Origin
Pueblo, CO
Morning in Pueblo on Friday
Local time
10:10 AM
MDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pueblo, CO to Fort Carson, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
45m
Distance
38.6 mi
62 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 42m
★
6 AM
0h 46m
8 AM
0h 53m
10 AM
0h 48m
12 PM
0h 47m
3 PM
0h 49m
5 PM
0h 53m
8 PM
0h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pueblo, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Fort Carson, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 38.6-mile drive from Pueblo, Colorado, to Fort Carson, Colorado, is easily manageable in about 45 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily navigate via Ronald Reagan Highway, John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway, and South Freeway, with about 16% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this short hop is a modest $6. Given its brevity, no overnight stays are necessary. This route stays within the Mountain West region, offering a familiar landscape as you travel from one Colorado point to another. It's a practical choice for getting between these two locations without a significant time commitment.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 45m. Total distance: 38.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this 38.6-mile trip. While there are some highway segments, only about 16% of your journey will be on faster roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 15 miles on Ronald Reagan Highway. The profile suggests a route that requires more frequent navigation adjustments rather than a long, steady cruise. This means you'll likely experience a mix of speeds and road types, keeping you engaged as you transition through different local areas on your way to Fort Carson.
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.
Ronald Reagan Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 15 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 0.2 miles in near Elm Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 38.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 45m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Elm Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Elm Street
Turn left onto Elm Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
I 25 / South Freeway
Merge onto I 25 / South Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
34.7 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Take the exit toward CO 16: Mesa Ridge Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 132
Toward CO 16: Mesa Ridge Parkway
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan Highway | 15 mi | 14m |
| John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway | 12.9 mi | 12m |
| South Freeway | 6.1 mi | 8m |
| Magrath Avenue | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| Prussman Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Mesa Ridge Parkway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Elm Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Highway
— 15 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pueblo, CO and Fort Carson, CO.
1
Start on this road
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
this road
Toward Abriendo Avenue
2
Turn left onto Elm Street
29 ft
·
6 sec
·
Elm Street
3
Take the ramp
165 ft
·
4 sec
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
5
Merge onto I 25
6.1 mi
·
8 min
·
South Freeway
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on I 25
13 mi
·
12 min
·
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 25
15 mi
·
14 min
·
Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 132
Toward CO 16: Mesa Ridge Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn left onto CO 16
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Mesa Ridge Parkway
10
Turn straight onto Magrath Avenue
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Magrath Avenue
11
Continue on Magrath Avenue
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
Magrath Avenue
12
Keep slight right at fork onto Magrath Avenue
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Magrath Avenue
13
Turn left onto Prussman Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Prussman Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
Prussman Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 19.3 mi from Pueblo, CO · 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 38.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.3 miles from Pueblo, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Fort Carson, CO
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Fort Carson, CO if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.82 one way
$11.63 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $6.16 | $12.32 |
| premium | $4.39 | $6.68 | $13.35 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.52 | $17.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.6 | 0 | $4.05 | $1.85 |
| Efficient EV | 9.7 | 0 | $3.38 | $1.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.40 | $2.47 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Fort Carson, CO
Morning in Fort Carson on Friday
Local time
10:10 AM
MDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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 Pueblo, CO to Fort Carson, CO covers 38.6 miles and takes about 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Ronald Reagan Highway, John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway, South Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 19.3 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 $5.82 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 is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 38.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 45m.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Elm Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Pueblo, CO to Fort Carson, 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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