Origin
Wellington, CO
Late night in Wellington on Sunday
Local time
3:56 AM
MDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wellington, CO to Lakewood, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 24m
Distance
74.4 mi
120 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 18m
★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 38m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 28m
3 PM
1h 30m
5 PM
1h 37m
8 PM
1h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wellington, CO
Adrien Olichon
Lakewood, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Connecting Wellington to Lakewood, this 74.4-mile trek is a straightforward journey through the Mountain West that typically takes about 1 hour and 24 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stops along the way. You can expect to spend approximately $11 on fuel for the total drive. The path utilizes a combination of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, the North Valley Highway, and the West 6th Avenue Freeway to get you from northern Colorado into the Denver metro area. It functions well as a practical transit route for those looking to reach their destination efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 49.9 mi | 49m |
| North Valley Highway | 18.2 mi | 23m |
| West 6th Avenue Freeway | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| North Wadsworth Boulevard | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| US 6 | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Cleveland Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| South Wadsworth Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 49.9 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wellington, CO and Lakewood, CO.
1
Start on CO 1
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Cleveland Avenue
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
3
Merge onto I 25
50 mi
·
49 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Continue on I 25
0.6 mi
·
36 sec
·
North Valley Highway
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
8.8 mi
·
10 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
8.8 mi
·
12 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Take the exit onto US 6
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
US 6
Exit 209B
Toward US 6 West: 6th Avenue, Lakewood
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto US 6
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
US 6
Toward US 6
9
Merge onto US 6
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
West 6th Avenue Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward CO 121 South: Wadsworth Boulevard
Use the right lane.
11
Turn straight onto CO 121
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
North Wadsworth Boulevard
12
Continue on CO 121
369 ft
·
15 sec
·
South Wadsworth Boulevard
Use the left lane.
13
Arrive at destination
CO 121
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37.2 miles from Wellington, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 72.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
I 25 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Merge onto I 25 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
51.3 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
I 25 / North Valley Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25 / North Valley Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
60.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
|
I 25 / North Valley Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25 / North Valley Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
68.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m 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
6
72.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
Take the exit toward CO 121 South: Wadsworth Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward CO 121 South: Wadsworth Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.21 one way
$22.42 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $11.87 | $23.74 |
| premium | $4.39 | $12.87 | $25.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.43 | $32.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 26 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.3 | 0 | $7.81 | $3.57 |
| Efficient EV | 18.6 | 0 | $6.51 | $2.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.8 | 0 | $10.42 | $4.76 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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.
Destination
Lakewood, CO
Late night in Lakewood on Sunday
Local time
3:56 AM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3 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
1h 24m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive presents as a turn-heavy local experience, requiring you to stay alert as you navigate through varying infrastructure. While the journey involves a mix of road types, only 5% of the trip is spent on major highways, meaning you will spend the majority of your time on local roads. You will find your longest uninterrupted stretch on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, which covers 49.9 miles of the total distance. Expect the feel of the road to shift as you transition from the northern outskirts into the denser traffic patterns near Lakewood. It is a technical drive that demands your full attention rather than a passive interstate cruise.
Only 5% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 49.9 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 0.7 miles in near I 25 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 74.4 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.7 miles (I 25 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 51.3 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 60.1 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
5,520 ft
4,825 ft
Total Climb
1,548 ft
Total Descent
1,232 ft
Highest Point
5,520 ft
~74.4 mi in
Elevation Range
694 ft
Notable High Points
5,075 ft at ~18.6 miles
+208 ft prominence
5,022 ft at ~24.8 miles
+122 ft prominence
5,092 ft at ~31 miles
+132 ft prominence
5,186 ft at ~49.6 miles
+12 ft prominence
5,429 ft at ~55.8 miles
+123 ft prominence
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 24m. Total distance: 74.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 49.9 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 0.7 miles (I 25 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 51.3 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 60.1 miles (I 25 / North Valley 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.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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