Origin
Commerce City, CO
Afternoon in Commerce City on Sunday
Local time
3:55 PM
MDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Commerce City, CO to Fort Carson, CO
Drive Time
1h 41m
Distance
80 mi
129 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 34m
★
6 AM
1h 42m
8 AM
1h 57m
10 AM
1h 47m
12 PM
1h 46m
3 PM
1h 48m
5 PM
1h 56m
8 PM
1h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Commerce City, CO
Mark Stebnicki
Fort Carson, CO
Jacob Moore
Trip Overview
Traveling from Commerce City to Fort Carson covers 80 miles across the Colorado Mountain West region. You can expect a drive time of approximately 1 hour and 41 minutes, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. With a modest fuel budget of $12, the journey is both efficient and straightforward for your schedule. Because the route is categorized as a turn-heavy local drive, it demands a bit more attention than a standard interstate cruise. Whether you are heading south for work or personal travel, this trip is manageable in a single stint without the need for planned stops.
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
40 miles from Commerce City, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a mix of driving conditions on this 80-mile trek, as only 10% of the route consists of highway travel. The journey relies heavily on local roads, including North Colorado Boulevard, South Valley Highway, and the Monument Valley Freeway. You will spend the most consistent time behind the wheel during the 55.8-mile stretch on the South Valley Highway. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive, you will find yourself navigating frequent transitions rather than settling into a monotonous interstate grind. Stay alert as the road character shifts between these primary corridors throughout your trip.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 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. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Dexter Street.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 80 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 0.1 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): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 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
7
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
East 60th Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto East 60th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 6; US 85; CO 2 / North Vasquez Boulevard
Turn right onto US 6; US 85; CO 2 / North Vasquez Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
72.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m in
Take the exit toward CO 115 South: Tejon Street, Nevada Avenue
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 140
Toward CO 115 South: Tejon Street, Nevada Avenu...
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Valley Highway | 55.8 mi | 58m |
| Monument Valley Freeway | 7.8 mi | 9m |
| North Colorado Boulevard | 7.8 mi | 16m |
| South Nevada Avenue | 5.4 mi | 8m |
| Nelson Boulevard | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| North Vasquez Boulevard | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| Wetzel Avenue | 0.4 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 Fort Carson, 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
Use the none lane.
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 none lane.
11
Continue on I 25
7.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Monument Valley Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 140
Toward CO 115 South: Tejon Street, Nevada Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto CO 115
5.4 mi
·
8 min
·
South Nevada Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn left onto Nelson Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Nelson Boulevard
Use the left lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto Nelson Boulevard
102 ft
·
2 sec
·
Nelson Boulevard
16
Keep slight left at fork onto Nelson Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Nelson Boulevard
17
Enter roundabout onto Nelson Boulevard
142 ft
·
3 sec
·
Nelson Boulevard
18
Continue on Nelson Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Nelson Boulevard
19
Turn right onto Wetzel Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Wetzel Avenue
20
Turn left onto Prussman Avenue
42 ft
·
1 sec
·
Prussman Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
Prussman Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this 1 hour and 41-minute trip is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You won't need to worry about planning for major rest stops, as the entire 80-mile route can be completed in one go. Keep your $12 fuel budget in mind before you head out to ensure you have enough to cover the distance without hassle. Given the high volume of local road navigation, prioritize your navigation settings before leaving Commerce City to manage the frequent turns effectively. Staying focused on the transition between the South Valley Highway and the Monument Valley Freeway will help you navigate this local-heavy route with ease.
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 40 miles from Commerce City, CO, or about 53m 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 80 miles or 1h 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40 miles or 53m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Carson, 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 80 miles and 1h 41m.
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 40 mi from Commerce City, CO · 53m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
40 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 40 miles from Commerce City, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Fort Carson, CO
The final approach into Fort Carson, 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 Fort Carson, 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
$12.12 one way
$24.25 round trip
$3.85/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.08 | $12.86 | $25.73 |
| premium | $4.43 | $13.96 | $27.92 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $17.77 | $35.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28 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 | 24 | 0 | $8.40 | $3.84 |
| Efficient EV | 20 | 0 | $7.00 | $3.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32 | 0 | $11.20 | $5.12 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Fort Carson, CO
Afternoon in Fort Carson on Sunday
Local time
3:55 PM
MDT
Current temp
64°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
3 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 41m 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 Fort Carson, CO covers 80 miles and takes about 1h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Valley Highway, Monument Valley Freeway, North Colorado Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 40 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 $12.12 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 is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 80 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 0.1 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): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Commerce City, CO to Fort Carson, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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