If you are planning a trip from Applewood to Colorado Springs, you are looking at a 78.5-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 35 minutes. This trek stays entirely within the Mountain West, making it a straightforward day trip that does not require an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $12 for fuel, keeping your travel costs quite manageable. Because there are no mandatory stops scheduled, you can easily complete the drive in one efficient push. It serves as a practical connection between these two Colorado locations, offering a reliable path for travelers looking to move between regions quickly.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.2 miles from Applewood, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North Valley Highway
60.6 mi
1h 5m
Monument Valley Freeway
5.9 mi
6m
West 6th Avenue Freeway
5 mi
6m
West 20th Avenue
1.5 mi
3m
Simms Street
1.5 mi
3m
Eldridge Street
0.7 mi
1m
US 6
0.6 mi
<1m
East Kiowa Street
0.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
North Valley Highway
— 60.6 mi, about 1h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Applewood, CO and Colorado Springs, CO.
1
Start on Garden Road
372 ft·16 sec·Garden Road
2
Continue on Berry Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Berry Road
3
Turn right onto CR 18
0.7 mi·1 min·Eldridge Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto West 20th Avenue
0.2 mi·27 sec·West 20th Avenue
5
Turn left onto West 20th Avenue
1.3 mi·3 min·West 20th Avenue
6
Turn right onto Simms Street
1.5 mi·3 min·Simms Street
7
Continue on Union Boulevard
0.1 mi·22 sec·Union Boulevard
8
Turn left
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward US 6 EastUse the straight / left lanes.
9
Merge onto US 6
5.0 mi·6 min·West 6th Avenue Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto US 6
0.6 mi·59 sec·US 6
Toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado SpringsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 25 South: Colorado Springs
12
Merge onto I 25
61 mi·1 hr 5 min·North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 25
5.9 mi·6 min·Monument Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 142Toward Bijou StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
495 ft·14 sec
Toward I 25: DowntownUse the straight / left lanes.
16
Turn left onto West Bijou Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·West Bijou Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
17
Continue on West Kiowa Street
0.2 mi·35 sec·West Kiowa Street
18
Continue on East Kiowa Street
0.3 mi·1 min·East Kiowa Street
19
Turn right onto North Weber Street
490 ft·17 sec·North Weber Street
20
Turn right onto East Pikes Peak Avenue
422 ft·14 sec·East Pikes Peak Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
East Pikes Peak Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time to avoid the heaviest traffic. With no required stops, you can pace the 1 hour and 35 minutes however you prefer, though keeping an eye on your fuel levels before starting is a smart move given the $12 estimated cost. Pay close attention to the transition points between the North Valley Highway and the local road segments, as these areas require more frequent maneuvering. Because the route is turn-heavy, double-check your navigation before setting out to ensure you stay on the correct path during the transition to the Monument Valley Freeway.
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 39.2 miles from Applewood, CO, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60.6 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 17 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.2 miles or 50m 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 19m
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 Applewood, CO so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Applewood, CO
This is one driving day of about 78.5 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Applewood, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on North Valley Highway for about 60.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 77.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1 mi into trip|~3m in|West 20th Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto West 20th Avenue
Navigation decision point
7
4.1 mi into trip|~10m in
Turn left toward US 6 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward US 6 East
7
9.7 mi into trip|~17m in|US 6
Take the exit onto US 6 toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs
7
77.3 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Take the exit toward Bijou Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 142
Toward Bijou Street
8
77.6 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 25: Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward I 25: Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.83 one way
$23.66 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$12.52
$25.05
premium
$4.39
$13.58
$27.16
diesel
$5.61
$17.33
$34.66
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.6
0
$8.24
$3.77
Efficient EV
19.6
0
$6.87
$3.14
EV Truck/SUV
31.4
0
$10.99
$5.02
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Forecast as of Apr 19, 2026
Origin
Applewood, CO
Late night
in Applewood on Tuesday
Local time
5:10 AM
MDT
Current temp
34°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Colorado Springs, CO
Late night
in Colorado Springs on Tuesday
Local time
5:10 AM
MDT
Current temp
33°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
1 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
1h 35m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
National Monument
Beneath a grassy mountain valley in central Colorado lies one of the richest and most diverse fossil deposits in the world. Petrified redwood stumps up to 14 feet wide and thousands of detailed fossil...
24 mi from route
~61 min detour
$10
near mile 75.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. While you will spend about 15% of your time on highways, the route relies heavily on local navigation to connect the North Valley Highway, Monument Valley Freeway, and West 6th Avenue Freeway. You will encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 60.6 miles while cruising on the North Valley Highway. This mix of freeway segments and technical local roads creates a varied experience that shifts as you move from the initial highway portions into the more localized sections of the route.
Only 15% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 60.6 mi on North Valley Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 1 miles in near West 20th Avenue.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.5 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (West 20th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 4.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 9.7 miles (US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Colorado Springs is a city of about 490,000 in the western U.S. state of Colorado. The seat of El Paso County, the city lies 63 miles (101 km) south of Denver at the foot of Pikes Peak in South Central Colorado.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 35m. Total distance: 78.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 60.6 miles on North Valley Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Colorado Springs, CO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (West 20th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 4.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 9.7 miles (US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Colorado Springs, CO before heading back.
