Origin
Cañon City, CO
Evening in Cañon City on Sunday
Local time
5:08 PM
MDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cañon City, CO to Colorado Springs, CO
Drive Time
1h 9m
Distance
45.4 mi
73 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 4m
★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 13m
12 PM
1h 12m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cañon City, CO
RDNE Stock project
Trip Overview
Stretching 45.4 miles across the Mountain West, this straightforward transit between Cañon City and Colorado Springs typically takes about 1 hour and 9 minutes. You will primarily utilize CO 115, CR 123, and Royal Gorge Boulevard to navigate between these two Colorado hubs. Given the short duration, this route is perfectly suited as a one-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays. Budgeting roughly $7 for fuel makes this an incredibly economical trip for solo travelers or families alike. Because both locations sit within the same region, you can expect a familiar, consistent high-desert feel throughout the entire journey.
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
22.7 miles from Cañon City, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 37m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 90% of this drive consists of high-speed travel. You will spend the bulk of your time on CO 115, which features a long, uninterrupted stretch of 31.5 miles. While the road is efficient, the transition from Royal Gorge Boulevard onto the main highway shifts the pace quickly. Behind the wheel, you will find a steady rhythm that favors direct transit over winding backroads. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that prioritizes speed and efficiency over technical maneuvering.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
CO 115 is the longest continuous segment at about 31.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CO 115 and CR 123. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North 5th Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 9m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 50 / Royal Gorge Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.8 miles (Mackenzie Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North 5th Street
Turn right onto North 5th Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 50 / Royal Gorge Boulevard
Turn left onto US 50 / Royal Gorge Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
3.8 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
Mackenzie Avenue
Turn left onto Mackenzie Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
13.3 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
CO 115
Turn left onto CO 115
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
6
44.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
|
East Cimarron Street
Turn right onto East Cimarron Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CO 115 | 31.5 mi | 42m |
| CR 123 | 9.5 mi | 16m |
| Royal Gorge Boulevard | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| South Weber Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North 5th Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Cimarron Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Pikes Peak Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Macon Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
CO 115
— 31.5 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cañon City, CO and Colorado Springs, CO.
1
Start on Macon Avenue
337 ft
·
16 sec
·
Macon Avenue
2
Turn right onto North 5th Street
0.1 mi
·
37 sec
·
North 5th Street
3
Turn left onto US 50
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Royal Gorge Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Turn left onto Mackenzie Avenue
126 ft
·
4 sec
·
Mackenzie Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Turn right onto CR 123
9.5 mi
·
16 min
·
CR 123
6
Turn left onto CO 115
31 mi
·
42 min
·
CO 115
Use the none lane.
7
Turn right onto East Cimarron Street
489 ft
·
21 sec
·
East Cimarron Street
Use the right lane.
8
Turn left onto South Weber Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Weber Street
9
Turn left onto East Pikes Peak Avenue
422 ft
·
14 sec
·
East Pikes Peak Avenue
10
Arrive at destination
East Pikes Peak Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick 1-hour trip, you have plenty of flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best. You won't need to plan for any formal stops, as the duration is short enough to drive straight through without fatigue. Keep in mind that your fuel costs will hover around $7, so topping off your tank in Cañon City before you head out is a smart, proactive move. Prioritize keeping a steady pace on the 31.5-mile stretch of CO 115, as this is where you will spend the majority of your time. Embracing the simplicity of this short drive allows you to maximize your time once you 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.
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 22.7 miles from Cañon City, CO, or about 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 31.5 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 45.4 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 22.7 miles or 37m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 58m
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 Cañon City, 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 Cañon City, CO
This is one driving day of about 45.4 miles and 1h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cañon City, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on CO 115 for about 31.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.7 mi from Cañon City, CO · 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 45.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.7 miles from Cañon City, 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
$6.88 one way
$13.76 round trip
$3.85/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.08 | $7.30 | $14.60 |
| premium | $4.43 | $7.92 | $15.85 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $10.09 | $20.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.77 | $2.18 |
| Efficient EV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.97 | $1.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.36 | $2.91 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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.
Destination
Colorado Springs, CO
Evening in Colorado Springs on Sunday
Local time
5:08 PM
MDT
Current temp
62°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
21 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
1h 9m 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 Cañon City, CO to Colorado Springs, CO covers 45.4 miles and takes about 1h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are CO 115, CR 123, Royal Gorge Boulevard. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.7 miles from Cañon City, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.88 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 is a straightforward 1h 9m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 50 / Royal Gorge Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.8 miles (Mackenzie Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Cañon City, CO to Colorado Springs, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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