaxed morning departure from Lakewood. Plan for one stop along the way to stretch your legs and refuel, especially since the longest stretch without a major road change is over 76 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you get closer to Lamar, as services can become more spread out in the more rural eastern plains. The $33 fuel estimate is a good starting point, but always budget a little extra for unexpected detours or traffic.
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 107 miles from Lakewood, CO, or about 1h 57m 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 47 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 107 miles or 1h 57m 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 18m
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 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 214 miles and 4h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Lakewood, 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.3 and 213.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
4.3 mi into trip|~6m in|US 6
Take the exit onto US 6 toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs
8
8.7 mi into trip|~13m in
Take the exit toward I 70: Limon, Grand Junction
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 214A
Toward I 70: Limon, Grand Junction
6
19.1 mi into trip|~27m 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
98.1 mi into trip|~1h 46m 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
6
213.9 mi into trip|~4h 6m in|West Elm Street
Turn right onto West Elm Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.63 one way
$65.26 round trip
$3.87/gal25.4 MPG avg75 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$34.69
$69.37
premium
$4.45
$37.52
$75.03
diesel
$4.80
$40.41
$80.81
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
64.2
0
$22.47
$10.27
Efficient EV
53.5
0
$18.73
$8.56
EV Truck/SUV
85.6
1
$29.96
$13.70
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Lakewood, CO
Late night
in Lakewood on Sunday
Local time
2:16 AM
MDT
Current temp
95°F
Sunny
E 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 3:56PM MDT until July 18 at 6:45PM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 3:51PM MDT until July 18 at 6:15PM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO
Destination
Lamar, CO
Late night
in Lamar on Sunday
Local time
2:16 AM
MDT
Current temp
96°F
Sunny
E 15 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 3:56PM MDT until July 18 at 6:45PM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 3:51PM MDT until July 18 at 6:15PM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO
57°F
Limon, CO
107 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
1 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
4h 6m 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?
This drive features 46% highway driving, with the longest continuous stretch on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway covering 76.6 miles. You'll experience highway speeds for a significant portion before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a noticeable change in pace and traffic density as you move from the interstate environment onto US 40 and local streets.
46% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 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?
8/10
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 4.3 miles in near US 6.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 214 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 4.3 miles (US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.1 miles (I 70 / Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
5,533 ft3,619 ft
Total Climb
592 ft
Total Descent
2,492 ft
Highest Point
5,533 ft
~30.6 mi in
Elevation Range
1,914 ft
Notable High Points
5,533 ft at ~30.6 miles+149 ft prominence
5,471 ft at ~76.4 miles+8 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 Lakewood, CO to Lamar, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Kit Carson along the way.
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.
Top landmarks
•Lakewood Cultural Center — museum in Colorado, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 6m. Total distance: 214 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 6m 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 4.3 miles (US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.1 miles (I 70 / Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Lamar, CO, but most travelers stay overnight.
