Limon to Lakewood is 96.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 48 minutes via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Mountain West region, connecting two points in Colorado. It's primarily a local road experience, suggesting you'll encounter more frequent turns and varied road conditions rather than a straightforward interstate journey. Given the relatively short distance and duration, this trip is easily manageable as a same-day excursion, offering a practical way to travel between these two locations without a significant time commitment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.4 miles from Limon, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
73.1 mi
1h 13m
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
11.3 mi
14m
North Valley Highway
3.6 mi
4m
West 6th Avenue Freeway
2.5 mi
3m
North Wadsworth Boulevard
1.5 mi
3m
US 6
1.3 mi
2m
Main Street
1 mi
1m
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
0.8 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 73.1 mi, about 1h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Limon, CO and Lakewood, CO.
1
Start on H Avenue
319 ft·16 sec·H Avenue
2
Turn right onto I 70 Business; US 24; US 40; US 287; CO 71
1.0 mi·1 min·Main Street
3
Turn right onto I 70 Business; US 40; US 287
0.4 mi·1 min·I 70 Business; US 40; US 287
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 70 West
5
Merge onto I 70
73 mi·1 hr 13 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on I 70
3.4 mi·4 min·Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70
2.8 mi·3 min·Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
5.2 mi·6 min·Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 274Toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado SpringsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway
0.8 mi·54 sec·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward I 25 South: Colorado Springs
12
Merge onto I 25
3.6 mi·4 min·North Valley Highway
13
Take the exit onto US 6
1.2 mi·2 min·US 6
Exit 209BToward US 6 West: 6th Avenue, LakewoodUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto US 6
0.1 mi·10 sec·US 6
Toward US 6
15
Merge onto US 6
2.5 mi·3 min·West 6th Avenue Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward CO 121 South: Wadsworth BoulevardUse the right lane.
17
Turn straight onto CO 121
1.5 mi·3 min·North Wadsworth Boulevard
18
Continue on CO 121
369 ft·15 sec·South Wadsworth Boulevard
Use the left lane.
19
Arrive at destination
CO 121
Trip Plan
For this 96.8-mile drive, leaving in the morning or early afternoon should provide ample daylight to complete the journey. Since the total duration is under two hours, you likely won't need extensive planned stops, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before leaving Limon, as the fuel cost is estimated at $15 for the trip. The 'turn-heavy local drive' profile means paying close attention to GPS navigation is key; don't hesitate to pull over briefly if you miss a turn to reorient yourself. Because it's a shorter drive, you have the flexibility to depart when it's most convenient for you.
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 48.4 miles from Limon, CO, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.1 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 21 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.4 miles or 50m 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lakewood, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Limon, CO so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Limon, CO
This is one driving day of about 96.8 miles and 1h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Limon, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 73.1 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 91.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.5 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the exit toward I 70 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 70 West
6
78.3 mi into trip|~1h 21m in|I 70 / Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 / Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
81.1 mi into trip|~1h 24m 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 / slight right lanes.
8
86.2 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Take the exit 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.
Exit 274
Toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs
8
91.2 mi into trip|~1h 38m in|US 6
Take the exit onto US 6 toward US 6 West: 6th Avenue, Lakewood
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 209B
Toward US 6 West: 6th Avenue, Lakewood
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.58 one way
$29.17 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$15.44
$30.88
premium
$4.39
$16.75
$33.49
diesel
$5.61
$21.37
$42.74
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: 33.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29
0
$10.16
$4.65
Efficient EV
24.2
0
$8.47
$3.87
EV Truck/SUV
38.7
0
$13.55
$6.20
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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
Limon, CO
Late night
in Limon on Sunday
Local time
1:58 AM
MDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lakewood, CO
Late night
in Lakewood on Sunday
Local time
1:58 AM
MDT
Current temp
44°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
34 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
1h 48m 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 characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you can expect frequent changes in direction and potentially varying speed limits. With a highway share of 4, the majority of your travel will be on non-interstate roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 73.1 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, indicating a significant portion where you can maintain a consistent pace before needing to navigate turns. Be prepared for a driving experience that requires more attention to navigation compared to a pure highway cruise.
Only 4% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 73.1 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 1.5 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 96.8 miles you will encounter 14 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: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 78.3 miles (I 70 / Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 81.1 miles (I 70 / Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Limon, CO to Lakewood, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Colorado Springs along the way.
Colorado Springs
86.2 mi in|~1h 31m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 48m. Total distance: 96.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 73.1 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. 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 Lakewood, CO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 1.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 78.3 miles (I 70 / Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 81.1 miles (I 70 / Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lakewood, CO before heading back.
