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Trip from Basalt, CO to Colorado Springs, CO

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

3h 55m

Distance

174.9 mi

282 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$26

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
3h 42m ★
6 AM
3h 55m
8 AM
4h 21m
10 AM
4h 4m
12 PM
4h 2m
3 PM
4h 6m
5 PM
4h 20m
8 PM
3h 48m

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

Downtown Basalt, CO, CO

Basalt, CO

Jonathan Fuentes

Trip Overview

Embark on a 175-mile journey from Basalt, Colorado to Colorado Springs, Colorado, a drive that will take approximately 3 hours and 55 minutes. This trip is easily manageable as a single-day excursion, with a projected fuel cost of around $27. Given its relatively short length and the nature of the roads, you'll likely find just one planned stop is sufficient. The drive offers a practical way to travel between these two destinations within the Mountain West region, emphasizing local road navigation over extensive highway cruising.

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

87.5 miles from Basalt, CO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 57m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

Expect a route that leans heavily on local roads rather than high-speed highways, with a 0% highway share. This means you'll be navigating a more varied driving experience, potentially with more turns and changes in speed. While the longest uninterrupted stretch isn't specified, the overall profile suggests a continuous engagement with the road rather than long stretches of monotonous driving. This type of drive often allows for more spontaneous discoveries as you pass through different communities.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Midland Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Basalt, CO to Colorado Springs, CO is easy. At 3h 55m 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 Basalt, CO to Colorado Springs, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Midland Avenue Unavailable Refreshing
Two Rivers Road Unavailable Refreshing
the route Unavailable Refreshing
North 7th Street Unavailable Refreshing
West Main Street Unavailable Refreshing
South Original Street Unavailable Refreshing
East Cooper Avenue Unavailable Refreshing
8th Street North Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Midland Avenue — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on the route

66 ft · 10 sec · the route
2

Turn left onto Midland Avenue

0.1 mi · 26 sec · Midland Avenue
3

Turn left onto Two Rivers Road

0.8 mi · 1 min · Two Rivers Road
4

At the end of the road, turn left

2.8 mi · 4 min
5

Continue straight

8.1 mi · 13 min
6

Continue straight

3.2 mi · 5 min
7

Continue straight

2.0 mi · 3 min
8

Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward the route

187 ft · 4 sec · the route
9

Exit the roundabout

0.5 mi · 1 min
10

Turn right onto North 7th Street

0.1 mi · 27 sec · North 7th Street
11

Turn left onto West Main Street

0.9 mi · 2 min · West Main Street
12

Continue on South Original Street

0.1 mi · 31 sec · South Original Street
13

Turn left onto East Cooper Avenue

43 mi · 1 hr 38 min · East Cooper Avenue
14

Turn right

22 mi · 25 min
15

Turn left

14 mi · 17 min
16

Turn right

76 mi · 1 hr 36 min
17

Take the exit slight left toward 8th Street North

374 ft · 11 sec · 8th Street North
18

Turn straight onto South 8th Street

0.2 mi · 27 sec · South 8th Street
19

At the end of the road, turn right onto West Colorado Avenue

0.7 mi · 2 min · West Colorado Avenue
20

Continue on East Colorado Avenue

0.3 mi · 1 min · East Colorado Avenue
21

Turn left onto South Weber Street

0.1 mi · 23 sec · South Weber Street
22

Turn left onto East Pikes Peak Avenue

423 ft · 14 sec · East Pikes Peak Avenue
23

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

For this 175-mile trip, departing earlier in the morning will give you ample daylight and flexibility. Since the drive is under four hours, you can easily complete it in one day, making it ideal for a spontaneous road trip. Plan for one stop to stretch your legs or grab a quick bite, but you won't need to break it into segments. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the $27 estimate is based on average costs, and local road driving can sometimes consume fuel differently than highway speeds. A specific tip for this route: familiarize yourself with local speed limits, as they can vary significantly on non-highway roads.

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 87.5 miles from Basalt, CO, or about 1h 57m into the drive.

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 47m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 87.5 miles or 1h 57m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 12m

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 Basalt, 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 Basalt, CO

This is one driving day of about 174.9 miles and 3h 55m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Basalt, 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.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 87.5 mi from Basalt, CO · 1h 57m into the drive

city in and county seat of Pitkin County, Colorado, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Aspen, CO

87 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

Aspen, CO to Colorado Springs, CO

156 mi · 4h 3m

Pacing Suggestions

Aspen, CO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Aspen, CO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 87.5 miles from Basalt, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Colorado Springs, CO

The final approach into Colorado Springs, 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 Colorado Springs, CO.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$26.35 one way

$52.70 round trip

$3.83/gal 25.4 MPG avg 61 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.05 $27.90 $55.80
premium $4.39 $30.26 $60.51
diesel $5.61 $38.62 $77.23

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$26

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$51–$76

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 61.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 52.5 0 $18.36 $8.40
Efficient EV 43.7 0 $15.30 $7.00
EV Truck/SUV 70 0 $24.49 $11.19

Gas CO2

61 kg

EV CO2

20 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 data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Basalt, CO

Late night in Basalt on Wednesday

Local time

12:24 AM

MDT

Current temp

31°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Colorado Springs, CO

Late night in Colorado Springs on Wednesday

Local time

12:24 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

13 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 55m 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 Basalt, CO to Colorado Springs, CO covers 174.9 miles and takes about 3h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Midland Avenue, Two Rivers Road, the route. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 87.5 miles from Basalt, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.35 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.
The drive from Basalt, CO to Colorado Springs, CO is easy. At 3h 55m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Basalt, CO to Colorado Springs, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Basalt, CO to Colorado Springs, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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