Ridgway to Lakewood is 318.6 miles and takes about 6h 20m via I 70 BUS, US 50, and US 550, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Colorado, traversing the Mountain West region. Expect a predominantly highway experience for most of the trip. It's a straightforward route, suitable for a single day of travel if you're aiming to get from point A to point B 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
159.3 miles from Ridgway, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70 BUS
226.5 mi
4h 14m
US 50
43.5 mi
52m
US 550
29.9 mi
40m
32 Road
5.4 mi
9m
West 6th Avenue Freeway
4.9 mi
5m
G Road
2.3 mi
4m
G50 Road
2.1 mi
3m
North Wadsworth Boulevard
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 70 BUS
— 226.5 mi, about 4h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ridgway, CO and Lakewood, CO.
1
Start on this road
83 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto North Charlotte Street
0.1 mi·37 sec·North Charlotte Street
3
Turn left onto CO 62
0.7 mi·2 min·Sherman Street
4
Turn left onto US 550
30 mi·40 min·US 550
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on US 50
17 mi·20 min·US 50
6
Turn left onto Confluence Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·Confluence Drive
Use the left lane.
7
Turn left onto West 5th Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·West 5th Street
Use the left lane.
8
Continue on G Road
1.6 mi·3 min·G Road
9
Continue on G Road
0.7 mi·1 min·G Road
10
Continue on G50 Road
2.1 mi·3 min·G50 Road
11
At end of road, turn left onto US 50
15 mi·17 min·US 50
12
Continue on US 50
12 mi·14 min·US 50
13
Continue on CO 141
5.4 mi·9 min·32 Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Turn right onto I 70 BUS; US 6
0.3 mi·34 sec·I 70 BUS; US 6
15
Continue on I 70 BUS; US 6
0.8 mi·1 min·I 70 BUS; US 6
16
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.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 261Toward US 6 East: 6th Avenue, LakewoodUse the slight right lane.
18
Merge onto US 6
4.9 mi·5 min·West 6th Avenue Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward CO 121 South: Wadsworth BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn slight right onto CO 121
1.4 mi·2 min·North Wadsworth Boulevard
21
Continue on CO 121
369 ft·15 sec·South Wadsworth Boulevard
Use the left lane.
22
Arrive at destination
CO 121
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 20m estimated drive time and 318.6 miles, leaving in the morning should allow you to reach Lakewood with daylight to spare. You'll only have one recommended stop, so plan your fuel and breaks accordingly, especially before the longest stretch of 226.5 miles. The fuel cost is estimated at $48, so factor that into your budget. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility; however, be mindful of potential traffic as you get closer to Lakewood, particularly during peak hours.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 159.3 miles from Ridgway, CO, or about 3h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 226.5 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 70 miles or 1h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 159.3 miles or 3h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 13m
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 Ridgway, 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 Ridgway, CO
This is one driving day of about 318.6 miles and 6h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 miles from Ridgway, 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 226.5 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 316.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.8 mi into trip|~2m in|US 550
Turn left onto US 550
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
48.7 mi into trip|~1h 6m in|West 5th Street
Turn left onto West 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
86.3 mi into trip|~1h 57m 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
311.7 mi into trip|~6h 10m 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
316.9 mi into trip|~6h 16m 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
$48.00 one way
$96.01 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg112 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$50.83
$101.65
premium
$4.39
$55.12
$110.23
diesel
$5.61
$70.34
$140.69
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 111.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
95.6
1
$33.45
$15.29
Efficient EV
79.7
0
$27.88
$12.74
EV Truck/SUV
127.4
1
$44.60
$20.39
Gas CO2
111 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 16, 2026
Origin
Ridgway, CO
Evening
in Ridgway on Saturday
Local time
7:27 PM
MDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lakewood, CO
Evening
in Lakewood on Saturday
Local time
7:27 PM
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
6 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
6h 20m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
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...
14 mi from route
~36 min detour
$25
near mile 76.9
Three reservoirs and surrounding lands make up this recreation area in western Colorado. It is a landscape of tradeoffs; natural and human made features exist together. Geologic wonders are abundant f...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 96% highway, meaning you'll spend most of your time on high-speed roads. The longest stretch without a significant break is 226.5 miles on I 70 BUS. You'll notice the transition from more rural highway cruising to potential urban merging as you approach the Denver area. Expect minimal time on surface streets.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 226.5 mi on I 70 BUS.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 BUS and US 50. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near US 550.
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 318.6 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.8 miles (US 550): Lane positioning matters here; at 48.7 miles (West 5th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 86.3 miles (I 70 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 20m. Total distance: 318.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 20m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 226.5 miles on I 70 BUS. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 12 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 is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. 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.
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 12 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (US 550): Lane positioning matters here; at 48.7 miles (West 5th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 86.3 miles (I 70 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park, Colorado National Monument and Curecanti National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.3 hours each way, a round trip means 12.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lakewood, CO before the return drive.
