Origin
Cortez, CO
Morning in Cortez on Monday
Local time
7:23 AM
MDT
Current temp
28°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cortez, CO to Colorado Springs, CO
Drive Time
6h 10m
Distance
359 mi
578 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$54
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 58m
★
6 AM
6h 10m
8 AM
6h 36m
10 AM
6h 19m
12 PM
6h 17m
3 PM
6h 21m
5 PM
6h 35m
8 PM
6h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cortez, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Cortez, CO to Colorado Springs, CO covers 359 miles and takes about 6h 10m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Market Street, East Main Street, East Mancos Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $54.40 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
179.5 miles from Cortez, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 5m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 10m drive with frequent turns across 359 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 33 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Market Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 10m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Cortez, CO to Colorado Springs, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Market Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Mancos Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 160 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 160 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Camino del Rio | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 160 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| San Juan Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
North Market Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cortez, CO and Colorado Springs, CO.
1
Start on the route
213 ft
·
18 sec
·
the route
2
Turn right onto North Market Street
194 ft
·
13 sec
·
North Market Street
3
Turn left onto East Main Street
1.7 mi
·
4 min
·
East Main Street
4
Continue on East Mancos Road
16 mi
·
24 min
·
East Mancos Road
5
Continue on US 160
27 mi
·
32 min
·
US 160
6
Take the exit right toward US 160 East, US 550 South
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
US 160 East, US 550 South
7
Merge slight left onto Camino del Rio
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Camino del Rio
8
Continue on Highway 160
53 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
·
Highway 160
9
Continue on San Juan Street
2.6 mi
·
5 min
·
San Juan Street
10
Continue on Pagosa Street
58 mi
·
1 hr 20 min
·
Pagosa Street
11
Continue on Grand Avenue
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Grand Avenue
12
Continue on West U.S. Highway 160
13 mi
·
14 min
·
West U.S. Highway 160
13
Continue on 1st Avenue
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
1st Avenue
14
Continue on Park Avenue
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
Park Avenue
15
Continue on Grand Avenue
16 mi
·
27 min
·
Grand Avenue
16
Continue on Sixth Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Sixth Street
17
Turn left onto West Avenue
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
West Avenue
18
Turn right onto Fourth Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Fourth Street
19
At the end of the road, turn left onto Denver Avenue
522 ft
·
18 sec
·
Denver Avenue
20
Continue on Broadway Avenue
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Broadway Avenue
21
Continue on Santa Fe Avenue
71 mi
·
1 hr 27 min
·
Santa Fe Avenue
22
Turn left onto Main Street
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Main Street
23
Continue on Main Street
210 ft
·
4 sec
·
Main Street
24
Continue on Walsen Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Walsen Avenue
25
Continue on US Highway 85/87
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
US Highway 85/87
26
Take the ramp straight toward I 25 North: Pueblo
87 mi
·
1 hr 30 min
·
I 25 North: Pueblo
27
Take the exit slight right toward CO 115 South: Nevada Avenue, Tejon Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
CO 115 South: Nevada Avenue, Tejon Street
28
Keep slight right to continue on Nevada Avenue North, Downtown
407 ft
·
14 sec
·
Nevada Avenue North, Downtown
29
Turn right onto South Nevada Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Nevada Avenue
30
Turn right onto East Cimarron Street
489 ft
·
21 sec
·
East Cimarron Street
31
Turn left onto South Weber Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Weber Street
32
Turn left onto East Pikes Peak Avenue
423 ft
·
14 sec
·
East Pikes Peak Avenue
33
Arrive at your destination
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 179.5 miles from Cortez, CO, or about 3h 5m 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 80 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 179.5 miles or 3h 5m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 8m
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 Cortez, 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 Cortez, CO
This is one driving day of about 359 miles and 6h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cortez, 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.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 179.5 mi from Cortez, CO · 3h 5m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
180 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 179.5 miles from Cortez, 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
$54.40 one way
$108.80 round trip
$3.85/gal
25.4 MPG avg
126 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.08 | $57.72 | $115.45 |
| premium | $4.43 | $62.66 | $125.31 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $79.76 | $159.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$54
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$79–$104
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 125.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 107.7 | 1 | $37.70 | $17.23 |
| Efficient EV | 89.8 | 1 | $31.41 | $14.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 143.6 | 1 | $50.26 | $22.98 |
Gas CO2
126 kg
EV CO2
42 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
Colorado Springs, CO
Morning in Colorado Springs on Monday
Local time
7:23 AM
MDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
30°F
Durango, CO
180 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
34 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 10m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Cortez, CO to Colorado Springs, CO covers 359 miles and takes about 6h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Market Street, East Main Street, East Mancos Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 179.5 miles from Cortez, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $54.40 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 10m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Cortez, CO to Colorado Springs, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Cortez, CO to Colorado Springs, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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