Origin
Denver, CO
Morning in Denver on Saturday
Local time
8:52 AM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Denver, CO to Las Animas, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 14m
Distance
193.4 mi
311 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 1m
★
6 AM
4h 15m
8 AM
4h 41m
10 AM
4h 24m
12 PM
4h 21m
3 PM
4h 25m
5 PM
4h 40m
8 PM
4h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Denver, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Las Animas, CO
RDNE Stock project
Trip Overview
The drive from Denver, CO to Las Animas, CO covers 193.4 miles and takes about 4h 14m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East Colfax Avenue, Grant Street, East Speer Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.14 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
96.7 miles from Denver, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 7m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 14m. Total distance: 193.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 14m drive with frequent turns across 193.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Colfax Avenue 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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
Navigation is easy, but the length (4h 14m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots, so this is more about pacing than navigation skill.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Denver, CO to Las Animas, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Colfax Avenue | — | — |
| Grant Street | — | — |
| East Speer Boulevard | — | — |
| Logan Street | — | — |
| East Buchtel South Boulevard | — | — |
| I 25 South | — | — |
| South Valley Highway | — | — |
| Monument Valley Freeway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
East Colfax Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Denver, CO and Las Animas, 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
8.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Monument Valley Freeway
13
Continue on Ronald Reagan Highway
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
Ronald Reagan Highway
14
Keep slight left to continue on Ronald Reagan Highway
23 mi
·
23 min
·
Ronald Reagan Highway
15
Continue on John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
13 mi
·
12 min
·
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
16
Continue on North Freeway
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
North Freeway
17
Take the exit slight right toward US 50 West, CO 47 East: Cañon City
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
US 50 West, CO 47 East: Cañon City
18
Merge slight right onto César Chávez Memorial Highway
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
César Chávez Memorial Highway
19
Take the exit slight left
230 ft
·
7 sec
20
Continue on Pete Jimenez Parkway
515 ft
·
14 sec
·
Pete Jimenez Parkway
21
Continue on William White Boulevard
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
William White Boulevard
22
Turn right onto Paul Harvey Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Paul Harvey Boulevard
23
Take the ramp left
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
24
Merge slight left
1.0 mi
·
1 min
25
Continue straight
6.6 mi
·
10 min
26
Turn left
21 mi
·
27 min
27
Turn right
1.7 mi
·
3 min
28
Turn left onto East Cranston Avenue
28 mi
·
46 min
·
East Cranston Avenue
29
Continue on West 1st Street
20 mi
·
33 min
·
West 1st Street
30
Turn left onto Elm Avenue
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
Elm Avenue
31
Arrive at your destination
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 96.7 miles from Denver, CO, or about 2h 7m 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 43 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 96.7 miles or 2h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Las Animas, 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 193.4 miles and 4h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from Denver, 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 96.7 mi from Denver, CO · 2h 7m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
97 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 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 96.7 miles from Denver, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Las Animas, CO
The final approach into Las Animas, 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 Las Animas, 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
$29.14 one way
$58.28 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
68 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $30.85 | $61.71 |
| premium | $4.39 | $33.46 | $66.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $42.70 | $85.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 58 | 0 | $20.31 | $9.28 |
| Efficient EV | 48.4 | 0 | $16.92 | $7.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 77.4 | 0 | $27.08 | $12.38 |
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (66% 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
Las Animas, CO
Morning in Las Animas on Saturday
Local time
8:52 AM
MDT
Current temp
48°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
2 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
4h 14m 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 Denver, CO to Las Animas, CO covers 193.4 miles and takes about 4h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Colfax Avenue, Grant Street, East Speer Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 96.7 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 $29.14 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.
Navigation is easy, but the length (4h 14m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots, so this is more about pacing than navigation skill.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Denver, CO to Las Animas, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Denver, CO to Las Animas, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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