Origin
Paonia, CO
Morning in Paonia on Saturday
Local time
10:29 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
4h 56m
Distance
248.5 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
4h 43m
★
6 AM
4h 57m
8 AM
5h 24m
10 AM
5h 6m
12 PM
5h 3m
3 PM
5h 8m
5 PM
5h 22m
8 PM
4h 49m
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 248.5 miles and takes about 4h 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 3rd Street, Samuel Wade Road, 6th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.44 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
124.2 miles from Paonia, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 28m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 56m. Total distance: 248.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 56m 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 56m drive with frequent turns across 248.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
3rd Street 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 56m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Paonia, CO to Pueblo, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 3rd Street | — | — |
| Samuel Wade Road | — | — |
| 6th Street | — | — |
| East Bridge Street | — | — |
| I 25 South | — | — |
| North Freeway | — | — |
| 29th Street | — | — |
| 13th Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
3rd Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Paonia, CO and Pueblo, CO.
1
Start on Orchard Avenue
52 ft
·
8 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
7.8 mi
·
12 min
5
Turn left onto 6th Street
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
6th Street
6
At the end of the road, turn left onto East Bridge Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
East Bridge Street
7
Continue straight
51 mi
·
1 hr 34 min
8
At the end of the road, turn left
86 mi
·
2 hr 3 min
9
Turn left
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
10
Continue straight
34 mi
·
55 min
11
Continue straight
0.8 mi
·
1 min
12
Continue straight
61 mi
·
1 hr 39 min
13
Continue straight
1.4 mi
·
2 min
14
Take the exit slight right toward I 25 South: Trinidad
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
I 25 South: Trinidad
15
Merge slight left onto North Freeway
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
North Freeway
16
Take the exit slight right toward 29th Street
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
29th Street
17
Merge slight left onto North Freeway
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Freeway
18
Take the exit slight right toward 13th Street
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
13th Street
19
Continue straight
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
20
Merge slight left onto North Freeway
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
North Freeway
21
Take the exit slight right toward Abriendo Avenue
108 ft
·
3 sec
·
Abriendo Avenue
22
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 124.2 miles from Paonia, CO, or about 2h 28m 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 55 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 124.2 miles or 2h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 3m
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 248.5 miles and 4h 56m.
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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 124.2 mi from Paonia, CO · 2h 28m into the drive
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 124.2 miles from Paonia, 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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Pueblo, 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
$37.44 one way
$74.88 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
87 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $39.64 | $79.29 |
| premium | $4.39 | $42.99 | $85.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $54.87 | $109.73 |
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 | 74.6 | 0 | $26.09 | $11.93 |
| Efficient EV | 62.1 | 0 | $21.74 | $9.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 99.4 | 1 | $34.79 | $15.90 |
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
10:29 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
4h 56m 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 Paonia, CO to Pueblo, CO covers 248.5 miles and takes about 4h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 3rd Street, Samuel Wade Road, 6th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 124.2 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 $37.44 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.
This is a straightforward 4h 56m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Paonia, CO to Pueblo, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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