This 187.3-mile drive from Ault, Colorado, to Pueblo, Colorado, is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 27 minutes. You'll primarily navigate on I-25, with portions of E-470 and Ronald Reagan Highway also incorporated. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $28, making it an economical option. The route offers a mixed drive experience, suitable for a straightforward journey between these two Colorado locations. Given the relatively short duration and distance, it's an easy day trip without the need for an overnight stay, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
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
93.6 miles from Ault, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 48m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 27m. Total distance: 187.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with 45% of your journey on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 45.7 miles on I-25, providing a good opportunity for steady progress. While much of the drive will involve highway speeds, the inclusion of E-470 and Ronald Reagan Highway might introduce some variations in the road's character. Overall, the personality of this drive is characterized by efficient travel on major roadways, with opportunities for both sustained highway cruising and potentially some slightly more varied sections.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 25 is the longest continuous segment at about 45.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 54 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 187.3 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 54 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 90.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 90.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
54 mi into trip|~1h 7m 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
6
90.1 mi into trip|~1h 44m 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
8
90.3 mi into trip|~1h 44m 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
6
145.7 mi into trip|~2h 43m in|I 25 / Ronald Reagan Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 25 / Ronald Reagan Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
185.3 mi into trip|~3h 24m in
Take the exit toward 13th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 99B
Toward 13th Street
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ault, CO and Pueblo, CO, road signs point toward E470 Toll South: Limon and Colorado Springs.
E470 Toll South: Limon
54 mi in|~1h 7m
Colorado Springs
90.1 mi in|~1h 44m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 25
45.7 mi
47m
E-470
35.1 mi
35m
Ronald Reagan Highway
22.9 mi
23m
County Road 49
21.9 mi
25m
I 76
15.8 mi
15m
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
12.9 mi
12m
Monument Valley Freeway
8.8 mi
10m
North Freeway
5.2 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 25
— 45.7 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ault, CO and Pueblo, CO.
1
Start on CO 14
100 ft·6 sec·1st Street
2
Turn right onto US 85
3.1 mi·5 min·South Highway 85
3
Continue on US 85
1.6 mi·3 min·Oak Avenue
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on US 85
2.5 mi·4 min·Highway 85
5
Turn left onto CO 392
0.2 mi·20 sec·Main Street
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on CO 392
4.0 mi·7 min·Highway 392
7
Turn right onto CR 47
4.8 mi·5 min·County Road 47
8
Continue on CR 49
22 mi·25 min·County Road 49
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward I 76 West
10
Merge onto I 76
16 mi·15 min·I 76
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
1.0 mi·2 min
Exit 18Toward E470 Toll South: LimonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto E470
35 mi·35 min·E-470
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 1AToward I 25: Denver, Colorado Springs
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 1AToward I 25 South: Colorado SpringsUse the straight / slight left lanes.
15
Merge onto I 25
46 mi·47 min·I 25
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 25
8.8 mi·10 min·Monument Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 25; US 24
0.2 mi·12 sec·Ronald Reagan Highway
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 25
23 mi·23 min·Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 25
13 mi·12 min·John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on I 25
2.6 mi·2 min·North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.4 mi·32 sec
Exit 100BToward 29th Street
22
Merge onto I 25; US 50
1.0 mi·1 min·North Freeway
23
Take the exit
0.1 mi·12 sec
Exit 99BToward 13th StreetUse the slight right lane.
24
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·18 sec·this road
25
Merge onto I 25; US 50 Bus
1.6 mi·2 min·North Freeway
Use the straight lane.
26
Take the exit
107 ft·2 sec
Toward Abriendo Avenue
27
Arrive at destination
Toward Abriendo Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 3-hour and 27-minute drive, departing in the morning is recommended to maximize your daylight and allow for flexibility. You'll cover 187.3 miles, with only one suggested stop, so plan accordingly for fuel and rest. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 45.7 miles on I-25, as services can sometimes be spaced out. With a fuel cost of approximately $28, it's a budget-friendly trip, but ensuring you have enough gas before heading into a longer segment is always a good idea.
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 93.6 miles from Ault, CO, or about 1h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45.7 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 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93.6 miles or 1h 48m 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 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pueblo, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ault, 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 Ault, CO
This is one driving day of about 187.3 miles and 3h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Ault, 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 25 for about 45.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 93.6 mi from Ault, CO
· 1h 48m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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...
24 mi from route
~61 min detour
$10
near mile 142.1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
56.2
0
$19.67
$8.99
Efficient EV
46.8
0
$16.39
$7.49
EV Truck/SUV
74.9
0
$26.22
$11.99
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (67% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Ault, CO
Morning
in Ault on Saturday
Local time
10:22 AM
MDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Pueblo, CO
Morning
in Pueblo on Saturday
Local time
10:22 AM
MDT
Current temp
81°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
1 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
3h 27m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Ault, CO to Pueblo, CO covers 187.3 miles and takes about 3h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 25, E-470, Ronald Reagan Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 93.6 miles from Ault, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $28.22 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 187.3 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 54 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 90.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 90.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Ault, CO and Pueblo, CO, road signs point toward E470 Toll South: Limon and Colorado Springs.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
