Origin
Basalt, CO
Night in Basalt on Saturday
Local time
10:36 PM
MDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Basalt, CO to Colorado Springs, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 55m
Distance
174.9 mi
282 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 42m
★
6 AM
3h 55m
8 AM
4h 21m
10 AM
4h 4m
12 PM
4h 2m
3 PM
4h 6m
5 PM
4h 20m
8 PM
3h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Basalt, CO
Jonathan Fuentes
Trip Overview
Embark on a 175-mile journey from Basalt, Colorado to Colorado Springs, Colorado, a drive that will take approximately 3 hours and 55 minutes. This trip is easily manageable as a single-day excursion, with a projected fuel cost of around $27. Given its relatively short length and the nature of the roads, you'll likely find just one planned stop is sufficient. The drive offers a practical way to travel between these two destinations within the Mountain West region, emphasizing local road navigation over extensive highway cruising.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
87.5 miles from Basalt, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 57m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Midland Avenue | — | — |
| Two Rivers Road | — | — |
| the route | — | — |
| North 7th Street | — | — |
| West Main Street | — | — |
| South Original Street | — | — |
| East Cooper Avenue | — | — |
| 8th Street North | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Midland Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Basalt, CO and Colorado Springs, CO.
1
Start on the route
66 ft
·
10 sec
·
the route
2
Turn left onto Midland Avenue
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Midland Avenue
3
Turn left onto Two Rivers Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Two Rivers Road
4
At the end of the road, turn left
2.8 mi
·
4 min
5
Continue straight
8.1 mi
·
13 min
6
Continue straight
3.2 mi
·
5 min
7
Continue straight
2.0 mi
·
3 min
8
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward the route
187 ft
·
4 sec
·
the route
9
Exit the roundabout
0.5 mi
·
1 min
10
Turn right onto North 7th Street
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
North 7th Street
11
Turn left onto West Main Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
12
Continue on South Original Street
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
South Original Street
13
Turn left onto East Cooper Avenue
43 mi
·
1 hr 38 min
·
East Cooper Avenue
14
Turn right
22 mi
·
25 min
15
Turn left
14 mi
·
17 min
16
Turn right
76 mi
·
1 hr 36 min
17
Take the exit slight left toward 8th Street North
374 ft
·
11 sec
·
8th Street North
18
Turn straight onto South 8th Street
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
South 8th Street
19
At the end of the road, turn right onto West Colorado Avenue
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
West Colorado Avenue
20
Continue on East Colorado Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
East Colorado Avenue
21
Turn left onto South Weber Street
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
South Weber Street
22
Turn left onto East Pikes Peak Avenue
423 ft
·
14 sec
·
East Pikes Peak Avenue
23
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
For this 175-mile trip, departing earlier in the morning will give you ample daylight and flexibility. Since the drive is under four hours, you can easily complete it in one day, making it ideal for a spontaneous road trip. Plan for one stop to stretch your legs or grab a quick bite, but you won't need to break it into segments. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the $27 estimate is based on average costs, and local road driving can sometimes consume fuel differently than highway speeds. A specific tip for this route: familiarize yourself with local speed limits, as they can vary significantly on non-highway roads.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 87.5 miles from Basalt, CO, or about 1h 57m 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 38 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.5 miles or 1h 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 12m
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 Basalt, 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 Basalt, CO
This is one driving day of about 174.9 miles and 3h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Basalt, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
87 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 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 87.5 miles from Basalt, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.35 one way
$52.70 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
61 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $27.90 | $55.80 |
| premium | $4.39 | $30.26 | $60.51 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $38.62 | $77.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 52.5 | 0 | $18.36 | $8.40 |
| Efficient EV | 43.7 | 0 | $15.30 | $7.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 70 | 0 | $24.49 | $11.19 |
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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 Saturday
Local time
10:36 PM
MDT
Current temp
44°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
5 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
3h 55m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a route that leans heavily on local roads rather than high-speed highways, with a 0% highway share. This means you'll be navigating a more varied driving experience, potentially with more turns and changes in speed. While the longest uninterrupted stretch isn't specified, the overall profile suggests a continuous engagement with the road rather than long stretches of monotonous driving. This type of drive often allows for more spontaneous discoveries as you pass through different communities.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: Midland Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Basalt, CO to Colorado Springs, CO is easy. At 3h 55m 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 Basalt, CO to Colorado Springs, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 55m. Total distance: 174.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Basalt, CO to Colorado Springs, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Colorado Springs, CO, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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