Leadville to Denver is 100.4 miles and takes about 2h 9m via I 70, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused journey connecting two points within Colorado's Mountain West region. You'll primarily be on Interstate 70, making it a quick and efficient trip. Given its relatively short duration, this route is ideal for a single-day drive, allowing you to reach your destination with ample time. Consider this trip when you need a direct path between these two Colorado locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50.2 miles from Leadville, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
65.4 mi
1h 19m
CO 91
22.1 mi
28m
West 6th Avenue Freeway
10.1 mi
14m
Poplar Street
0.9 mi
2m
North Lincoln Street
0.9 mi
2m
East 10th Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Harrison Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
East 14th Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 65.4 mi, about 1h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Leadville, CO and Denver, CO.
1
Start on US 24
128 ft·6 sec·Harrison Avenue
2
Turn left onto West 9th Street
52 ft·2 sec·West 9th Street
3
Turn slight right onto Harrison Avenue
289 ft·16 sec·Harrison Avenue
4
Turn right onto East 10th Street
0.1 mi·33 sec·East 10th Street
5
Turn left onto US 24
0.9 mi·2 min·Poplar Street
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on CO 91
22 mi·28 min·CO 91
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 70 East
8
Merge onto I 70
65 mi·1 hr 19 min·I 70
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 261Toward US 6 East: 6th Avenue, LakewoodUse the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto US 6
10 mi·14 min·West 6th Avenue Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto North Lincoln Street
0.9 mi·2 min·North Lincoln Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Turn right onto East 14th Avenue
353 ft·17 sec·East 14th Avenue
Use the right lane.
13
Turn left
358 ft·27 sec
Use the straight / left lanes.
14
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a drive time of just over two hours, this is easily a one-day trip, offering flexibility for when you depart. You can leave Leadville in the morning and arrive in Denver by lunchtime. While there are no designated stops in the provided data, plan for a brief break if needed, especially during the longer 65.4-mile stretch on I 70. Fuel costs are estimated at $15, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before leaving Leadville, as services can be spaced out on interstate sections.
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 50.2 miles from Leadville, CO, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.4 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 22 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.2 miles or 1h 4m 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 Denver, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Leadville, 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 Leadville, CO
This is one driving day of about 100.4 miles and 2h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Leadville, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 70 for about 65.4 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 100.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East 10th Street
Turn right onto East 10th Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|US 24 / Poplar Street
Turn left onto US 24 / Poplar Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
88.9 mi into trip|~1h 51m in
Take the exit toward US 6 East: 6th Avenue, Lakewood
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 261
Toward US 6 East: 6th Avenue, Lakewood
6
100.3 mi into trip|~2h 8m in|East 14th Avenue
Turn right onto East 14th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
100.3 mi into trip|~2h 9m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.13 one way
$30.25 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$16.02
$32.03
premium
$4.39
$17.37
$34.74
diesel
$5.61
$22.17
$44.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.1
0
$10.54
$4.82
Efficient EV
25.1
0
$8.79
$4.02
EV Truck/SUV
40.2
0
$14.06
$6.43
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (66% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Leadville, CO
Late night
in Leadville on Tuesday
Local time
4:57 AM
MDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Denver, CO
Late night
in Denver on Tuesday
Local time
4:57 AM
MDT
Current temp
35°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
25°F
Georgetown, CO
50 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
10 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 9m 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 route is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 97% of the journey on major roads like I 70 and West 6th Avenue Freeway. You'll experience long, uninterrupted stretches, including a significant 65.4-mile segment on I 70 where you can maintain consistent speed. The drive transitions from mountain highways to more urban approaches as you near Denver. Expect a predominantly fast-paced experience on well-maintained interstate, minimizing time spent on slower, more winding roads.
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: 65.4 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and CO 91. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East 10th Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 100.4 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.1 miles (East 10th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 24 / Poplar Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 88.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Leadville, CO to Denver, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Lakewood along the way.
Denver is the capital of the western U.S. state of Colorado and the dominant city of the Rocky Mountain Region. Founded in 1858 as the placer gold mining camp known as the Cherry Creek Diggings, the "Mile-High City" is today the most populous city within a 560-mile (900 km) radius and the center of the Front Range Urban Corridor of more than five million residents. Denver embraces its cowboy and mining past but also looks toward the future with a vibrant arts and performing arts scene, dozens of great outdoor festivals, and distinct neighborhoods each offering a unique experience. You'll find everything a cosmopolitan city has to offer including a spectacular view of and easy access to the beautiful Rocky Mountains, which arise only 12 miles (19 km) west of the Colorado State Capitol.
Top landmarks
•Denver Art Museum — museum in Denver, Colorado, United States
•Denver Mint — United States Mint branch in Denver, Colorado
•Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception — church in Colorado, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 9m. Total distance: 100.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 65.4 miles on I 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Denver, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East 10th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 24 / Poplar Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 88.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Denver, CO before heading back.
