Origin
Castle Rock, CO
Morning in Castle Rock on Saturday
Local time
10:35 AM
MDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Castle Rock, CO to Salida, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 13m
Distance
149.8 mi
241 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 2m
★
6 AM
3h 14m
8 AM
3h 37m
10 AM
3h 22m
12 PM
3h 20m
3 PM
3h 23m
5 PM
3h 36m
8 PM
3h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Castle Rock, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Salida, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Castle Rock, CO to Salida, CO covers 149.8 miles and takes about 3h 13m 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 $22.57 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
74.9 miles from Castle Rock, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 36m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 13m. Total distance: 149.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 13m drive with frequent turns across 149.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
3rd Street 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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Castle Rock, CO to Salida, CO is easy. At 3h 13m 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 Castle Rock, CO to Salida, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 3rd Street | — | — |
| North Wilcox Street | — | — |
| South Wilcox Street | — | — |
| West Plum Creek Parkway | — | — |
| Frontage Road | — | — |
| I 25 South | — | — |
| Monument Valley Freeway | — | — |
| Fillmore Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
3rd Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Castle Rock, CO and Salida, CO.
1
Start on North Cantril Street
89 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Cantril Street
2
Turn left onto 3rd Street
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
3rd Street
3
Exit the roundabout onto 3rd Street
443 ft
·
21 sec
·
3rd Street
4
Turn left onto North Wilcox Street
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
North Wilcox Street
5
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward South Wilcox Street
39 ft
·
1 sec
·
South Wilcox Street
6
Exit the roundabout onto South Wilcox Street
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
·
South Wilcox Street
7
Turn right onto West Plum Creek Parkway
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
West Plum Creek Parkway
8
Turn left onto Frontage Road
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Frontage Road
9
Take the ramp left toward I 25 South
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
I 25 South
10
Merge slight left
32 mi
·
33 min
11
Continue on Monument Valley Freeway
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Monument Valley Freeway
12
Take the exit slight right toward Fillmore Street
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Fillmore Street
13
Keep slight right to continue on Fillmore Street West
233 ft
·
8 sec
·
Fillmore Street West
14
Continue on West Fillmore Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
West Fillmore Street
15
Continue on Fontmore Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Fontmore Road
16
Continue on West Fontanero Street
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
West Fontanero Street
17
Turn left onto North 31st Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North 31st Street
18
Turn sharp right onto West Cimarron Street
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
West Cimarron Street
19
Continue on Midland Expressway
16 mi
·
23 min
·
Midland Expressway
20
Keep slight right
45 mi
·
54 min
21
Continue straight
13 mi
·
14 min
22
At the end of the road, turn left
14 mi
·
18 min
23
At the end of the road, turn left
11 mi
·
17 min
24
Continue straight
3.1 mi
·
5 min
25
Turn left
7.0 mi
·
9 min
26
Turn right onto Mesa Lane
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Mesa Lane
27
Turn left onto Crestone Avenue
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Crestone Avenue
28
Continue on Crestone Avenue
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
Crestone Avenue
29
At the end of the road, turn right onto Poncha Boulevard
302 ft
·
14 sec
·
Poncha Boulevard
30
Turn left onto West 5th Street
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
West 5th Street
31
Turn right onto I Street
151 ft
·
7 sec
·
I Street
32
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 74.9 miles from Castle Rock, CO, or about 1h 36m 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 33 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.9 miles or 1h 36m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Salida, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 149.8 miles and 3h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Castle Rock, 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 74.9 mi from Castle Rock, CO · 1h 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
75 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 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 74.9 miles from Castle Rock, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Salida, CO
The final approach into Salida, 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 Salida, 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
$22.57 one way
$45.14 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
52 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $23.90 | $47.79 |
| premium | $4.39 | $25.91 | $51.83 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $33.07 | $66.15 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 44.9 | 0 | $15.73 | $7.19 |
| Efficient EV | 37.5 | 0 | $13.11 | $5.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 59.9 | 0 | $20.97 | $9.59 |
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (65% 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
Salida, CO
Morning in Salida on Saturday
Local time
10:35 AM
MDT
Current temp
72°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 13m 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 Castle Rock, CO to Salida, CO covers 149.8 miles and takes about 3h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 3rd Street, North Wilcox Street, South Wilcox Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 74.9 miles from Castle Rock, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.57 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 Castle Rock, CO to Salida, CO is easy. At 3h 13m 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 Castle Rock, CO to Salida, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Castle Rock, CO to Salida, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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