Orchard Mesa, CO to Lakewood, CO is 241.4 miles and takes about 4h 38m via I 70 BUS, with a fuel budget near $43 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. Given it's mostly highway driving, expect a straightforward transit. With only one recommended stop, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion when you want to get where you're going efficiently.
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
120.7 miles from Orchard Mesa, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70 BUS
230.5 mi
4h 21m
West 6th Avenue Freeway
4.9 mi
5m
Pitkin Avenue
2 mi
3m
US 50
2 mi
3m
North Wadsworth Boulevard
1.4 mi
2m
South Wadsworth Boulevard
<0.1 mi
<1m
27 Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70 BUS
— 230.5 mi, about 4h 21m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 32 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,409 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,083
Quietest
2 AM
~77 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 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 Orchard Mesa, CO and Lakewood, CO.
1
Start on 27
14 ft·2 sec·27 Road
2
Turn left onto US 50
2.0 mi·3 min·US 50
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn right onto I 70 BUS
2.0 mi·3 min·Pitkin Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Continue on I 70 BUS
4.3 mi·7 min·I 70 BUS
5
Continue on I 70 BUS; US 6
0.8 mi·1 min·I 70 BUS; US 6
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 BUS
225 mi·4 hr 12 min·I 70 BUS
Toward I 70 East: DenverUse the slight right lane.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 261Toward US 6 East: 6th Avenue, LakewoodUse the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto US 6
4.9 mi·5 min·West 6th Avenue Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward CO 121 South: Wadsworth BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn slight right onto CO 121
1.4 mi·2 min·North Wadsworth Boulevard
11
Continue on CO 121
369 ft·15 sec·South Wadsworth Boulevard
Use the left lane.
12
Arrive at destination
CO 121
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 4-hour drive, leaving anytime in the morning should allow you to arrive before evening. Planning for one stop is built into the estimated 4h 38m duration, so consider a quick break around the halfway point to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the majority of the drive is on I 70 BUS where services might be less frequent in certain stretches. The $43 fuel estimate is based on the total mileage, so be sure to factor that into your budget.
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 120.7 miles from Orchard Mesa, CO, or about 2h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 230.5 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 53 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120.7 miles or 2h 21m 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 47m
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 Orchard Mesa, 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 Orchard Mesa, CO
This is one driving day of about 241.4 miles and 4h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Orchard Mesa, 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 BUS for about 230.5 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 239.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 50
Turn left onto US 50
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
2 mi into trip|~3m in|I 70 BUS / Pitkin Avenue
Turn right onto I 70 BUS / Pitkin Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
9.1 mi into trip|~15m in|I 70 BUS
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 BUS toward I 70 East: Denver
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 70 East: Denver
8
234.5 mi into trip|~4h 28m 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
239.7 mi into trip|~4h 35m in
Take the exit toward CO 121 South: Wadsworth Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CO 121 South: Wadsworth Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.12 one way
$82.25 round trip
$4.33/gal25.4 MPG avg85 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.58
$43.49
$86.98
premium
$4.90
$46.61
$93.21
diesel
$6.18
$58.72
$117.45
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
EV Charging Along Route
19 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Parachute, CO - Tesla Supercharger
Parachute, CO
Tesla
12 DCFC
Rifle, CO - Tesla Supercharger
Rifle, CO
Tesla
12 DCFC
Grand Junction, CO - Patterson Road - Tesla Supercharger
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72.4
0
$25.35
$11.59
Efficient EV
60.4
0
$21.12
$9.66
EV Truck/SUV
96.6
1
$33.80
$15.45
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Orchard Mesa, CO
Morning
in Orchard Mesa on Saturday
Local time
6:25 AM
MDT
Current temp
43°F
Clear
SE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 12:32AM MDT until October 17 at 9:00AM MDT by NWS Pueblo CO
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 9:15PM MDT until October 17 at 9:00AM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO
Destination
Lakewood, CO
Morning
in Lakewood on Saturday
Local time
6:25 AM
MDT
Current temp
37°F
Clear
SW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 12:32AM MDT until October 17 at 9:00AM MDT by NWS Pueblo CO
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 9:15PM MDT until October 17 at 9:00AM MDT by NWS Grand Junction 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
6 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 38m 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.
Colorado National Monument
National Monument
Colorado National Monument preserves one of the grand landscapes of the American West. But this treasure is much more than a monument. Towering monoliths exist within a vast plateau and canyon panoram...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a high-speed transit, with 98% of the 241.4 miles on highways. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on I 70 BUS, with the longest continuous stretch covering 230.5 miles. The transition to surface roads, like West 6th Avenue Freeway and Pitkin Avenue, will likely occur as you approach your destination in Lakewood. Expect a lot of exits and traffic merging as you enter the Denver metropolitan area.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 230.5 mi on I 70 BUS.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 BUS and West 6th Avenue Freeway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 50.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 38m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 50): Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles (I 70 BUS / Pitkin Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.1 miles (I 70 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
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
The longest stretch is about 230.5 miles on I 70 BUS. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 11 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: near the start (US 50): Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles (I 70 BUS / Pitkin Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.1 miles (I 70 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Colorado National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Lakewood, CO, but most travelers stay overnight.
