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Trip from Centennial, CO to Colorado Springs, CO

Drive Time

1h 2m

Distance

55.5 mi

89 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

10 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min
4 AM
0h 57m ★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
0h 59m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Centennial, CO, CO

Centennial, CO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Centennial, CO to Colorado Springs, CO covers 55.5 miles and takes about 1h 2m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on South Valley Highway, Monument Valley Freeway, East Kiowa Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 47.6 miles on South Valley Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.41 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

27.7 miles from Centennial, CO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 30m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 2m drive with frequent turns across 55.5 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Valley Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 47.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near I 25 / South Valley Highway.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 55.5 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.8 miles (I 25 / South Valley Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 54.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 54.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0.8 mi into trip | ~2m in | I 25 / South Valley Highway

Merge onto I 25 / South Valley Highway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
54.3 mi into trip | ~58m 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
54.6 mi into trip | ~59m 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
5
54.7 mi into trip | ~59m in | West Bijou Street

Turn left onto West Bijou Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.
5
55.3 mi into trip | ~1h 1m in | North Weber Street

Turn right onto North Weber Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South Valley Highway 47.6 mi 49m
Monument Valley Freeway 5.9 mi 6m
East Kiowa Street 0.3 mi 1m
West Kiowa Street 0.2 mi <1m
West Bijou Street 0.2 mi <1m
East Dry Creek Road 0.1 mi <1m
East Panorama Circle 0.1 mi <1m
North Weber Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: South Valley Highway — 47.6 mi, about 49m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on this road

495 ft · 41 sec · this road
2

Turn left

118 ft · 10 sec
3

Turn right onto East Panorama Circle

0.1 mi · 23 sec · East Panorama Circle
4

Turn right onto South Chester Street

384 ft · 14 sec · South Chester Street
5

Turn right onto CR 46

0.1 mi · 21 sec · East Dry Creek Road
6

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 46 sec
Toward I 25 South
7

Merge onto I 25

48 mi · 49 min · South Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Continue on I 25

5.9 mi · 6 min · Monument Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Exit 142 Toward Bijou Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork

495 ft · 14 sec
Toward I 25: Downtown Use the straight / left lanes.
11

Turn left onto West Bijou Street

0.2 mi · 26 sec · West Bijou Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
12

Continue on West Kiowa Street

0.2 mi · 35 sec · West Kiowa Street
13

Continue on East Kiowa Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · East Kiowa Street
14

Turn right onto North Weber Street

490 ft · 17 sec · North Weber Street
15

Turn right onto East Pikes Peak Avenue

422 ft · 14 sec · East Pikes Peak Avenue
16

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 27.7 miles from Centennial, CO, or about 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.6 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 55.5 miles or 1h 2m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 27.7 miles or 30m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 50m

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 Centennial, 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 Centennial, CO

This is one driving day of about 55.5 miles and 1h 2m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Centennial, 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 South Valley Highway for about 47.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 27.7 mi from Centennial, CO · 30m into the drive

Downtown Castle Rock, CO, CO

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Castle Rock, CO

28 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

Castle Rock, CO to Colorado Springs, CO

40.8 mi · 47m

Pacing Suggestions

Fort Carson, CO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 55.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Castle Rock, CO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 27.7 miles from Centennial, 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

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 51.7
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$8.41 one way

$16.82 round trip

$3.85/gal 25.4 MPG avg 19 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.08 $8.92 $17.85
premium $4.43 $9.69 $19.37
diesel $5.64 $12.33 $24.66

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$8

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$33–$58

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 19.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

10 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Cafe India - Tesla Supercharger

Greenwood Village, CO

Tesla

12 DCFC

Centennial Promenade - Tesla Supercharger

Centennial, CO

Tesla

12 DCFC

Regency Belleview Square (Greenwood Village, CO)

Greenwood Village, CO

Electrify America

6 DCFC

Regency Cherrywood SC (Centennial, CO)

Centennial, CO

Electrify America

4 DCFC

Walmart 1252 (Highlands Ranch, CO)

HIGHLANDS RANCH, CO

Electrify America

4 DCFC

Walmart 1689 (Aurora, CO)

Aurora, CO

Electrify America

4 DCFC

Target T0147 (Englewood, CO)

Englewood, CO

Electrify America

3 DCFC

Winn-Marion HQ

Centennial, CO

EVGATEWAY

2 DCFC

Electrify America: 5 Tesla: 2 Non-Networked: 1 EVGATEWAY: 1 EV Connect: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 16.7 0 $5.83 $2.66
Efficient EV 13.9 0 $4.86 $2.22
EV Truck/SUV 22.2 0 $7.77 $3.55

Gas CO2

19 kg

EV CO2

6 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 data refreshed 45 minutes ago

Origin

Centennial, CO

Afternoon in Centennial on Monday

Local time

2:30 PM

MDT

Current temp

40°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Colorado Springs, CO

Afternoon in Colorado Springs on Monday

Local time

2:30 PM

MDT

Current temp

73°F

Mostly Sunny

SSW 15 to 20 mph 4% chance 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

33 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 2m 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 Centennial, CO to Colorado Springs, CO covers 55.5 miles and takes about 1h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Valley Highway, Monument Valley Freeway, East Kiowa Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 27.7 miles from Centennial, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.41 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 55.5 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.8 miles (I 25 / South Valley Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 54.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 54.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Centennial, CO to Colorado Springs, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Return Trip

Colorado Springs, CO to Centennial, CO

Plan the drive back the other way.

55.5 mi 1h 2m

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