Trip from Pueblo, CO to Colorado Springs, CO

Drive Time

42m

Distance

46 mi

74 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$7

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 10 min
4 AM
0h 39m ★
6 AM
0h 42m
8 AM
0h 49m
10 AM
0h 45m
12 PM
0h 44m
3 PM
0h 45m
5 PM
0h 49m
8 PM
0h 40m

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

Downtown Pueblo, CO, CO

Pueblo, CO

Franklin Peña Gutierrez

Trip Overview

Traveling between Pueblo and Colorado Springs covers a short 46-mile distance that typically takes about 42 minutes to complete. Because this journey is quick and straightforward, it works perfectly as a simple day trip rather than an overnight excursion. You can expect to spend roughly $6 on fuel for the trek, making it a very budget-friendly transit. Both cities are located within the Mountain West region, ensuring a consistent climate and environment throughout your travel. This route relies on local roads rather than interstate travel, so you should prepare for a drive that prioritizes community connectivity over high-speed transit.

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

23 miles from Pueblo, CO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 21m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel rather than settling into a monotonous interstate rhythm. Since the route features a 0% highway share, you will be navigating via Elm Street, the South Freeway, and John F throughout the entirety of the 46-mile trip. There is no long, uninterrupted stretch to speak of, as the longest segment is 0 miles on Elm Street, meaning you will be navigating frequent transitions. This setup results in a driving experience that requires more attention to local signage and intersections compared to a standard highway haul. It is a practical, functional connection between these two Colorado hubs.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Elm 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. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Pueblo, CO to Colorado Springs, CO is easy. At 42m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Pueblo, CO to Colorado Springs, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Elm Street Unavailable Refreshing
South Freeway Unavailable Refreshing
John F Unavailable Refreshing
Ronald Reagan Highway Unavailable Refreshing
CO 115 South Unavailable Refreshing
Nevada Avenue North Unavailable Refreshing
South Nevada Avenue Unavailable Refreshing
East Cimarron Street Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Elm Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Abriendo Avenue

0.2 mi · 35 sec · Abriendo Avenue
2

Turn left onto Elm Street

30 ft · 6 sec · Elm Street
3

Take the ramp left

164 ft · 4 sec
4

Keep slight left

0.4 mi · 57 sec
5

Merge slight left onto South Freeway

6.1 mi · 7 min · South Freeway
6

Continue on John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway

13 mi · 12 min · John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
7

Continue on Ronald Reagan Highway

23 mi · 23 min · Ronald Reagan Highway
8

Take the exit slight right toward CO 115 South: Nevada Avenue, Tejon Street

0.3 mi · 42 sec · CO 115 South: Nevada Avenue, Tejon Street
9

Keep slight right to continue on Nevada Avenue North, Downtown

407 ft · 14 sec · Nevada Avenue North, Downtown
10

Turn right onto South Nevada Avenue

0.8 mi · 1 min · South Nevada Avenue
11

Turn right onto East Cimarron Street

489 ft · 21 sec · East Cimarron Street
12

Turn left onto South Weber Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Weber Street
13

Turn left onto East Pikes Peak Avenue

423 ft · 14 sec · East Pikes Peak Avenue
14

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Given the 42-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule, allowing you to depart whenever it best suits your plans without needing to worry about long-haul fatigue. Since there are zero formal stops scheduled along this route, you can easily complete the entire drive in one go. Keep in mind that because you are utilizing local roads like Elm Street and the South Freeway, traffic patterns may vary significantly compared to a major highway route. Factor the $6 fuel estimate into your budget before you head out to ensure a smooth trip. My top tip for this specific drive is to familiarize yourself with the turns on John F ahead of time, as the local road navigation requires a bit more focus than a typical interstate path.

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 23 miles from Pueblo, CO, or about 21m 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 46 miles or 42m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 23 miles or 21m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 35m

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 Pueblo, 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 Pueblo, CO

This is one driving day of about 46 miles and 42m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Pueblo, 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.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 23 mi from Pueblo, CO · 21m into the drive

Downtown Fort Carson, CO, CO

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Fort Carson, CO

23 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.

Popular next leg

Fort Carson, CO to Colorado Springs, CO

7.8 mi · 15m

Pacing Suggestions

Fort Carson, CO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 46 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Fort Carson, CO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 23 miles from Pueblo, 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

$6.97 one way

$13.94 round trip

$3.85/gal 25.4 MPG avg 16 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.08 $7.40 $14.79
premium $4.43 $8.03 $16.06
diesel $5.64 $10.22 $20.44

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$7

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$32–$57

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 16.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 13.8 0 $4.83 $2.21
Efficient EV 11.5 0 $4.02 $1.84
EV Truck/SUV 18.4 0 $6.44 $2.94

Gas CO2

16 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (69% 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Pueblo, CO

Evening in Pueblo on Sunday

Local time

6:25 PM

MDT

Current temp

38°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Colorado Springs, CO

Evening in Colorado Springs on Sunday

Local time

6:25 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

24 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

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 Pueblo, CO to Colorado Springs, CO covers 46 miles and takes about 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Elm Street, South Freeway, John F. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 23 miles from Pueblo, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.97 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.
The drive from Pueblo, CO to Colorado Springs, CO is easy. At 42m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Pueblo, CO to Colorado Springs, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Pueblo, CO to Colorado Springs, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

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

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CO road trips.

Explore maps for Pueblo, CO or Colorado Springs, CO on MapSof.net.