Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
36m
Distance
28.3 mi
45 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Castle Rock, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Ken Caryl, CO
RDNE Stock project
Castle Rock to Ken Caryl is 28.3 miles and takes about 36 minutes via CO 470 and I-25, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive stays within the Mountain West region of Colorado, offering a straightforward connection between two nearby communities. With a high percentage of highway driving, this route is best suited for those looking for a quick and efficient transit rather than a scenic excursion. It's a practical option for a same-day trip, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CO 470 | 11.8 mi | 13m |
| I 25 | 11.7 mi | 12m |
| CO 470 EXPR | 1 mi | 1m |
| South Kipling Parkway | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| North Wilcox Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| South Sangre de Cristo Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| 3rd Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Chatfield Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 6 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~6,318 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~305 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
20.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 104 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Castle Rock, CO and Ken Caryl, CO.
Start on North Cantril Street
Turn left onto 3rd Street
Continue on 3rd Street
Turn right onto North Wilcox Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 25
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Continue on CO 470
Take the exit
Merge onto CO 470 EXPR
Take the exit
Merge onto CO 470
Take the exit
Turn right onto CR 25
Turn left onto CR 56
Turn right onto South Sangre de Cristo Road
Turn left onto West Crestone Mountain Road
Turn right onto South Cottonwood Mountain
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 26.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Enter roundabout onto 3rd Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Take the exit toward CO 470 West, E 470 North Toll: Grand Junction, Limon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward CO 470 West: Grand Junction
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward CO 470 West: Grand Junction, Quebec Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward CR 25: South Kipling Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$4.78 one way
$9.55 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $5.04 | $10.08 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.45 | $10.89 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $6.24 | $12.48 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.97 | $1.36 |
| Efficient EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.48 | $1.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.96 | $1.81 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Castle Rock on Saturday
Local time
6:21 AM
MDT
Current temp
59°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Morning in Ken Caryl on Saturday
Local time
6:21 AM
MDT
Current temp
60°F
Mostly Clear
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This drive is predominantly highway, with 89% of the 28.3 miles on high-speed roads like CO 470 and I-25. You'll experience a lengthy stretch of 11.8 miles on CO 470, likely involving consistent speeds and fewer intersections. The transition to more local roads will occur as you approach Ken Caryl, marking the end of the faster highway segment. Expect a smooth, direct travel experience for the majority of your trip.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CO 470 and I 25. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 3rd Street.
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 17 decision points packed into just 28.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 36m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (3rd Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 12.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
Total Climb
547 ft
Total Descent
1,002 ft
Highest Point
6,397 ft
~6.1 mi in
Elevation Range
954 ft
Notable High Points
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Castle Rock, CO and Ken Caryl, CO, road signs point toward E 470 North Toll: Grand Junction and Limon.
E 470 North Toll: Grand Junction
Limon
Founded 1874
Castle Rock is a town of about 81,000 in the Denver Metropolitan Area of the western U.S. state of Colorado. The seat of Douglas County, the town lies 26 miles (42 km) south-southeast of Denver.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 36m. Total distance: 28.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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