Lakewood to Paonia is 224.2 miles and takes about 4 hours 56 minutes via I 70 and CO 133, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Colorado, moving from the Mountain West region to another part of the Mountain West. With 93% of the route on highways, expect a fairly direct path with minimal slow-downs. The total drive time is manageable for a single day, making it a convenient option for getting between these two points.
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
112.1 miles from Lakewood, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
144.9 mi
2h 45m
CO 133
58.1 mi
1h 36m
Glen Avenue
9.8 mi
15m
West 6th Avenue Freeway
5.2 mi
6m
Midland Avenue
1.6 mi
2m
South Wadsworth Boulevard
1.5 mi
2m
Grand Avenue
1 mi
2m
8th Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 144.9 mi, about 2h 45m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,468 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,128
Quietest
2 AM
~81 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.1×
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 Paonia, 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
145 mi·2 hr 45 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.1 mi·21 sec
Toward CO 82 East: Glenwood Springs, Aspen
7
Continue on CO 82
390 ft·15 sec·Laurel Street
8
Continue on CO 82
0.2 mi·45 sec·Grand Avenue
9
Turn right onto 8th Street
0.4 mi·48 sec·8th Street
10
At end of road, turn left onto Midland Avenue
1.6 mi·2 min·Midland Avenue
11
Enter roundabout onto 27th Street
178 ft·3 sec·27th Street
12
Continue on 27th Street
0.1 mi·12 sec·27th Street
13
Enter roundabout onto 27th Street
84 ft·2 sec·27th Street
14
Continue on 27th Street
0.1 mi·18 sec·27th Street
15
Turn right onto CO 82
9.8 mi·15 min·Glen Avenue
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto CO 133
1.1 mi·2 min·CO 133
17
Enter roundabout onto CO 133
110 ft·1 sec·CO 133
18
Continue on CO 133
1.3 mi·2 min·CO 133
19
Continue on CO 133
56 mi·1 hr 31 min·CO 133
Use the left lane.
20
Turn left onto Grand Avenue
0.8 mi·2 min·Grand Avenue
Use the left lane.
21
Turn left onto 3rd Street
0.3 mi·47 sec·3rd Street
22
Turn right onto Orchard Avenue
53 ft·2 sec·Orchard Avenue
23
Arrive at destination
Orchard Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 4 hour 56 minute drive time and 224.2 mile distance, this trip is well-suited for a single day. Aim to depart Lakewood in the morning to make the most of daylight and arrive in Paonia with ample time. You'll want to fuel up before leaving Lakewood, as the longest stretch without a major road change is 144.9 miles on I 70. Consider a brief stop along I 70 for a stretch before the transition to CO 133.
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 112.1 miles from Lakewood, CO, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 144.9 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 49 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112.1 miles or 2h 9m 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Paonia, 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 224.2 miles and 4h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 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 I 70 for about 144.9 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 152.3 — 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.
5
152.3 mi into trip|~2h 55m in
Take the exit toward CO 82 East: Glenwood Springs, Aspen
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward CO 82 East: Glenwood Springs, Aspen
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.19 one way
$68.37 round trip
$3.87/gal25.4 MPG avg78 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$36.34
$72.68
premium
$4.45
$39.31
$78.61
diesel
$4.80
$42.33
$84.67
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
67.3
0
$23.54
$10.76
Efficient EV
56.1
0
$19.62
$8.97
EV Truck/SUV
89.7
1
$31.39
$14.35
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
2:22 AM
MDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Clear
W 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 12:00PM MDT until July 20 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Denver CO
Destination
Paonia, CO
Late night
in Paonia on Sunday
Local time
2:22 AM
MDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Clear
ENE 5 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 12:00PM MDT until July 20 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Denver CO
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 56m 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.
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park
National Park
Big enough to be overwhelming, yet still intimate enough to feel the pulse of time. Come see some of the steepest cliffs, oldest rock, and craggiest spires in North America. Forces of nature and the G...
21 mi from route
~53 min detour
$30
near mile 224.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive covering 93% of the 224.2 miles on major roads. You'll spend most of your time on I 70, with a stretch of 144.9 miles before transitioning to CO 133 and then Glen Avenue. Expect a significant portion of highway cruising before you encounter surface roads closer to your destination.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 144.9 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and CO 133. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
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 224.2 miles you will encounter 15 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.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
10,371 ft5,520 ft
Total Climb
7,996 ft
Total Descent
7,835 ft
Highest Point
10,371 ft
~80.1 mi in
Elevation Range
4,852 ft
Notable High Points
10,049 ft at ~48 miles+866 ft prominence
10,371 ft at ~80.1 miles+1,188 ft prominence
8,341 ft at ~192.1 miles+1,657 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 Paonia, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Aspen along the way.
Aspen
152.3 mi in|~2h 55m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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
Paonia is a town in the Northwestern part of the Rocky Mountains state of Colorado. It is the nearest town to the West Elks American Viticultural Area (AVA), part of Colorado's Wine Country and home to the highest wine vineyards in North America.
Top landmarks
•Paonia First Christian Church — historic church building in Paonia, Colorado, USA
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 56m. Total distance: 224.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 144.9 miles on I 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 7 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.
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 — Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Paonia, CO, but most travelers stay overnight.
