Origin
Paonia, CO
Morning in Paonia on Saturday
Local time
11:45 AM
MDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Paonia, CO to Pueblo, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 41m
Distance
248.3 mi
400 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$37
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 29m
★
6 AM
6h 41m
8 AM
7h 5m
10 AM
6h 50m
12 PM
6h 47m
3 PM
6h 51m
5 PM
7h 4m
8 PM
6h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Paonia, CO
Erick Ortega
Pueblo, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Paonia, CO to Pueblo, CO covers 248.3 miles and takes about 6h 41m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 50, CO 92, CO 133 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 183.3 miles on US 50. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.41 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
124.1 miles from Paonia, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 22m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 50 | 183.3 mi | 4h 43m |
| CO 92 | 51.1 mi | 1h 34m |
| CO 133 | 7.8 mi | 12m |
| North Freeway | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| East Bridge Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Samuel Wade Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| 3rd Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 6th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 50
— 183.3 mi, about 4h 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Paonia, CO and Pueblo, CO.
1
Start on Orchard Avenue
53 ft
·
7 sec
·
Orchard Avenue
2
Turn left onto 3rd Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
3rd Street
3
Continue on Samuel Wade Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Samuel Wade Road
4
Turn left onto CO 133
7.8 mi
·
12 min
·
CO 133
5
Turn left onto 6th Street
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
6th Street
6
At end of road, turn left onto CO 92
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
East Bridge Street
7
Continue on CO 92
51 mi
·
1 hr 34 min
·
CO 92
Use the straight lane.
8
At end of road, turn left onto US 50
86 mi
·
2 hr 3 min
·
US 50
Use the left / straight lanes.
9
Turn left onto US 50
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
US 50
10
Continue on US 50
34 mi
·
55 min
·
US 50
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on US 50
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
US 50
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Continue on US 50
61 mi
·
1 hr 39 min
·
US 50
Use the straight / left lanes.
13
Continue on US 50
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
US 50
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Take the exit onto US 50
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
US 50
Toward I 25 South: Trinidad
Use the right lane.
15
Merge onto I 25; US 50
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
North Freeway
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 100B
Toward 29th Street
17
Merge onto I 25; US 50
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Freeway
18
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
Exit 99B
Toward 13th Street
Use the slight right lane.
19
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
this road
20
Merge onto I 25; US 50 Bus
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
North Freeway
Use the straight lane.
21
Take the exit
107 ft
·
2 sec
Toward Abriendo Avenue
22
Arrive at destination
Toward Abriendo Avenue
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 124.1 miles from Paonia, CO, or about 3h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 183.3 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 55 miles or 1h 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 124.1 miles or 3h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 28m
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 Paonia, 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 Paonia, CO
This is one driving day of about 248.3 miles and 6h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Paonia, 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.
The longest stretch is on US 50 for about 183.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
124 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 55 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 124.1 miles from Paonia, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 50 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 183.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 61.3 and 246.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
61.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 52m in
|
US 50
At end of road, turn left onto US 50
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
244.4 mi into trip
|
~6h 35m in
|
US 50
Take the exit onto US 50 toward I 25 South: Trinidad
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 25 South: Trinidad
5
244.8 mi into trip
|
~6h 36m in
Take the exit toward 29th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 100B
Toward 29th Street
7
246.3 mi into trip
|
~6h 38m 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
5
246.7 mi into trip
|
~6h 38m in
|
I 25; US 50 Bus / North Freeway
Merge onto I 25; US 50 Bus / North Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.41 one way
$74.82 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
87 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $39.61 | $79.22 |
| premium | $4.39 | $42.95 | $85.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $54.82 | $109.64 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 74.5 | 0 | $26.07 | $11.92 |
| Efficient EV | 62.1 | 0 | $21.73 | $9.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 99.3 | 1 | $34.76 | $15.89 |
Gas CO2
87 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Pueblo, CO
Morning in Pueblo on Saturday
Local time
11:45 AM
MDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Salida, CO
124 mi in
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
7 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
6h 41m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Curecanti National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
Three reservoirs and surrounding lands make up this recreation area in western Colorado. It is a landscape of tradeoffs; natural and human made features exist together. Geologic wonders are abundant f...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Free
near mile 59.9
View on nps.gov
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park
National Park
Big enough to be overwhelming, yet still intimate enough to feel the pulse of time. Come see some of the steepest cliffs, oldest rock, and craggiest spires in North America. Forces of nature and the G...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
$30
near mile 25.7
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a 6h 41m highway drive covering 248.3 miles, with most of the trip on US 50 and CO 92. The longest continuous stretch is about 183.3 miles on US 50.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 50 is the longest continuous segment at about 183.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 50 and CO 92. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 61.3 miles in near US 50.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 248.3 miles you will encounter 14 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 61.3 miles (US 50): Lane positioning matters here; at 244.4 miles (US 50): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 244.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 41m. Total distance: 248.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 41m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Paonia, CO to Pueblo, CO covers 248.3 miles and takes about 6h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 50, CO 92, CO 133. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 124.1 miles from Paonia, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $37.41 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 248.3 miles you will encounter 14 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 61.3 miles (US 50): Lane positioning matters here; at 244.4 miles (US 50): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 244.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Paonia, CO to Pueblo, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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