Origin
Commerce City, CO
Evening in Commerce City on Sunday
Local time
5:08 PM
MDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Commerce City, CO to Colorado Springs, CO
Drive Time
1h 29m
Distance
72.1 mi
116 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 23m
★
6 AM
1h 30m
8 AM
1h 44m
10 AM
1h 35m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 43m
8 PM
1h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Commerce City, CO
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
Traveling from Commerce City to Colorado Springs covers 78.4 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 21 minutes. Because this is a relatively short journey, it works perfectly as a straightforward day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $11 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Mountain West locations. Since this route involves navigating local roads rather than high-speed interstates, it offers a different pace compared to typical cross-country travel. Keep in mind that there are no scheduled stops on this direct path, making it an efficient way to transit through the region.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
36 miles from Commerce City, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route relies on navigating through Dexter Street, East 60th Avenue, and North Vasquez Boulevard. With a highway share of 0%, you won't be cruising at high speeds; instead, you will be handling local traffic patterns throughout the entire 78.4-mile span. There is no long-distance highway cruising here, as the longest stretch is 0 miles on Dexter Street. This creates a more technical, hands-on driving experience that changes constantly as you transition between these specific local thoroughfares.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Valley Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 55.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Dexter Street.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 72.1 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Dexter Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (East 60th Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Dexter Street
At end of road, turn right onto Dexter Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
East 60th Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto East 60th Avenue
Navigation decision point
7
70.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
Take the exit toward Bijou Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 142
Toward Bijou Street
8
71.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 25: Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward I 25: Downtown
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Valley Highway | 55.8 mi | 58m |
| North Colorado Boulevard | 7.8 mi | 16m |
| Monument Valley Freeway | 5.9 mi | 6m |
| North Vasquez Boulevard | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| East Kiowa Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| West Kiowa Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Bijou Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Dexter Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
South Valley Highway
— 55.8 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Commerce City, CO and Colorado Springs, CO.
1
Start on this road
0.1 mi
·
55 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto Dexter Street
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Dexter Street
3
Turn right
148 ft
·
16 sec
4
Turn left
96 ft
·
12 sec
5
At end of road, turn left onto East 60th Avenue
200 ft
·
14 sec
·
East 60th Avenue
6
Turn right onto US 6; US 85; CO 2
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
·
North Vasquez Boulevard
Use the right lane.
7
Turn slight right onto CO 2
7.8 mi
·
16 min
·
North Colorado Boulevard
Toward CO 2
Use the slight right lane.
8
Continue on CO 2
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
South Colorado Boulevard
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 25 South: Colo Springs
10
Merge onto I 25
56 mi
·
58 min
·
South Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 25
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Monument Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 142
Toward Bijou Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
495 ft
·
14 sec
Toward I 25: Downtown
Use the straight / left lanes.
14
Turn left onto West Bijou Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
West Bijou Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Continue on West Kiowa Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
West Kiowa Street
16
Continue on East Kiowa Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
East Kiowa Street
17
Turn right onto North Weber Street
490 ft
·
17 sec
·
North Weber Street
18
Turn right onto East Pikes Peak Avenue
422 ft
·
14 sec
·
East Pikes Peak Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
East Pikes Peak Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, plan your departure to avoid peak local traffic hours to ensure you maintain that 1 hour and 21-minute pace. Since there are no designated stops, take a moment before you leave Commerce City to ensure your vehicle is fueled up and ready for the $11 trip. Flexibility is your biggest advantage on this short drive, so feel free to adjust your departure time based on your personal schedule. Because you are navigating local streets rather than highway lanes, keep a close eye on your GPS to stay on the correct path through the turns on Dexter Street and North Vasquez Boulevard. This is a practical, direct transit, so prioritize comfort and focus over sightseeing.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 36 miles from Commerce City, CO, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.8 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 72.1 miles or 1h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36 miles or 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Colorado Springs, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Commerce City, 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 Commerce City, CO
This is one driving day of about 72.1 miles and 1h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Commerce City, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on South Valley Highway for about 55.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 36 mi from Commerce City, CO · 49m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 72.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36 miles from Commerce City, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Colorado Springs, CO
The final approach into Colorado Springs, 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 Colorado Springs, CO.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.93 one way
$21.85 round trip
$3.85/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.08 | $11.59 | $23.19 |
| premium | $4.43 | $12.58 | $25.17 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $16.02 | $32.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.6 | 0 | $7.57 | $3.46 |
| Efficient EV | 18 | 0 | $6.31 | $2.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.8 | 0 | $10.09 | $4.61 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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.
Destination
Colorado Springs, CO
Evening in Colorado Springs on Sunday
Local time
5:08 PM
MDT
Current temp
62°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
5 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 29m 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 Commerce City, CO to Colorado Springs, CO covers 72.1 miles and takes about 1h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Valley Highway, North Colorado Boulevard, Monument Valley Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36 miles from Commerce City, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.93 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 72.1 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Dexter Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (East 60th Avenue): Navigation decision point.
The route from Commerce City, CO to Colorado Springs, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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Return Trip
Colorado Springs, CO to Commerce City, COPlan the drive back the other way.
71.6 mi
1h 29m
Continue From Colorado Springs, CO
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