Origin
Fort Carson, CO
Afternoon in Fort Carson on Sunday
Local time
3:57 PM
MDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fort Carson, CO to Colorado Springs, CO
Drive Time
15m
Distance
7.8 mi
13 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 14m
★
6 AM
0h 16m
8 AM
0h 19m
10 AM
0h 17m
12 PM
0h 16m
3 PM
0h 17m
5 PM
0h 18m
8 PM
0h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fort Carson, CO
Jacob Moore
Trip Overview
Traveling from Fort Carson to Colorado Springs is a quick, straightforward trip covering just 7.8 miles. You can comfortably complete this drive in about 15 minutes, making it a simple commute rather than a multi-day journey. With a fuel budget of only $1, it is an incredibly economical route to navigate. Because both locations are situated within the Mountain West region, you will remain in a familiar environment throughout the transit. This trip is best suited for a single-day schedule, allowing you maximum flexibility for your arrival. It is a practical, no-fuss connection between two major points in Colorado.
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
3.9 miles from Fort Carson, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 8m into the drive .
Drive Character
This highway-focused drive relies heavily on CO 115, which accounts for about 66% of your journey. You will spend the most significant portion of your time—roughly 5.2 miles—on this primary stretch before transitioning into the city. While the route begins with a faster highway pace, it eventually shifts into local navigation via Chiles Avenue and South Weber Street. You can expect a consistent flow as you move from the installation into the heart of Colorado Springs. The transition from open road to municipal streets is efficient, keeping the driving experience predictable and focused.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 9 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
CO 115 is the longest continuous segment at about 5.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CO 115 and Chiles Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Chiles Avenue.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 15m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Chiles Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (CO 115): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.1 miles (East Cimarron Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Chiles Avenue
Turn right onto Chiles Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
1.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
CO 115
Merge onto CO 115
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
7.1 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
East Cimarron Street
Turn right onto East Cimarron Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
7.2 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
South Weber Street
Turn left onto South Weber Street
Navigation decision point
4
7.7 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
East Pikes Peak Avenue
Turn left onto East Pikes Peak Avenue
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CO 115 | 5.2 mi | 9m |
| Chiles Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| South Weber Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| O'Connell Boulevard | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Prussman Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Cimarron Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Pikes Peak Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
CO 115
— 5.2 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Carson, CO and Colorado Springs, CO.
1
Start on Prussman Avenue
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Prussman Avenue
2
Turn right onto Chiles Avenue
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Chiles Avenue
3
Turn left onto O'Connell Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
O'Connell Boulevard
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
5
Merge onto CO 115
5.2 mi
·
9 min
·
CO 115
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn right onto East Cimarron Street
489 ft
·
21 sec
·
East Cimarron Street
Use the right lane.
7
Turn left onto South Weber Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Weber Street
8
Turn left onto East Pikes Peak Avenue
422 ft
·
14 sec
·
East Pikes Peak Avenue
9
Arrive at destination
East Pikes Peak Avenue
Trip Plan
Since the total duration is only 15 minutes, you have significant flexibility regarding when you choose to depart. You won't need to plan for any stops along the way, as the short distance allows for a continuous, uninterrupted drive. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge when leaving, though the $1 cost ensures that even a quick top-off is manageable. Because you are navigating through both highway and local streets, stay alert for changes in speed limits when exiting CO 115. Use the directness of this 7.8-mile connection to your advantage by planning your arrival to avoid peak local traffic hours.
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 3.9 miles from Fort Carson, CO, or about 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 5.2 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 7.8 miles or 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 3.9 miles or 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 12m
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 Fort Carson, 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 Fort Carson, CO
This is one driving day of about 7.8 miles and 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Fort Carson, 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 CO 115 for about 5.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 3.9 mi from Fort Carson, CO · 8m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
4 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 7.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 3.9 miles from Fort Carson, 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
$1.18 one way
$2.36 round trip
$3.85/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.08 | $1.25 | $2.51 |
| premium | $4.43 | $1.36 | $2.72 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $1.73 | $3.47 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$26–$51
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.3 | 0 | $0.82 | $0.37 |
| Efficient EV | 2 | 0 | $0.68 | $0.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.1 | 0 | $1.09 | $0.50 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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
Afternoon in Colorado Springs on Sunday
Local time
3:57 PM
MDT
Current temp
62°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
15m 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 Fort Carson, CO to Colorado Springs, CO covers 7.8 miles and takes about 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are CO 115, Chiles Avenue, South Weber Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 3.9 miles from Fort Carson, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.18 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 straightforward 15m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Chiles Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (CO 115): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.1 miles (East Cimarron Street): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Fort Carson, CO to Colorado Springs, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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