Origin
Salida, CO
Night in Salida on Sunday
Local time
9:54 PM
MDT
Current temp
30°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Salida, CO to Colorado Springs, CO
Drive Time
2h 5m
Distance
103 mi
166 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 57m
★
6 AM
2h 6m
8 AM
2h 23m
10 AM
2h 12m
12 PM
2h 10m
3 PM
2h 13m
5 PM
2h 23m
8 PM
2h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trip Overview
The drive from Salida, CO to Colorado Springs, CO covers 103 miles and takes about 2h 5m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West 5th Street, Poncha Boulevard, Crestone Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.61 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
51.5 miles from Salida, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 5m drive with frequent turns across 103 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West 5th 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 Salida, CO to Colorado Springs, CO is easy. At 2h 5m 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 Salida, CO to Colorado Springs, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West 5th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Poncha Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Crestone Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Grant Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Mesa Lane | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 285 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 8th Street North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South 8th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
West 5th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Salida, CO and Colorado Springs, CO.
1
Start on I Street
151 ft
·
9 sec
·
I Street
2
Turn left onto West 5th Street
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
West 5th Street
3
Turn right onto Poncha Boulevard
302 ft
·
13 sec
·
Poncha Boulevard
4
Turn left onto Crestone Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Crestone Avenue
5
Turn right onto North Grant Street
243 ft
·
6 sec
·
North Grant Street
6
Continue on Mesa Lane
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Mesa Lane
7
At the end of the road, turn left
6.9 mi
·
9 min
8
Turn right
4.3 mi
·
6 min
9
Continue straight
9.7 mi
·
15 min
10
Take the exit slight right toward US 285 North
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
US 285 North
11
Merge slight left
14 mi
·
17 min
12
Turn right
76 mi
·
1 hr 36 min
13
Take the exit slight left toward 8th Street North
374 ft
·
11 sec
·
8th Street North
14
Turn straight onto South 8th Street
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
South 8th Street
15
At the end of the road, turn right onto West Colorado Avenue
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
West Colorado Avenue
16
Continue on East Colorado Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
East Colorado Avenue
17
Turn left onto South Weber Street
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
South Weber Street
18
Turn left onto East Pikes Peak Avenue
423 ft
·
14 sec
·
East Pikes Peak Avenue
19
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 51.5 miles from Salida, CO, or about 1h 2m 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 80 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.5 miles or 1h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 42m
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 Salida, 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 Salida, CO
This is one driving day of about 103 miles and 2h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Salida, 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 51.5 mi from Salida, CO · 1h 2m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
52 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 51.5 miles from Salida, 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
$15.61 one way
$31.22 round trip
$3.85/gal
25.4 MPG avg
36 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.08 | $16.56 | $33.12 |
| premium | $4.43 | $17.98 | $35.95 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $22.88 | $45.77 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 30.9 | 0 | $10.82 | $4.94 |
| Efficient EV | 25.8 | 0 | $9.01 | $4.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41.2 | 0 | $14.42 | $6.59 |
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (67% 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
Colorado Springs, CO
Night in Colorado Springs on Sunday
Local time
9:54 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
32 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
2h 5m 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 Salida, CO to Colorado Springs, CO covers 103 miles and takes about 2h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West 5th Street, Poncha Boulevard, Crestone Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 51.5 miles from Salida, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.61 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 Salida, CO to Colorado Springs, CO is easy. At 2h 5m 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 Salida, CO to Colorado Springs, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Salida, CO to Colorado Springs, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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