Drive Time
1h 52m
Distance
86 mi
138 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
The drive from Castle Rock, CO to Cañon City, CO covers 86 miles and takes about 1h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 3rd Street, North Wilcox Street, South Wilcox Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.68 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 miles from Castle Rock, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .
Expect a 1h 52m drive with frequent turns across 86 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 3rd Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Wilcox Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Wilcox Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Plum Creek Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Frontage Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 25 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Monument Valley Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| CO 115 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Castle Rock, CO and Cañon City, CO.
Start on North Cantril Street
Turn left onto 3rd Street
Exit the roundabout onto 3rd Street
Turn left onto North Wilcox Street
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward South Wilcox Street
Exit the roundabout onto South Wilcox Street
Turn right onto West Plum Creek Parkway
Turn left onto Frontage Road
Take the ramp left toward I 25 South
Merge slight left
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 right onto 3rd Street
At the end of the road, turn left onto Mackenzie Avenue
Turn right onto Royal Gorge Boulevard
Turn right onto South 4th Street
Turn right onto Macon 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 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43 miles or 56m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cañon City, CO than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Castle Rock, 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 Castle Rock, CO
This is one driving day of about 86 miles and 1h 52m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 43 mi from Castle Rock, CO · 56m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 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 miles from Castle Rock, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Cañon City, 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 Cañon City, CO.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$11.68 one way
$23.36 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.85 | $13.04 | $26.07 |
| premium | $4.15 | $14.05 | $28.10 |
| diesel | $3.75 | $12.70 | $25.39 |
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: 30.1 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.8 | 0 | $9.03 | $4.13 |
| Efficient EV | 21.5 | 0 | $7.52 | $3.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.4 | 0 | $12.04 | $5.50 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Castle Rock on Saturday
Local time
8:01 AM
MDT
Current temp
38°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Cañon City on Saturday
Local time
8:01 AM
MDT
Current temp
41°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
62°F
Colorado Springs, CO
43 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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