Origin
Colorado Springs, CO
Afternoon in Colorado Springs on Saturday
Local time
1:14 PM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Colorado Springs, CO to Paonia, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 13m
Distance
294.2 mi
474 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$44
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 1m
★
6 AM
6h 14m
8 AM
6h 39m
10 AM
6h 23m
12 PM
6h 20m
3 PM
6h 24m
5 PM
6h 38m
8 PM
6h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Paonia, CO
Erick Ortega
Trip Overview
The drive from Colorado Springs, CO to Paonia, CO covers 294.2 miles and takes about 6h 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 70, Ronald Reagan Highway, CO 133 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 144.9 miles on I 70. At current regular gas prices, budget about $44.33 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
147.1 miles from Colorado Springs, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 47m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 70 | 144.9 mi | 2h 45m |
| Ronald Reagan Highway | 60.9 mi | 1h 5m |
| CO 133 | 58.1 mi | 1h 36m |
| Glen Avenue | 9.8 mi | 15m |
| West 6th Avenue Freeway | 7.6 mi | 9m |
| Monument Valley Freeway | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| Midland Avenue | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Grand Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 144.9 mi, about 2h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colorado Springs, CO and Paonia, 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
61 mi
·
1 hr 5 min
·
Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 209A-B
Toward US 6 West: 6th Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 209B
Toward US 6 West: 6th Avenue, Lakewood
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on US 6
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 6
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
US 6
Toward US 6
11
Merge onto US 6
7.6 mi
·
9 min
·
West 6th Avenue Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
Toward I 70 West: Grand Junction
Use the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 70
145 mi
·
2 hr 45 min
·
I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
Toward CO 82 East: Glenwood Springs, Aspen
15
Continue on CO 82
390 ft
·
15 sec
·
Laurel Street
16
Continue on CO 82
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
Grand Avenue
17
Turn right onto 8th Street
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
8th Street
18
At end of road, turn left onto Midland Avenue
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Midland Avenue
19
Enter roundabout onto 27th Street
178 ft
·
3 sec
·
27th Street
20
Continue on 27th Street
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
27th Street
21
Enter roundabout onto 27th Street
84 ft
·
2 sec
·
27th Street
22
Continue on 27th Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
27th Street
23
Turn right onto CO 82
9.8 mi
·
15 min
·
Glen Avenue
Use the left lane.
24
Turn right onto CO 133
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
CO 133
25
Enter roundabout onto CO 133
110 ft
·
1 sec
·
CO 133
26
Continue on CO 133
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
CO 133
27
Continue on CO 133
56 mi
·
1 hr 31 min
·
CO 133
Use the left lane.
28
Turn left onto Grand Avenue
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Grand Avenue
Use the left lane.
29
Turn left onto 3rd Street
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
3rd Street
30
Turn right onto Orchard Avenue
53 ft
·
2 sec
·
Orchard Avenue
31
Arrive at destination
Orchard Avenue
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 147.1 miles from Colorado Springs, CO, or about 2h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 144.9 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 65 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 147.1 miles or 2h 47m 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 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Paonia, 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 294.2 miles and 6h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 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 I 70 for about 144.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
147 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 65 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 147.1 miles from Colorado Springs, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 70 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 144.9 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 215 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 76.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Cascade Avenue
Turn right onto North Cascade Avenue
Navigation decision point
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.
7
67.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
Take the exit toward US 6 West: 6th Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 209A-B
Toward US 6 West: 6th Avenue
9
67.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 6 West: 6th Avenue, Lakewood
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 209B
Toward US 6 West: 6th Avenue, Lakewood
6
76.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
Take the exit toward I 70 West: Grand Junction
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 70 West: Grand Junction
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.33 one way
$88.65 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
103 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $46.93 | $93.87 |
| premium | $4.39 | $50.89 | $101.79 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $64.96 | $129.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 102.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 88.3 | 1 | $30.89 | $14.12 |
| Efficient EV | 73.6 | 0 | $25.74 | $11.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 117.7 | 1 | $41.19 | $18.83 |
Gas CO2
103 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Paonia, CO
Afternoon in Paonia on Saturday
Local time
1:14 PM
MDT
Current temp
74°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
30 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
6h 13m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park
National Park
Big enough to be overwhelming, yet still intimate enough to feel the pulse of time. Come see some of the steepest cliffs, oldest rock, and craggiest spires in North America. Forces of nature and the G...
21 mi from route
~53 min detour
$30
near mile 294.2
Park Closure: Long-term Closures Due to Wildfires
Park Closure: Winter Closures
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...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
$10
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
294.2 mi in 6h 13m, mostly highway — 144.9 mi of that is on I 70.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 144.9 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and Ronald Reagan Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near North Cascade Avenue.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 294.2 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 0.2 miles (North Cascade Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (West Bijou Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 67.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Paonia, CO, road signs point toward Lakewood and Aspen.
Lakewood
67.8 mi in
|
~1h 15m
Aspen
222.4 mi in
|
~4h 13m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 13m. Total distance: 294.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 13m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 144.9 miles on I 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Paonia, CO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (North Cascade Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (West Bijou Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 67.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park and Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.2 hours each way, a round trip means 12.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Paonia, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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