Origin
Crested Butte, CO
Late night in Crested Butte on Saturday
Local time
4:17 AM
MDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Crested Butte, CO to Colorado Springs, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 48m
Distance
199.3 mi
321 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 35m
★
6 AM
4h 49m
8 AM
5h 16m
10 AM
4h 58m
12 PM
4h 55m
3 PM
4h 59m
5 PM
5h 14m
8 PM
4h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Crested Butte, CO
Kevin Wiley
Trip Overview
The drive from Crested Butte, CO to Colorado Springs, CO covers 199.3 miles and takes about 4h 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 24, East Tomichi Avenue, CO 135 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 89.6 miles on US 24. At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.07 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
99.7 miles from Crested Butte, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 36m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 48m. Total distance: 199.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 4h 48m highway drive covering 199.3 miles, with most of the trip on US 24 and East Tomichi Avenue. The longest continuous stretch is about 89.6 miles on US 24.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 24 is the longest continuous segment at about 89.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 24 and East Tomichi Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 27.7 miles in near US 50 / East Tomichi Avenue.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 48m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 27.7 miles (US 50 / East Tomichi Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 197.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 198.1 miles (West Colorado Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
27.7 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
US 50 / East Tomichi Avenue
Turn left onto US 50 / East Tomichi Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
197.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 44m in
Take the exit toward 8th Street North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward 8th Street North
5
198.1 mi into trip
|
~4h 44m in
|
West Colorado Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto West Colorado Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
199.1 mi into trip
|
~4h 47m in
|
South Weber Street
Turn left onto South Weber Street
Navigation decision point
5
199.2 mi into trip
|
~4h 48m in
|
East Pikes Peak Avenue
Turn left onto East Pikes Peak Avenue
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 24 | 89.6 mi | 1h 53m |
| East Tomichi Avenue | 41.9 mi | 59m |
| CO 135 | 26.5 mi | 43m |
| US 285 | 21.1 mi | 34m |
| US 50 | 17.6 mi | 28m |
| Sixth Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| West Colorado Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Elk Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 24
— 89.6 mi, about 1h 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Crested Butte, CO and Colorado Springs, CO.
1
Start on Elk Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Elk Avenue
2
Turn right onto Sixth Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Sixth Street
3
Continue on CO 135
24 mi
·
38 min
·
CO 135
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on CO 135
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
CO 135
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn left onto US 50
42 mi
·
59 min
·
East Tomichi Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
Continue on US 50
18 mi
·
28 min
·
US 50
Use the straight lane.
7
Turn left onto US 285
11 mi
·
17 min
·
US 285
8
Continue on US 285
9.7 mi
·
15 min
·
US 285
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit onto US 285
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
US 285
Toward US 285 North
10
Merge onto US 24; US 285
14 mi
·
17 min
·
US 24; US 285
11
Turn right onto US 24
76 mi
·
1 hr 36 min
·
US 24
12
Take the exit
375 ft
·
11 sec
Toward 8th Street North
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
13
Turn straight onto South 8th Street
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
South 8th Street
Use the left lane.
14
At end of road, turn right onto West Colorado Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Colorado Avenue
15
Continue on East Colorado Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
East Colorado Avenue
Use the left lane.
16
Turn left onto South Weber Street
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
South Weber Street
17
Turn left onto East Pikes Peak Avenue
422 ft
·
14 sec
·
East Pikes Peak Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
East Pikes Peak Avenue
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 99.7 miles from Crested Butte, CO, or about 2h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.6 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 44 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 99.7 miles or 2h 36m 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
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 Crested Butte, 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 Crested Butte, CO
This is one driving day of about 199.3 miles and 4h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Crested Butte, 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 US 24 for about 89.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 99.7 mi from Crested Butte, CO · 2h 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
100 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 44 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 99.7 miles from Crested Butte, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 24 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 89.6 miles.
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
$27.07 one way
$54.14 round trip
$3.45/gal
25.4 MPG avg
70 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.85 | $30.21 | $60.42 |
| premium | $4.15 | $32.56 | $65.13 |
| diesel | $3.75 | $29.42 | $58.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.7 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 59.8 | 0 | $20.93 | $9.57 |
| Efficient EV | 49.8 | 0 | $17.44 | $7.97 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 79.7 | 0 | $27.90 | $12.76 |
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (67% 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
Late night in Colorado Springs on Saturday
Local time
4:17 AM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Salida, CO
100 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
9 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
4h 48m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Crested Butte, CO to Colorado Springs, CO covers 199.3 miles and takes about 4h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 24, East Tomichi Avenue, CO 135. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 99.7 miles from Crested Butte, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.07 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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.
This is a straightforward 4h 48m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 27.7 miles (US 50 / East Tomichi Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 197.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 198.1 miles (West Colorado Avenue): Navigation decision point.
The route from Crested Butte, CO to Colorado Springs, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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Return Trip
Colorado Springs, CO to Crested Butte, COPlan the drive back the other way.
199.4 mi
4h 48m
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