Trip from Colorado Springs, CO to La Junta, CO

Drive Time

2h 8m

Distance

105.3 mi

169 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$16

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min

4 AM

1h 59m ★

6 AM

2h 8m

8 AM

2h 26m

10 AM

2h 15m

12 PM

2h 13m

3 PM

2h 16m

5 PM

2h 26m

8 PM

2h 3m

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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Trip Overview

The drive from Colorado Springs, CO to La Junta, CO covers 105.3 miles and takes about 2h 8m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on South Nevada Avenue, Ronald Reagan Highway, John F for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.96 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

52.6 miles from Colorado Springs, CO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 4m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 8m drive with frequent turns across 105.3 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

South Nevada Avenue 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.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Colorado Springs, CO to La Junta, CO is easy. At 2h 8m 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 Colorado Springs, CO to La Junta, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
South Nevada Avenue	Unavailable	Refreshing
Ronald Reagan Highway	Unavailable	Refreshing
John F	Unavailable	Refreshing
North Freeway	Unavailable	Refreshing
US 50 West	Unavailable	Refreshing
César Chávez Memorial Highway	Unavailable	Refreshing
East 4th Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
US 50	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: South Nevada Avenue — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on East Pikes Peak Avenue

66 ft · 4 sec · East Pikes Peak Avenue

Turn left onto South Nevada Avenue

1.3 mi · 3 min · South Nevada Avenue

Take the ramp slight left

0.5 mi · 1 min

Continue on Ronald Reagan Highway

0.2 mi · 12 sec · Ronald Reagan Highway

Keep slight left to continue on Ronald Reagan Highway

23 mi · 23 min · Ronald Reagan Highway

Continue on John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway

13 mi · 12 min · John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway

Continue on North Freeway

1.8 mi · 2 min · North Freeway

Take the exit slight right toward US 50 West, CO 47 East: Cañon City

0.3 mi · 47 sec · US 50 West, CO 47 East: Cañon City

Merge slight right onto César Chávez Memorial Highway

4.5 mi · 6 min · César Chávez Memorial Highway

Continue on East 4th Street

0.1 mi · 18 sec · East 4th Street

Take the exit left toward US 50, CO 96: La Junta

0.6 mi · 57 sec · US 50, CO 96: La Junta

Continue straight

3.6 mi · 4 min

Continue straight

1.9 mi · 2 min

Continue straight

43 mi · 51 min

Continue straight

11 mi · 16 min

Take the exit straight toward 3rd Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · 3rd Street

Turn right onto Santa Fe Avenue

371 ft · 16 sec · Santa Fe Avenue

Turn left onto West 4th Street

203 ft · 14 sec · West 4th Street

Turn left

23 ft · 2 sec

Arrive at your destination

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 52.6 miles from Colorado Springs, CO, or about 1h 4m 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 80 miles or 1h 37m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 52.6 miles or 1h 4m 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 45m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near La Junta, CO than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Colorado Springs, 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 Colorado Springs, CO

This is one driving day of about 105.3 miles and 2h 8m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Colorado Springs, 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.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 52.6 mi from Colorado Springs, CO · 1h 4m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Pueblo, CO

53 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

Fort Carson, CO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Pueblo, CO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 52.6 miles from Colorado Springs, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in La Junta, CO

The final approach into La Junta, 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 La Junta, 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

$15.96 one way

$31.91 round trip

$3.85/gal 25.4 MPG avg 37 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.08	$16.93	$33.86
premium	$4.43	$18.38	$36.76
diesel	$5.64	$23.39	$46.79

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$16

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$41–$66

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 36.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	31.6	$11.06	$5.05
Efficient EV	26.3	$9.21	$4.21
EV Truck/SUV	42.1	$14.74	$6.74

Gas CO2

37 kg

EV CO2

12 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 4 days ago

Origin

Colorado Springs, CO

Morning in Colorado Springs on Monday

Local time

11:59 AM

MDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

La Junta, CO

Morning in La Junta on Monday

Local time

11:59 AM

MDT

Current temp

39°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

23 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

2h 8m 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 Colorado Springs, CO to La Junta, CO covers 105.3 miles and takes about 2h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are South Nevada Avenue, Ronald Reagan Highway, John F. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 52.6 miles from Colorado Springs, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.96 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.

The drive from Colorado Springs, CO to La Junta, CO is easy. At 2h 8m 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 Colorado Springs, CO to La Junta, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Colorado Springs, CO to La Junta, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.