Lakewood, CO to Las Animas, CO is 197.8 miles and takes about 4h 17m via North Valley Highway, East Cranston Avenue, and Ronald Reagan Highway, with a fuel budget near $30 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 surface roads, making it a more relaxed pace compared to a full interstate cruise. With only one recommended stop and a manageable duration, this is a straightforward drive for a single day.
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
98.9 miles from Lakewood, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North Valley Highway
60.6 mi
1h 5m
East Cranston Avenue
27.9 mi
46m
Ronald Reagan Highway
22.9 mi
23m
CO 96
20.7 mi
27m
West 1st Street
19.8 mi
33m
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
12.9 mi
12m
Monument Valley Freeway
8.8 mi
10m
US 50
7.6 mi
12m
Longest stretch:
North Valley Highway
— 60.6 mi, about 1h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakewood, CO and Las Animas, 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
0.6 mi·59 sec·US 6
Toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado SpringsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 25 South: Colorado Springs
6
Merge onto I 25
61 mi·1 hr 5 min·North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 25
8.8 mi·10 min·Monument Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 25; US 24
0.2 mi·12 sec·Ronald Reagan Highway
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 25
23 mi·23 min·Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 25
13 mi·12 min·John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 25
1.8 mi·2 min·North Freeway
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Exit 101Toward US 50 West, CO 47 East: Cañon CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto CO 47
3.7 mi·4 min·César Chávez Memorial Highway
Use the straight / sharp right lanes.
14
Take the exit
231 ft·6 sec
Use the left lane.
15
Continue on Pete Jimenez Parkway
515 ft·14 sec·Pete Jimenez Parkway
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on William White Boulevard
2.8 mi·4 min·William White Boulevard
17
Turn right onto Paul Harvey Boulevard
0.4 mi·1 min·Paul Harvey Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
18
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Use the left lane.
19
Merge onto US 50; CO 96
1.0 mi·1 min·US 50; CO 96
Use the straight lane.
20
Continue on US 50; CO 96
6.6 mi·10 min·US 50; CO 96
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Turn left onto CO 96
21 mi·27 min·CO 96
Use the left lane.
22
Turn right onto CO 167; CR 3
1.7 mi·3 min·CO 167; CR 3
23
Turn left onto US 50
28 mi·46 min·East Cranston Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Continue on US 50
20 mi·33 min·West 1st Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
25
Turn left onto Elm Avenue
0.1 mi·27 sec·Elm Avenue
26
Arrive at destination
Elm Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 17m duration, leaving Lakewood, CO in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight. The route has only one recommended stop, so you can be flexible with your timing or choose to push through if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you move onto surface roads where gas stations might be less frequent. Budgeting around $30 for fuel should cover the 197.8-mile trip comfortably.
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 98.9 miles from Lakewood, CO, or about 1h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60.6 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 44 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 98.9 miles or 1h 48m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Las Animas, 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 197.8 miles and 4h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 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 North Valley Highway for about 60.6 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.3 and 119.7 — 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
6
74.9 mi into trip|~1h 24m in|I 25 / Ronald Reagan Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 25 / Ronald Reagan Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
112.4 mi into trip|~2h 2m in
Take the exit toward US 50 West, CO 47 East: Cañon City
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 101
Toward US 50 West, CO 47 East: Cañon City
6
119.4 mi into trip|~2h 12m in|Paul Harvey Boulevard
Turn right onto Paul Harvey Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
119.7 mi into trip|~2h 14m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.80 one way
$59.60 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg69 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$31.55
$63.11
premium
$4.39
$34.22
$68.44
diesel
$5.61
$43.67
$87.34
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
59.3
0
$20.77
$9.49
Efficient EV
49.5
0
$17.31
$7.91
EV Truck/SUV
79.1
0
$27.69
$12.66
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Lakewood, CO
Late night
in Lakewood on Sunday
Local time
5:29 AM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Las Animas, CO
Late night
in Las Animas on Sunday
Local time
5:29 AM
MDT
Current temp
48°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
4 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 17m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
National Monument
Beneath a grassy mountain valley in central Colorado lies one of the richest and most diverse fossil deposits in the world. Petrified redwood stumps up to 14 feet wide and thousands of detailed fossil...
24 mi from route
~60 min detour
$10
near mile 68.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route involves 22% highway driving, with the bulk of your travel on surface roads. You'll experience a longest stretch of 60.6 miles on North Valley Highway before transitioning to other main roads. Be prepared for merging and traffic as you navigate urban areas and then transition to more rural cruising as you head east.
Only 22% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 60.6 mi on North Valley Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 17 significant decision points across 197.8 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 74.9 miles (I 25 / Ronald Reagan Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 112.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 17m. Total distance: 197.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 60.6 miles on North Valley Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 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 Las Animas, 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 4 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 74.9 miles (I 25 / Ronald Reagan Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 112.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Las Animas, CO, but most travelers stay overnight.
