The drive from Brighton, CO to Colorado Springs, CO covers 96.8 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 I 25, E-470, Monument Valley Freeway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 45.7 miles on I 25.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.58 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.
Midpoint
48.4 miles from Brighton, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 45m. Total distance: 96.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (53%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Brighton, CO to Colorado Springs, CO covers 96.8 miles and takes about 1h 45m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 24 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 0.2 miles in near West Bridge Street.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 96.8 miles you will encounter 18 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 0.2 miles (West Bridge Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|West Bridge Street
Turn left onto West Bridge Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
4.9 mi into trip|~6m in
Keep slight right at fork toward E470 Toll South: Aurora
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward E470 Toll South: Aurora
8
43.3 mi into trip|~46m 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
7
95.6 mi into trip|~1h 41m 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
8
95.9 mi into trip|~1h 42m 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
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Brighton, CO and Colorado Springs, CO, road signs point toward E470 Toll South: Aurora and E-470 South: Aurora.
E470 Toll South: Aurora
4.9 mi in|~6m
E-470 South: Aurora
5 mi in|~7m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 25
45.7 mi
47m
E-470
37.5 mi
37m
Monument Valley Freeway
5.9 mi
6m
CanAm Highway
3.9 mi
4m
East Kiowa Street
0.3 mi
1m
West Kiowa Street
0.2 mi
<1m
West Bijou Street
0.2 mi
<1m
West Bridge Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 25
— 45.7 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brighton, CO and Colorado Springs, CO.
1
Start on Bush Street
414 ft·14 sec·Bush Street
2
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.1 mi·24 sec·South Main Street
3
Turn left onto West Bridge Street
427 ft·8 sec·West Bridge Street
Use the left lane.
4
Enter roundabout onto CO 7
142 ft·2 sec·West Bridge Street
5
Continue on CO 7
266 ft·4 sec·West Bridge Street
6
Enter roundabout
304 ft·5 sec
Toward US 85 south
7
Continue
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward US 85 south
8
Merge onto US 85
3.9 mi·4 min·CanAm Highway
Use the left lane.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·59 sec
Toward E470 Toll: Aurora, Thornton
10
Keep slight right at fork
454 ft·11 sec
Toward E470 Toll South: AuroraUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward E-470 South: Aurora
12
Merge onto E470
38 mi·37 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
5.9 mi·6 min·Monument Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 142Toward Bijou StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork
495 ft·14 sec
Toward I 25: DowntownUse the straight / left lanes.
19
Turn left onto West Bijou Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·West Bijou Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
20
Continue on West Kiowa Street
0.2 mi·35 sec·West Kiowa Street
21
Continue on East Kiowa Street
0.3 mi·1 min·East Kiowa Street
22
Turn right onto North Weber Street
490 ft·17 sec·North Weber Street
23
Turn right onto East Pikes Peak Avenue
422 ft·14 sec·East Pikes Peak Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
East Pikes Peak Avenue
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 48.4 miles from Brighton, CO, or about 52m 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 21 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.4 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 24m
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 Brighton, CO so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Brighton, CO
This is one driving day of about 96.8 miles and 1h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Brighton, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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 48.4 mi from Brighton, CO
· 52m into the drive
The midpoint is around 48.4 miles from Brighton, 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.
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.
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
~60 min detour
$10
near mile 93.5
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29
0
$10.16
$4.65
Efficient EV
24.2
0
$8.47
$3.87
EV Truck/SUV
38.7
0
$13.55
$6.20
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Forecast as of Apr 13, 2026
Origin
Brighton, CO
Late night
in Brighton on Saturday
Local time
12:16 AM
MDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Sunny
W 9 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 13 at 11:54AM MDT until April 13 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS Denver CO
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 13 at 11:54AM MDT until April 13 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS Denver CO
Destination
Colorado Springs, CO
Late night
in Colorado Springs on Saturday
Local time
12:16 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
29 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 45m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Brighton, CO to Colorado Springs, CO covers 96.8 miles and takes about 1h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 25, E-470, Monument Valley Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 48.4 miles from Brighton, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.58 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 96.8 miles you will encounter 18 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (West Bridge Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Brighton, CO and Colorado Springs, CO, road signs point toward E470 Toll South: Aurora and E-470 South: Aurora.
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.
