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Trip from Pueblo, CO to Paonia, CO

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

6h 42m

Distance

254 mi

409 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$38

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
6h 30m ★
6 AM
6h 42m
8 AM
7h 6m
10 AM
6h 51m
12 PM
6h 48m
3 PM
6h 52m
5 PM
7h 5m
8 PM
6h 35m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
city in and county seat of Pueblo County, Colorado, United States

Pueblo, CO

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Paonia, CO, CO

Paonia, CO

Erick Ortega

Trip Overview

The drive from Pueblo, CO to Paonia, CO covers 254 miles and takes about 6h 42m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 50, Thatcher Avenue, CO 92 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 114.2 miles on US 50. At current regular gas prices, budget about $38.27 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

127 miles from Pueblo, CO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 16m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 50 114.2 mi 2h 49m
Thatcher Avenue 53.6 mi 1h 18m
CO 92 52.4 mi 1h 36m
CO 69 15.9 mi 25m
CO 133 7.8 mi 12m
CR 1A 7 mi 12m
East Abriendo Avenue 1.1 mi 2m
Lincoln Street 0.7 mi 1m
Longest stretch: US 50 — 114.2 mi, about 2h 49m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on this road

0.3 mi · 38 sec · this road
Toward Abriendo Avenue
2

Continue on East Abriendo Avenue

1.1 mi · 2 min · East Abriendo Avenue
3

Turn left onto CO 96

0.7 mi · 1 min · Lincoln Street
4

Continue on CO 96

54 mi · 1 hr 18 min · Thatcher Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
5

Turn right onto CO 69

16 mi · 25 min · CO 69
Use the straight lane.
6

Turn left onto CR 1A

7.0 mi · 12 min · CR 1A
7

Turn left onto US 50

28 mi · 45 min · US 50
Use the straight / right lanes.
8

Take the exit onto US 50

86 mi · 2 hr 3 min · US 50
Toward US 50 West Use the straight / right lanes.
9

Turn right onto CO 92

51 mi · 1 hr 34 min · CO 92
Use the right lane.
10

Continue on CO 92

1.2 mi · 2 min · CO 92
Use the straight lane.
11

Turn right onto North 6th Street

0.2 mi · 37 sec · North 6th Street
Use the right lane.
12

Turn right onto CO 133

7.8 mi · 12 min · CO 133
13

Turn right onto Samuel Wade Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · Samuel Wade Road
14

Continue on 3rd Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · 3rd Street
15

Turn right onto Orchard Avenue

53 ft · 2 sec · Orchard Avenue
16

Arrive at destination

Orchard 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 127 miles from Pueblo, CO, or about 3h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 114.2 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 56 miles or 1h 23m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 127 miles or 3h 16m 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 18m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Paonia, 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 254 miles and 6h 42m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Pueblo, 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 114.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

town in Saguache and Rio Grande counties in Colorado, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Center, CO

127 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

Cañon City, CO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 56 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Center, CO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 127 miles from Pueblo, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 50 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 114.2 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Mineral Palace Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour

Pueblo, Colorado

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+17195532790

Visit website

City Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour

Pueblo, Colorado

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+17195532790

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 55.7 and 245 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
55.7 mi into trip | ~1h 22m in | CO 69

Turn right onto CO 69

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
5
78.5 mi into trip | ~2h in | US 50

Turn left onto US 50

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
6
106.4 mi into trip | ~2h 46m in | US 50

Take the exit onto US 50 toward US 50 West

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

Use the straight / right lanes. Toward US 50 West
5
192.7 mi into trip | ~4h 50m in | CO 92

Turn right onto CO 92

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
5
245 mi into trip | ~6h 26m in | North 6th Street

Turn right onto North 6th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$38.27 one way

$76.54 round trip

$3.83/gal 25.4 MPG avg 89 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.05 $40.52 $81.04
premium $4.39 $43.94 $87.88
diesel $5.61 $56.08 $112.16

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$38

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$63–$88

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 88.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 76.2 0 $26.67 $12.19
Efficient EV 63.5 0 $22.22 $10.16
EV Truck/SUV 101.6 1 $35.56 $16.26

Gas CO2

89 kg

EV CO2

30 kg (66% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026

Origin

Pueblo, CO

Morning in Pueblo on Saturday

Local time

11:45 AM

MDT

Current temp

61°F

Sunny

NNW 5 to 10 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 18 at 10:04AM MDT until April 19 at 9:00AM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 18 at 9:19AM MDT until April 18 at 7:00PM MDT by NWS Goodland KS

Destination

Paonia, CO

Morning in Paonia on Saturday

Local time

11:45 AM

MDT

Current temp

59°F

Sunny

WNW 0 to 10 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 18 at 10:04AM MDT until April 19 at 9:00AM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 18 at 9:19AM MDT until April 18 at 7:00PM MDT by NWS Goodland KS

67°F

Center, CO

127 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

2 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

6h 42m 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

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 ~2 min detour Free near mile 192.7
View on nps.gov
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park

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 227.7
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 42m highway drive covering 254 miles, with most of the trip on US 50 and Thatcher Avenue. The longest continuous stretch is about 114.2 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 16 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 114.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 50 and Thatcher Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 55.7 miles in near CO 69.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 42m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 11 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 55.7 miles (CO 69): Lane positioning matters here; at 78.5 miles (US 50): Lane positioning matters here; at 106.4 miles (US 50): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 42m. Total distance: 254 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 42m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (75%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Pueblo, CO to Paonia, CO covers 254 miles and takes about 6h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US 50, Thatcher Avenue, CO 92. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 127 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 $38.27 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.

The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 42m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 11 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.

The main spots that need attention: at 55.7 miles (CO 69): Lane positioning matters here; at 78.5 miles (US 50): Lane positioning matters here; at 106.4 miles (US 50): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

The route from Pueblo, CO to Paonia, 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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