Trip from Akron, CO to Colorado Springs, CO

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 17m

Distance

186.2 mi

300 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$28

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min

4 AM

3h 6m ★

6 AM

3h 18m

8 AM

3h 42m

10 AM

3h 26m

12 PM

3h 24m

3 PM

3h 27m

5 PM

3h 41m

8 PM

3h 11m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Akron, CO

Mikhail Nilov

Trip Overview

The drive from Akron, CO to Colorado Springs, CO covers 186.2 miles and takes about 3h 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 76, I 25, E-470 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 73.2 miles on I 76. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.05 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

93.1 miles from Akron, CO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 38m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 76	73.2 mi	1h 13m
I 25	45.7 mi	47m
E-470	35.1 mi	35m
US Highway 34	21.2 mi	24m
Monument Valley Freeway	5.9 mi	6m
US Highway 6	1 mi	1m
West 1st Street	0.7 mi	1m
East Kiowa Street	0.3 mi	1m

Longest stretch: I 76 — 73.2 mi, about 1h 13m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Akron, CO and Colorado Springs, CO.

Start on Adams Avenue

518 ft · 24 sec · Adams Avenue

Turn right onto US 34

0.7 mi · 1 min · West 1st Street

Continue on US 34

21 mi · 24 min · US Highway 34

Turn right onto I 76 Business; US 34 Spur

1.0 mi · 1 min · US Highway 6

Use the straight lane.

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 18 sec

Merge onto I 76

73 mi · 1 hr 13 min · I 76

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

1.0 mi · 2 min

Exit 18 Toward E470 Toll South: Limon Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto E470

35 mi · 35 min · E-470

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec

Exit 1A Toward I 25: Denver, Colorado Springs

Keep slight left at fork

0.7 mi · 1 min

Exit 1A Toward I 25 South: Colorado Springs Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Merge onto I 25

46 mi · 47 min · I 25

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 25

5.9 mi · 6 min · Monument Valley Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec

Exit 142 Toward Bijou Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

495 ft · 14 sec

Toward I 25: Downtown Use the straight / left lanes.

Turn left onto West Bijou Street

0.2 mi · 26 sec · West Bijou Street

Use the left / straight lanes.

Continue on West Kiowa Street

0.2 mi · 35 sec · West Kiowa Street

Continue on East Kiowa Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · East Kiowa Street

Turn right onto North Weber Street

490 ft · 17 sec · North Weber Street

Turn right onto East Pikes Peak Avenue

422 ft · 14 sec · East Pikes Peak Avenue

Arrive at destination

East Pikes Peak Avenue

Trip Plan

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 93.1 miles from Akron, CO, or about 1h 38m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.2 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 41 miles or 45m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 93.1 miles or 1h 38m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 40m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Colorado Springs, CO than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Akron, 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 Akron, CO

This is one driving day of about 186.2 miles and 3h 17m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Akron, 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 76 for about 73.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Douglas County, Colorado, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Parker, CO

93 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.

Popular next leg

Parker, CO to Colorado Springs, CO

55 mi · 1h 6m

Pacing Suggestions

Fort Morgan, CO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Brighton, CO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 93.1 miles from Akron, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 76 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 73.2 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Glassi Restaurant & Bar

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Brush, Colorado

Near the start, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour $20 to $30 mile 26.6

Hours: 10 am–10 pm

+19708427722

Visit website

VICTOR'S SUSHI

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Brush, Colorado

1.6 mi

Carrillo Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Brush, Colorado

1.5 mi

Glassi Restaurant & Bar

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour $20 to $30 mile 26.6

Brush, Colorado

Hours: 10 am–10 pm

+19708427722

Visit website

VICTOR'S SUSHI

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 26.6

Brush, Colorado

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+19708427740

Carrillo Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 26.6

Brush, Colorado

Hours: 10 am–1:30 pm

+19708424737

Wendy's

3.3 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour Inexpensiv mile 26.6

