Colorado Springs to Brush is 160.4 miles and takes about 2h 47m via Heartland Expressway, Ronald Reagan Highway, and E-470, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Mountain West region, transitioning from the Colorado Springs area to the plains of northeastern Colorado. Expect a fairly straightforward trip, primarily on well-maintained highways, making it a good choice for a single-day journey. The estimated fuel cost is quite reasonable, suggesting an economical outing for anyone looking to travel between these two points.
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
80.2 miles from Colorado Springs, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 25m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 47m. Total distance: 160.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (48%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This route offers a mixed driving experience, with 48% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches like the 70.6-mile segment on the Heartland Expressway, which provides a consistent pace. The Ronald Reagan Highway and E-470 contribute to the highway portion, generally allowing for steady travel. While not an entirely monotonous drive, expect a significant portion to be on faster-paced roads, facilitating efficient movement across the landscape.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Heartland Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 70.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 13 significant decision points across 160.4 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 13 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
6
159.6 mi into trip|~2h 46m in|CO 71 / Colorado Avenue
Turn right onto CO 71 / Colorado Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
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 Brush, 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
Heartland Expressway
70.6 mi
1h 10m
Ronald Reagan Highway
45.9 mi
47m
E-470
34.4 mi
34m
Monument Valley Freeway
5.7 mi
6m
Colorado Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
West Bijou Street
0.2 mi
<1m
East Pikes Peak Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
North Cascade Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Heartland Expressway
— 70.6 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colorado Springs, CO and Brush, 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
71 mi·1 hr 10 min·Heartland Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward CO 71: Brush, Snyder
13
Turn right onto CO 71
0.5 mi·1 min·Colorado Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn right onto Howard Street
398 ft·15 sec·Howard Street
15
Turn left onto Clayton Street
0.1 mi·15 sec·Clayton Street
16
Arrive at destination
Clayton Street
Trip Plan
For this 1-day trip covering 160.4 miles, it's best to depart in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for any unexpected delays. With a driving duration of under 3 hours, you won't need extensive stops, but planning a brief break around the halfway point can be refreshing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a major town exit could be a consideration if you're running low. The estimated fuel cost of $24 makes this an affordable leg of your journey, so budget accordingly.
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 80.2 miles from Colorado Springs, CO, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.6 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 35 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.2 miles or 1h 25m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brush, 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 160.4 miles and 2h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 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 Heartland Expressway for about 70.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 80.2 mi from Colorado Springs, CO
· 1h 25m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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...
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.1
0
$16.84
$7.70
Efficient EV
40.1
0
$14.04
$6.42
EV Truck/SUV
64.2
0
$22.46
$10.27
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (66% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Colorado Springs, CO
Late night
in Colorado Springs on Saturday
Local time
4:03 AM
MDT
Current temp
38°F
Partly Cloudy
S 5 to 15 mph12% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Brush, CO
Late night
in Brush on Saturday
Local time
4:03 AM
MDT
Current temp
82°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
44 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 47m 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 Colorado Springs, CO to Brush, CO covers 160.4 miles and takes about 2h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Heartland Expressway, Ronald Reagan Highway, E-470. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 80.2 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 $24.17 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 13 significant decision points across 160.4 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 Brush, CO, road signs point toward E 470 North Toll: Grand Junction, Limon and E-470 North: Limon.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
