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Trip from Meridian, CO to Pueblo, CO

Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology

Drive Time

1h 45m

Distance

97.6 mi

157 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min
4 AM
1h 37m ★
6 AM
1h 45m
8 AM
2h 1m
10 AM
1h 50m
12 PM
1h 49m
3 PM
1h 51m
5 PM
2h 0m
8 PM
1h 40m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Meridian, CO, CO

Meridian, CO

Wikimedia Commons

city in and county seat of Pueblo County, Colorado, United States

Pueblo, CO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 97.6-mile drive from Meridian to Pueblo, Colorado, will take you about 1 hour and 45 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll spend about 60% of your time on major highways, primarily I-25, Ronald Reagan Highway, and John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $15. This route stays within the Mountain West region, offering a straightforward connection between two Colorado points. Its relatively short duration and manageable mileage mean you won't need to split this trip into multiple days.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

48.8 miles from Meridian, 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 45m. Total distance: 97.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (60%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

Expect a mixed drive on this route, with a significant portion, about 60%, being on interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 44.9 miles on I-25. While much of the journey involves efficient highway travel, the overall profile suggests a blend of faster driving and potentially some transitions. This isn't a purely scenic byway, but rather a practical connection designed for getting from point A to point B efficiently.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 25 is the longest continuous segment at about 44.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 Fisher Street.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 97.6 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.2 miles (Fisher Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (East Lincoln Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles: Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | Fisher Street

Turn right onto Fisher Street

Navigation decision point

6
0.6 mi into trip | ~1m in | East Lincoln Avenue

Turn right onto East Lincoln Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
5
2 mi into trip | ~3m in

Take the ramp toward I 25 South: Colorado Springs

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes. Toward I 25 South: Colorado Springs
6
56 mi into trip | ~1h 1m in | I 25 / Ronald Reagan Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 25 / Ronald Reagan Highway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
95.7 mi into trip | ~1h 42m in

Take the exit toward 13th Street

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 99B Toward 13th Street

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 25 44.9 mi 46m
Ronald Reagan Highway 22.9 mi 23m
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway 12.9 mi 12m
Monument Valley Freeway 8.8 mi 10m
North Freeway 5.2 mi 6m
East Lincoln Avenue 1.4 mi 2m
Peoria Street 0.3 mi <1m
Fisher Drive 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 25 — 44.9 mi, about 46m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Meridian, CO and Pueblo, CO.

1

Start on Fisher Drive

0.2 mi · 42 sec · Fisher Drive
2

Turn right onto Fisher Street

135 ft · 6 sec · Fisher Street
3

Continue on Fisher Street

107 ft · 5 sec · Fisher Street
4

Turn right onto Peoria Street

0.3 mi · 37 sec · Peoria Street
5

Turn right onto East Lincoln Avenue

1.4 mi · 2 min · East Lincoln Avenue
Use the right lane.
6

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Toward I 25 South: Colorado Springs Use the straight / right lanes.
7

Merge onto I 25

45 mi · 46 min · I 25
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Continue on I 25

8.8 mi · 10 min · Monument Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Continue on I 25; US 24

0.2 mi · 12 sec · Ronald Reagan Highway
10

Keep slight left at fork onto I 25

23 mi · 23 min · Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Continue on I 25

13 mi · 12 min · John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Continue on I 25

2.6 mi · 2 min · North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 32 sec
Exit 100B Toward 29th Street
14

Merge onto I 25; US 50

1.0 mi · 1 min · North Freeway
15

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 12 sec
Exit 99B Toward 13th Street Use the slight right lane.
16

Continue on this road

0.2 mi · 18 sec · this road
17

Merge onto I 25; US 50 Bus

1.6 mi · 2 min · North Freeway
Use the straight lane.
18

Take the exit

107 ft · 2 sec
Toward Abriendo Avenue
19

Arrive at destination

Toward Abriendo Avenue

Trip Plan

Given the short 1 hour and 45-minute duration, this trip offers great flexibility. You can depart whenever suits your schedule, perhaps leaving Meridian in the morning to arrive in Pueblo by late morning. With no designated stops, you can decide to pull over if you need a break or simply push through to your destination. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $15, and plan your refueling accordingly. A good tip is to check local traffic conditions on I-25 before you depart, as this is the main artery for the majority of your drive.

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 48.8 miles from Meridian, CO, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44.9 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 21 miles or 23m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 48.8 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 25m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pueblo, CO than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Meridian, CO so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Meridian, CO

This is one driving day of about 97.6 miles and 1h 45m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Meridian, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 25 for about 44.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 48.8 mi from Meridian, CO · 52m into the drive

census designated place in El Paso County, Colorado, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Woodmoor, CO

49 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

Castle Rock, CO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Colorado Springs, CO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 48.8 miles from Meridian, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Pueblo, CO

The final approach into Pueblo, 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

$14.71 one way

$29.41 round trip

$3.83/gal 25.4 MPG avg 34 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.05 $15.57 $31.14
premium $4.39 $16.88 $33.77
diesel $5.61 $21.55 $43.10

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$15

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 34.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 29.3 0 $10.25 $4.68
Efficient EV 24.4 0 $8.54 $3.90
EV Truck/SUV 39 0 $13.66 $6.25

Gas CO2

34 kg

EV CO2

11 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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Meridian, CO

Late night in Meridian on Friday

Local time

12:56 AM

MDT

Current temp

45°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Pueblo, CO

Late night in Pueblo on Friday

Local time

12:56 AM

MDT

Current temp

81°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

36 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

1h 45m 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 Meridian, CO to Pueblo, CO covers 97.6 miles and takes about 1h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 25, Ronald Reagan Highway, John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 48.8 miles from Meridian, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.71 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 97.6 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.2 miles (Fisher Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (East Lincoln Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Meridian, CO to Pueblo, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Pueblo, CO to Meridian, CO

Plan the drive back the other way.

97.8 mi 1h 47m

Explore more options from Meridian, CO or browse trips ending in Pueblo, CO.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CO road trips.