Origin
Colorado Springs, CO
Afternoon in Colorado Springs on Saturday
Local time
12:54 PM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Colorado Springs, CO to Montrose, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 32m
Distance
236.4 mi
380 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 19m
★
6 AM
5h 33m
8 AM
5h 59m
10 AM
5h 42m
12 PM
5h 39m
3 PM
5h 43m
5 PM
5h 58m
8 PM
5h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Montrose, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Colorado Springs, CO to Montrose, CO covers 236.4 miles and takes about 5h 32m 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, East Colorado Avenue, West Colorado Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.62 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
118.2 miles from Colorado Springs, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 46m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Nevada Avenue | — | — |
| East Colorado Avenue | — | — |
| West Colorado Avenue | — | — |
| South Limit Street | — | — |
| West Cimarron Street | — | — |
| Midland Expressway | — | — |
| South San Juan Avenue | — | — |
| South 2nd Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
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 Montrose, CO.
1
Start on East Pikes Peak Avenue
66 ft
·
4 sec
·
East Pikes Peak Avenue
2
Turn left onto South Nevada Avenue
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
South Nevada Avenue
3
Turn right onto East Colorado Avenue
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
East Colorado Avenue
4
Continue on West Colorado Avenue
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West Colorado Avenue
5
Turn sharp left onto South Limit Street
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
South Limit Street
6
Turn right onto West Cimarron Street
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
West Cimarron Street
7
Continue on Midland Expressway
16 mi
·
23 min
·
Midland Expressway
8
Keep slight right
45 mi
·
54 min
9
Continue straight
13 mi
·
14 min
10
At the end of the road, turn left
14 mi
·
18 min
11
At the end of the road, turn left
11 mi
·
17 min
12
Continue straight
9.9 mi
·
16 min
13
Turn sharp right
123 mi
·
2 hr 57 min
14
Turn left onto South San Juan Avenue
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
South San Juan Avenue
15
Turn right onto South 2nd Street
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
South 2nd Street
16
Turn right onto South Townsend Avenue
315 ft
·
9 sec
·
South Townsend Avenue
17
Turn right onto South 1st Street
230 ft
·
10 sec
·
South 1st Street
18
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 118.2 miles from Colorado Springs, CO, or about 2h 46m 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 52 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 118.2 miles or 2h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Montrose, 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 236.4 miles and 5h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 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
118 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 52 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 118.2 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
$35.62 one way
$71.24 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
83 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $37.71 | $75.42 |
| premium | $4.39 | $40.90 | $81.79 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $52.19 | $104.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 82.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 70.9 | 0 | $24.82 | $11.35 |
| Efficient EV | 59.1 | 0 | $20.69 | $9.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 94.6 | 1 | $33.10 | $15.13 |
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 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
Montrose, CO
Afternoon in Montrose on Saturday
Local time
12:54 PM
MDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Salida, CO
118 mi in
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
29 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
5h 32m 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?
236.4 mi in 5h 32m 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.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: South Nevada 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 5h 32m 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 Montrose, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 32m. Total distance: 236.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 32m 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Colorado Springs, CO to Montrose, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Montrose, CO before the return drive.
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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