If you are planning a quick excursion from Castle Rock to Manitou Springs, you can expect a straightforward 43.2-mile journey that typically takes about 53 minutes. This route is an ideal day trip, allowing you to reach your destination in under an hour without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via I-25, the Monument Valley Freeway, and the Midland Expressway. With a fuel cost of just $7, it is an incredibly budget-friendly way to move between these two Mountain West locations. Because the drive is so efficient, you have the flexibility to head out for a morning adventure or an afternoon outing with minimal planning required.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 25
32.4 mi
33m
Monument Valley Freeway
3.3 mi
3m
Midland Expressway
2.2 mi
3m
West Fillmore Street
1.4 mi
2m
North 31st Street
0.7 mi
1m
Fontmore Road
0.6 mi
1m
Washington Avenue
0.3 mi
1m
South Wilcox Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 25
— 32.4 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Castle Rock, CO and Manitou Springs, CO.
1
Start on North Cantril Street
90 ft·8 sec·North Cantril Street
2
Turn left onto 3rd Street
0.1 mi·22 sec·3rd Street
3
Continue on 3rd Street
442 ft·20 sec·3rd Street
4
Turn left onto North Wilcox Street
0.2 mi·38 sec·North Wilcox Street
Use the left lane.
5
Enter roundabout onto South Wilcox Street
40 ft·0 sec·South Wilcox Street
6
Continue on South Wilcox Street
0.3 mi·52 sec·South Wilcox Street
7
Turn right onto West Plum Creek Parkway
0.2 mi·34 sec·West Plum Creek Parkway
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn left onto Frontage Road
0.2 mi·29 sec·Frontage Road
Use the left lane.
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I 25 South
10
Merge onto I 25
32 mi·33 min·I 25
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 25
3.3 mi·3 min·Monument Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Exit 145Toward Fillmore StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
232 ft·7 sec
Toward Fillmore Street WestUse the slight right lane.
14
Continue on West Fillmore Street
1.4 mi·2 min·West Fillmore Street
15
Continue on Fontmore Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Fontmore Road
16
Continue on West Fontanero Street
0.3 mi·33 sec·West Fontanero Street
17
Turn left onto North 31st Street
0.7 mi·1 min·North 31st Street
18
Turn sharp right onto US 24
0.2 mi·20 sec·West Cimarron Street
19
Continue on US 24
2.2 mi·3 min·Midland Expressway
20
Turn left onto Sunshine Trail
0.2 mi·43 sec·Sunshine Trail
21
Turn right onto Washington Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·Washington Avenue
22
Turn right onto Cañon Avenue
146 ft·7 sec·Cañon Avenue
23
Turn right
88 ft·6 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 21.6 miles from Castle Rock, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 37.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|3rd Street
Enter roundabout onto 3rd Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|North Wilcox Street
Turn left onto North Wilcox Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|South Wilcox Street
Enter roundabout onto South Wilcox Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
37 mi into trip|~40m in
Take the exit toward Fillmore Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 145
Toward Fillmore Street
8
37.1 mi into trip|~41m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Fillmore Street West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Fillmore Street West
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.51 one way
$13.02 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg15 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$6.89
$13.78
premium
$4.39
$7.47
$14.95
diesel
$5.61
$9.54
$19.08
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
13
0
$4.54
$2.07
Efficient EV
10.8
0
$3.78
$1.73
EV Truck/SUV
17.3
0
$6.05
$2.76
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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 12, 2026
Origin
Castle Rock, CO
Late night
in Castle Rock on Tuesday
Local time
2:12 AM
MDT
Current temp
74°F
Sunny
WSW 12 to 16 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 12 at 11:50AM MDT until April 12 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS Denver CO
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 12 at 11:50AM MDT until April 12 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS Denver CO
Destination
Manitou Springs, CO
Late night
in Manitou Springs on Tuesday
Local time
2:12 AM
MDT
Current temp
67°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 10 to 15 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 12 at 11:50AM MDT until April 12 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS Denver CO
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 12 at 11:50AM MDT until April 12 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS Denver CO
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
7 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
53m on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 88% of this trip consists of high-speed transit. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-25, which accounts for a 32.4-mile stretch of the journey, making it the longest uninterrupted portion of your drive. The character of the road is utilitarian and fast-paced, designed for getting you from point A to point B with maximum efficiency. As you transition from the interstate onto the Monument Valley Freeway and the Midland Expressway, the pace remains consistent. It is a no-nonsense commute that favors steady cruising over technical maneuvering.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.4 mi on I 25.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 25 and Monument Valley Freeway. 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.
Driving Effort7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 43.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 53m.
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 0.2 miles (North Wilcox Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (South Wilcox Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
7,301 ft6,128 ft
Total Climb
1,309 ft
Total Descent
1,173 ft
Highest Point
7,301 ft
~18.5 mi in
Elevation Range
1,173 ft
Notable High Points
7,301 ft at ~18.5 miles+266 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Castle Rock, CO to Manitou Springs, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Fillmore Street West along the way.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 53m. Total distance: 43.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32.4 miles on I 25. 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 Manitou 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 0.1 miles (3rd Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.2 miles (North Wilcox Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (South Wilcox Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
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 Manitou Springs, CO before heading back.
