Origin
Manitou Springs, CO
Morning in Manitou Springs on Saturday
Local time
8:07 AM
MDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Manitou Springs, CO to Arvada, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 42m
Distance
81.8 mi
132 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 35m
★
6 AM
1h 42m
8 AM
1h 57m
10 AM
1h 48m
12 PM
1h 46m
3 PM
1h 48m
5 PM
1h 57m
8 PM
1h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Manitou Springs, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Arvada, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Manitou Springs, CO to Arvada, CO covers 81.8 miles and takes about 1h 42m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Ronald Reagan Highway, Monument Valley Freeway, I 70 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 64.8 miles on Ronald Reagan Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.32 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.
Midpoint
40.9 miles from Manitou Springs, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 42m. Total distance: 81.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 42m drive with frequent turns across 81.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Ronald Reagan Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 64.8 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 0.3 miles in near US 24 Business / Manitou Avenue.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 81.8 miles you will encounter 18 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (US 24 Business / Manitou Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 3 miles (South 31st Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 6.4 miles (I 25 / Monument Valley Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 24 Business / Manitou Avenue
Enter roundabout onto US 24 Business / Manitou Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
3 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
South 31st Street
Turn sharp left onto South 31st Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
6.4 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
I 25 / Monument Valley Freeway
Merge onto I 25 / Monument Valley Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
74.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 29m in
Take the exit toward I 70: Limon, Grand Junction
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 214A
Toward I 70: Limon, Grand Junction
7
78.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 35m in
Take the exit toward CO 95: Sheridan Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 271A
Toward CO 95: Sheridan Boulevard
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Manitou Springs, CO to Arvada, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Grand Junction along the way.
Grand Junction
74.4 mi in
|
~1h 29m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan Highway | 64.8 mi | 1h 10m |
| Monument Valley Freeway | 3.2 mi | 3m |
| I 70 | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Ralston Road | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| West Fillmore Street | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Manitou Avenue | 1.4 mi | 4m |
| Sheridan Boulevard | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Midland Expressway | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Highway
— 64.8 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Manitou Springs, CO and Arvada, CO.
1
Start on this road
93 ft
·
7 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Cañon Avenue
34 ft
·
4 sec
·
Cañon Avenue
3
Turn left onto Park Avenue
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Park Avenue
4
Continue on Park Avenue
90 ft
·
9 sec
·
Park Avenue
5
Turn left onto US 24 Business
480 ft
·
22 sec
·
Manitou Avenue
6
Continue on US 24 Business
1.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Manitou Avenue
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
8
Merge onto US 24
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Midland Expressway
9
Continue on US 24
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
West Cimarron Street
10
Turn sharp left onto South 31st Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South 31st Street
11
Turn right onto West Fontanero Street
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
West Fontanero Street
12
Continue on Fontmore Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Fontmore Road
13
Continue on West Fillmore Street
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
West Fillmore Street
14
Take the ramp
161 ft
·
6 sec
Toward I 25
15
Turn left
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
16
Merge onto I 25
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Monument Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 25
65 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 214A
Toward I 70: Limon, Grand Junction
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway
0.6 mi
·
42 sec
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Toward I 70
20
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 70 West: Grand Junction
21
Merge onto I 70
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 271A
Toward CO 95: Sheridan Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Turn right onto CO 95
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Sheridan Boulevard
Use the right lane.
24
Turn left onto Ralston Road
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Ralston Road
Use the left lane.
25
Turn right onto Ammons Street
227 ft
·
13 sec
·
Ammons Street
26
Turn left
41 ft
·
3 sec
27
Arrive at 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 40.9 miles from Manitou Springs, CO, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.8 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 18 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.9 miles or 52m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arvada, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Manitou Springs, CO so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Manitou Springs, CO
This is one driving day of about 81.8 miles and 1h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Manitou Springs, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Ronald Reagan Highway for about 64.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 40.9 mi from Manitou Springs, CO · 52m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 40.9 miles from Manitou Springs, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Ronald Reagan Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 64.8 miles.
Arriving in Arvada, CO
The final approach into Arvada, CO usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.32 one way
$24.65 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $13.05 | $26.10 |
| premium | $4.39 | $14.15 | $28.30 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.06 | $36.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.5 | 0 | $8.59 | $3.93 |
| Efficient EV | 20.5 | 0 | $7.16 | $3.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.7 | 0 | $11.45 | $5.24 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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
Arvada, CO
Morning in Arvada on Saturday
Local time
8:07 AM
MDT
Current temp
46°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
18 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 42m 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 Manitou Springs, CO to Arvada, CO covers 81.8 miles and takes about 1h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Ronald Reagan Highway, Monument Valley Freeway, I 70. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 40.9 miles from Manitou Springs, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.32 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 81.8 miles you will encounter 18 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (US 24 Business / Manitou Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 3 miles (South 31st Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 6.4 miles (I 25 / Monument Valley Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Manitou Springs, CO to Arvada, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Grand Junction along the way.
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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