Brush, Colorado

Hours: 10 am–11 pm

+19708425959

Visit website

McDonald's

3.2 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 26.6

Brush, Colorado

Hours: 5 am–11 pm

+19708422717

Visit website

Mariana's Mexican Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

3 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 53.2

Wiggins, Colorado

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+19704837278

Visit website

Fajitas Mexican Restaurant

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 53.2

Wiggins, Colorado

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+19704837262

Santiago's Mexican Restaurant

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, ~10 min detour

4.1 mi from route ~10 min detour $10 to $20 mile 39.9

Fort Morgan, Colorado

Hours: 6 am–8 pm

+19708672214

Visit website

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 146.3

Castle Rock, CO

+17207339477

Visit website

Green Valley Ranch East Park

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 106.4

Denver, Colorado

Hours: 5 am–11 pm

+17209131311

Visit website

Larkspur Community Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.4 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 159.6

Larkspur, Colorado

Hours: 6 am–8 pm

+13036812324

Visit website

Museum of Outdoor Arts

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 133

Greenwood Village, Colorado

+13038060444

Visit website

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 186.2

Colorado Springs, Colorado

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+17196339925

Visit website

Panorama Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 186.2

Colorado Springs, Colorado

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 96.4 and 185.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

96.4 mi into trip | ~1h 41m in

Take the exit toward E470 Toll South: Limon

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 18 Toward E470 Toll South: Limon

132.5 mi into trip | ~2h 18m in

Take the exit toward I 25: Denver, Colorado Springs

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 1A Toward I 25: Denver, Colorado Springs

132.7 mi into trip | ~2h 19m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 25 South: Colorado Springs

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Exit 1A Toward I 25 South: Colorado Springs

185 mi into trip | ~3h 14m in

Take the exit toward Bijou Street

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 142 Toward Bijou Street

185.3 mi into trip | ~3h 15m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 25: Downtown

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes. Toward I 25: Downtown

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$28.05 one way

$56.11 round trip

$3.83/gal 25.4 MPG avg 65 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.05	$29.70	$59.41
premium	$4.39	$32.21	$64.42
diesel	$5.61	$41.11	$82.22

Estimated Tolls: $4.22

E-470 (35.1 mi) $4.22

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$28

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$57–$82

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 65.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	55.9	$19.55	$8.94
Efficient EV	46.6	$16.29	$7.45
EV Truck/SUV	74.5	$26.07	$11.92

Gas CO2

65 kg

EV CO2

22 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 16, 2026

Origin

Akron, CO

Morning in Akron on Saturday

Local time

11:27 AM

MDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Colorado Springs, CO

Morning in Colorado Springs on Saturday

Local time

11:27 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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

3h 17m 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

National Monument

Beneath a grassy mountain valley in central Colorado lies one of the richest and most diverse fossil deposits in the world. Petrified redwood stumps up to 14 feet wide and thousands of detailed fossil...

25 mi from route ~62 min detour $10 near mile 179.8

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

186.2 mi in 3h 17m, mostly highway — 73.2 mi of that is on I 76.

79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 73.2 mi on I 76.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 76 and I 25. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 96.4 miles in.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 186.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 96.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 132.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 132.7 miles: 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 Akron, CO to Colorado Springs, CO, road signs begin pointing toward E470 Toll South: Limon along the way.

E470 Toll South: Limon

96.4 mi in | ~1h 41m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 17m. Total distance: 186.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 73.2 miles on I 76. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $4.22 in tolls one way, starting with E-470. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

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 Colorado Springs, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

Yes — Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Colorado Springs, CO, but most travelers stay overnight.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Trip from Akron, CO to Colorado Springs, CO

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

Glassi Restaurant & Bar

Glassi Restaurant & Bar

VICTOR'S SUSHI

Carrillo Restaurant

Wendy's

McDonald's

Mariana's Mexican Restaurant

Fajitas Mexican Restaurant

Santiago's Mexican Restaurant

Circle K Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Tesla Supercharger

7Charge Charging Station

Tesla Destination Charger

ChargePoint Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Costco Wholesale Corporation Charging Station

Rock Park

Castle Rock Adventure Park

Green Valley Ranch East Park

Larkspur Community Park

Museum of Outdoor Arts

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Panorama Park

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Akron, CO

Colorado Springs, CO

Same local time

Very similar conditions

3h 17m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

How do I pay the tolls on this route?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

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