Drive Time
1h 45m
Distance
87.2 mi
140 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
The drive from Arvada, CO to Fort Carson, CO covers 87.2 miles and takes about 1h 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Ammons Street, Allison Street, Ralston Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.84 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
43.6 miles from Arvada, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
Expect a 1h 45m drive with frequent turns across 87.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Very easy — mostly straight driving
The drive from Arvada, CO to Fort Carson, CO is easy. At 1h 45m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Arvada, CO to Fort Carson, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ammons Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Allison Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Ralston Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Sheridan Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 70 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 25 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 25 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Grand Army of the Republic Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Arvada, CO and Fort Carson, CO.
Start on the route
Turn right onto Ammons Street
Turn left
At the end of the road, turn right onto Allison Street
Turn left onto Ralston Road
Turn right onto Sheridan Boulevard
Take the ramp slight right toward I 70 East
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs
Keep slight right to continue on I 25 South: Washington Street, Colorado Springs
Keep slight right to continue on I 25 South: Colorado Springs
Merge slight left onto Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Keep slight left to continue on I 25 South: Colorado Springs
Merge slight left onto North Valley Highway
Continue on Monument Valley Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward CO 115 South: Tejon Street, Nevada Avenue
Turn right onto South Nevada Avenue
Turn left onto Nelson Boulevard
Keep slight left to continue on Nelson Boulevard
Keep slight left to continue on Nelson Boulevard
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Nelson Boulevard
Exit the roundabout onto Nelson Boulevard
Turn right onto Wetzel Avenue
Turn left onto Prussman Avenue
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 80 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.6 miles or 52m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Carson, CO than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Arvada, 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 Arvada, CO
This is one driving day of about 87.2 miles and 1h 45m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 43.6 mi from Arvada, CO · 52m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
44 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 43.6 miles from Arvada, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Fort Carson, CO usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Fort Carson, CO.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$11.84 one way
$23.69 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.85 | $13.22 | $26.43 |
| premium | $4.15 | $14.25 | $28.49 |
| diesel | $3.75 | $12.87 | $25.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.5 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.2 | 0 | $9.16 | $4.19 |
| Efficient EV | 21.8 | 0 | $7.63 | $3.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.9 | 0 | $12.21 | $5.58 |
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Arvada on Saturday
Local time
11:25 AM
MDT
Current temp
65°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Fort Carson on Saturday
Local time
11:25 AM
MDT
Current temp
64°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
38°F
Castle Rock, CO
44 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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