Colorado Springs, CO to Pierce, CO is 146.5 miles and takes about 2h 48m via Ronald Reagan Highway and E-470, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Colorado, moving from the Mountain West region to the same region. Expect a local feel with frequent turns rather than a straightforward interstate cruise. Given the relatively short distance and duration, it's an easy day trip, allowing for flexibility in your departure time and pace.
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
73.3 miles from Colorado Springs, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 18m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 48m. Total distance: 146.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This route offers a turn-heavy local drive, with only 24% of the journey on highways. You'll experience a mix of driving styles, transitioning from faster sections on Ronald Reagan Highway and E-470 to more winding local roads. The longest stretch without a significant turn or change in road type is 45.9 miles on Ronald Reagan Highway. Be prepared for the road to feel more intimate and less like a high-speed transit corridor as you get closer to Pierce.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Ronald Reagan Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 45.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near West Bijou Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 146.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (West Bijou Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 52.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|West Bijou Street
Turn left onto West Bijou Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
52.6 mi into trip|~56m in
Take the exit toward CO 470 West, E 470 North Toll: Grand Junction, Limon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 194
Toward CO 470 West, E 470 North Toll: Grand Jun...
8
52.8 mi into trip|~57m in
Keep slight right at fork toward E-470 North: Limon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 194
Toward E-470 North: Limon
7
87.8 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 35
Toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
7
104.3 mi into trip|~1h 50m in
Take the exit toward Kersey Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 34
Toward Kersey Road
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Colorado Springs, CO and Pierce, CO, road signs point toward E 470 North Toll: Grand Junction, Limon and E-470 North: Limon.
E 470 North Toll: Grand Junction
52.6 mi in|~56m
Limon
52.6 mi in|~56m
E-470 North: Limon
52.8 mi in|~57m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ronald Reagan Highway
45.9 mi
47m
E-470
34.4 mi
34m
County Road 49
22 mi
25m
Heartland Expressway
15.4 mi
15m
Highway 85
9.5 mi
15m
Monument Valley Freeway
5.7 mi
6m
County Road 47
4.8 mi
5m
Highway 392
4 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Highway
— 45.9 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colorado Springs, CO and Pierce, CO.
1
Start on East Pikes Peak Avenue
0.2 mi·47 sec·East Pikes Peak Avenue
2
Turn right onto North Cascade Avenue
0.2 mi·42 sec·North Cascade Avenue
3
Turn left onto West Bijou Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·West Bijou Street
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward I 25
5
Merge onto I 25
5.7 mi·6 min·Monument Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 25
46 mi·47 min·Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Exit 194Toward CO 470 West, E 470 North Toll: Grand Junction, LimonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 194Toward E-470 North: LimonUse the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto E470
34 mi·34 min·E-470
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
1.1 mi·1 min
Exit 35Toward I 76 East: Fort MorganUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 76
15 mi·15 min·Heartland Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Exit 34Toward Kersey RoadUse the slight right lane.
13
Turn left onto CR 49
22 mi·25 min·County Road 49
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on CR 47
4.8 mi·5 min·County Road 47
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn left onto CO 392
4.0 mi·7 min·Highway 392
16
Continue on CO 392
0.1 mi·14 sec·Main Street
17
Turn right onto US 85
2.5 mi·4 min·Highway 85
18
Continue on US 85
1.6 mi·3 min·South Oak Avenue
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on US 85
6.9 mi·11 min·Highway 85
Use the straight lane.
20
Turn left onto East Main Avenue
0.1 mi·20 sec·East Main Avenue
21
Turn right onto 2nd Street
33 ft·1 sec·2nd Street
22
Arrive at destination
2nd Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time under three hours and a modest fuel cost of about $22, this trip is best tackled in a single day. Aim to leave Colorado Springs in the morning to give yourself ample time to enjoy the drive and arrive in Pierce without feeling rushed. You'll encounter one main road change, so keep an eye on your GPS for the transition onto County Road 49. Since it's a shorter drive, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits you best, but a morning start ensures you can make the most of your day.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 73.3 miles from Colorado Springs, CO, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45.9 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 32 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.3 miles or 1h 18m 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 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pierce, 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 146.5 miles and 2h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Colorado Springs, 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.
The longest stretch is on Ronald Reagan Highway for about 45.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 73.3 mi from Colorado Springs, CO
· 1h 18m into the drive
The midpoint is around 73.3 miles from Colorado Springs, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Pierce, CO
The final approach into Pierce, 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 Pierce, 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
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.07 one way
$44.15 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$23.37
$46.74
premium
$4.39
$25.34
$50.69
diesel
$5.61
$32.35
$64.69
Estimated Tolls: $4.13
E-470
(34.4 mi)$4.13
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.9
0
$15.38
$7.03
Efficient EV
36.6
0
$12.82
$5.86
EV Truck/SUV
58.6
0
$20.51
$9.38
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Colorado Springs, CO
Night
in Colorado Springs on Friday
Local time
9:06 PM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Pierce, CO
Night
in Pierce on Friday
Local time
9:06 PM
MDT
Current temp
78°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
34 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
2h 48m 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 Pierce, CO covers 146.5 miles and takes about 2h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Ronald Reagan Highway, E-470, County Road 49. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 73.3 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 $22.07 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 146.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (West Bijou Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 52.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Colorado Springs, CO and Pierce, CO, road signs point toward E 470 North Toll: Grand Junction, Limon and E-470 North: Limon.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
