Origin
Denver, CO
Late night in Denver on Monday
Local time
4:05 AM
MDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Denver, CO to Manitou Springs, CO
Drive Time
1h 27m
Distance
71.1 mi
114 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 20m
★
6 AM
1h 27m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 32m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 40m
8 PM
1h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Denver, CO
MINEIA MARTINS
Manitou Springs, CO
gabesdotphotos photographer
Trip Overview
The drive from Denver, CO to Manitou Springs, CO covers 71.1 miles and takes about 1h 27m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Valley Highway, Monument Valley Freeway, Midland Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 56.9 miles on South Valley Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.77 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
35.6 miles from Denver, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 43m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 27m drive with frequent turns across 71.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 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 56.9 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 0.2 miles in near Grant Street.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 71.1 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 (Grant Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (East Speer Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Grant Street
Turn right onto Grant Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
1.3 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
East Speer Boulevard
Turn left onto East Speer Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
4.5 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 25 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 25 South
7
64.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
Take the exit toward Fillmore Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 145
Toward Fillmore Street
8
65 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Fillmore Street West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Fillmore Street West
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Denver, CO to Manitou Springs, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Fillmore Street West along the way.
Fillmore Street West
65 mi in
|
~1h 14m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Valley Highway | 56.9 mi | 1h |
| Monument Valley Freeway | 3.3 mi | 3m |
| Midland Expressway | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Logan Street | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| West Fillmore Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Grant Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| North 31st Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Fontmore Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
South Valley Highway
— 56.9 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Denver, CO and Manitou Springs, CO.
1
Start on the route
377 ft
·
29 sec
·
the route
2
Turn right
62 ft
·
9 sec
3
Turn right onto East Colfax Avenue
358 ft
·
14 sec
·
East Colfax Avenue
4
Turn right onto Grant Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Grant Street
5
Turn left onto East Speer Boulevard
453 ft
·
13 sec
·
East Speer Boulevard
6
Turn right onto Logan Street
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Logan Street
7
Turn left onto East Buchtel South Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
East Buchtel South Boulevard
8
Continue on East Buchtel South Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
East Buchtel South Boulevard
9
Take the ramp slight left toward I 25 South
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 25 South
10
Keep slight left to continue on I 25 South
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
I 25 South
11
Merge slight left onto South Valley Highway
57 mi
·
1 hr
·
South Valley Highway
12
Continue on Monument Valley Freeway
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Monument Valley Freeway
13
Take the exit slight right toward Fillmore Street
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Fillmore Street
14
Keep slight right to continue on Fillmore Street West
233 ft
·
8 sec
·
Fillmore Street West
15
Continue on West Fillmore Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
West Fillmore Street
16
Continue on Fontmore Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Fontmore Road
17
Continue on West Fontanero Street
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
West Fontanero Street
18
Turn left onto North 31st Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North 31st Street
19
Turn sharp right onto West Cimarron Street
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
West Cimarron Street
20
Continue on Midland Expressway
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Midland Expressway
21
Turn left onto Sunshine Trail
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
Sunshine Trail
22
Turn right onto Washington Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Avenue
23
Turn right onto Cañon Avenue
144 ft
·
7 sec
·
Cañon Avenue
24
Turn right
89 ft
·
7 sec
25
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 35.6 miles from Denver, CO, or about 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.9 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 71.1 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.6 miles or 43m 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 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Manitou Springs, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Denver, 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 Denver, CO
This is one driving day of about 71.1 miles and 1h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Denver, 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 56.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 35.6 mi from Denver, CO · 43m 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 71.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.6 miles from Denver, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Manitou Springs, CO
The final approach into Manitou 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 Manitou 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
$10.77 one way
$21.55 round trip
$3.85/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.08 | $11.43 | $22.86 |
| premium | $4.43 | $12.41 | $24.82 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $15.80 | $31.59 |
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: 24.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.3 | 0 | $7.47 | $3.41 |
| Efficient EV | 17.8 | 0 | $6.22 | $2.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.4 | 0 | $9.95 | $4.55 |
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
Manitou Springs, CO
Late night in Manitou Springs on Monday
Local time
4:05 AM
MDT
Current temp
34°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
32 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 27m 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 Denver, CO to Manitou Springs, CO covers 71.1 miles and takes about 1h 27m 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, Midland Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 35.6 miles from Denver, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.77 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 71.1 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 0.2 miles (Grant Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (East Speer Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Denver, CO to Manitou Springs, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Fillmore Street West along the way.
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