Origin
Colorado Springs, CO
Afternoon in Colorado Springs on Saturday
Local time
1:53 PM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Colorado Springs, CO to Julesburg, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 21m
Distance
253 mi
407 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 8m
★
6 AM
4h 22m
8 AM
4h 48m
10 AM
4h 31m
12 PM
4h 28m
3 PM
4h 32m
5 PM
4h 47m
8 PM
4h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Julesburg, CO
RDNE Stock project
Trip Overview
The drive from Colorado Springs, CO to Julesburg, CO covers 253 miles and takes about 4h 21m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Cascade Avenue, West Bijou Street, I 25 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $38.12 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
126.5 miles from Colorado Springs, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 10m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Cascade Avenue | — | — |
| West Bijou Street | — | — |
| I 25 | — | — |
| Monument Valley Freeway | — | — |
| Ronald Reagan Highway | — | — |
| CO 470 West | — | — |
| E-470 North | — | — |
| E-470 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
North Cascade Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colorado Springs, CO and Julesburg, CO.
1
Start on East Pikes Peak Avenue
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
·
East Pikes Peak Avenue
2
Turn right onto North Cascade Avenue
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
North Cascade Avenue
3
Turn left onto West Bijou Street
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
West Bijou Street
4
Take the ramp slight right toward I 25
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
I 25
5
Merge slight left onto Monument Valley Freeway
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Monument Valley Freeway
6
Continue on Ronald Reagan Highway
46 mi
·
47 min
·
Ronald Reagan Highway
7
Take the exit slight right toward CO 470 West, E 470 North Toll: Grand Junction, Limon
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
CO 470 West, E 470 North Toll: Grand Junction, Limon
8
Keep slight right to continue on E-470 North: Limon
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
E-470 North: Limon
9
Merge slight left onto E-470
34 mi
·
34 min
·
E-470
10
Take the exit slight right toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
I 76 East: Fort Morgan
11
Merge slight left onto Heartland Expressway
161 mi
·
2 hr 41 min
·
Heartland Expressway
12
Take the exit slight right toward US 385: Julesburg
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
US 385: Julesburg
13
Turn left onto US Highway 385
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
US Highway 385
14
At the end of the road, turn left
0.6 mi
·
1 min
15
Turn right onto Cedar Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Cedar Street
16
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 126.5 miles from Colorado Springs, CO, or about 2h 10m 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 56 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 126.5 miles or 2h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Julesburg, 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 253 miles and 4h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
127 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 56 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 126.5 miles from Colorado Springs, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.12 one way
$76.24 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
89 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $40.36 | $80.72 |
| premium | $4.39 | $43.77 | $87.53 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $55.86 | $111.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 75.9 | 0 | $26.56 | $12.14 |
| Efficient EV | 63.3 | 0 | $22.14 | $10.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 101.2 | 1 | $35.42 | $16.19 |
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Julesburg, CO
Afternoon in Julesburg on Saturday
Local time
1:53 PM
MDT
Current temp
83°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
39 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
4h 21m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
253 mi in 4h 21m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: North Cascade Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 21m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Colorado Springs, CO to Julesburg, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 21m. Total distance: 253 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Colorado Springs, CO to Julesburg, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Julesburg, CO, but most travelers stay overnight.
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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Return Trip
Julesburg, CO to Colorado Springs, COPlan the drive back the other way.
254.1 mi
4h 23m
Explore more options from Colorado Springs, CO or browse trips ending in Julesburg, CO.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CO road trips.