Embarking on the 271.1-mile journey from Colorado Springs to Cedaredge takes approximately 6 hours and 23 minutes of active drive time. This route stays entirely within the Mountain West region of Colorado, transitioning from the Front Range area toward the Western Slope. Because the duration is over six hours, it is best approached as a full-day commitment, though you could easily split the trip if you prefer a more relaxed pace. Budgeting about $41 for fuel should cover your needs for the one-way transit. Since the route relies heavily on local roads rather than major interstates, it offers a distinct alternative to standard highway travel for those looking to traverse the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
135.6 miles from Colorado Springs, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 6m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 50
136.8 mi
3h 13m
US 24
71.7 mi
1h 27m
US 285
21 mi
33m
Midland Expressway
15.7 mi
23m
CO 65
10.8 mi
17m
North Townsend Avenue
2.8 mi
4m
West Cimarron Street
2.4 mi
3m
1900 Road
1.9 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
US 50
— 136.8 mi, about 3h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colorado Springs, CO and Cedaredge, CO.
1
Start on East Pikes Peak Avenue
66 ft·4 sec·East Pikes Peak Avenue
2
Turn left onto South Nevada Avenue
0.1 mi·33 sec·South Nevada Avenue
3
Turn right onto East Colorado Avenue
0.2 mi·37 sec·East Colorado Avenue
4
Continue on West Colorado Avenue
0.9 mi·2 min·West Colorado Avenue
5
Turn sharp left onto South Limit Street
0.2 mi·20 sec·South Limit Street
6
Turn right onto US 24
2.4 mi·3 min·West Cimarron Street
7
Continue on US 24
16 mi·23 min·Midland Expressway
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 24; CO 67
45 mi·54 min·US 24; CO 67
9
Continue on US 24; CO 9
13 mi·14 min·US 24; CO 9
10
At end of road, turn left onto US 24; US 285
14 mi·18 min·US 24; US 285
11
At end of road, turn left onto US 285
11 mi·17 min·US 285
12
Continue on US 285
9.9 mi·15 min·US 285
13
Turn sharp right onto US 50
123 mi·2 hr 57 min·US 50
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn right onto US 50
1.4 mi·2 min·North San Juan Avenue
Use the right lane.
15
Turn right onto US 50
2.8 mi·4 min·North Townsend Avenue
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on US 50
14 mi·16 min·US 50
17
Turn right onto D Road
0.8 mi·1 min·D Road
18
Continue on 1900 Road
1.9 mi·3 min·1900 Road
19
At end of road, turn left onto F Road
0.8 mi·1 min·F Road
20
Turn right onto 1825 Road
0.9 mi·1 min·1825 Road
21
Continue on 1800 Road
1.4 mi·2 min·1800 Road
22
Turn right onto CO 92
1.3 mi·1 min·CO 92
23
Turn left onto CO 65
11 mi·17 min·CO 65
Use the left lane.
24
Turn left onto West Main Street
0.1 mi·33 sec·West Main Street
25
Turn right onto Northwest 3rd Street
351 ft·15 sec·Northwest 3rd Street
26
Arrive at destination
Northwest 3rd Street
Trip Plan
Planning for a departure early in the morning is your best strategy to navigate the 271.1-mile distance before evening fatigue sets in. Since you have a planned stop built into the itinerary, use that time to stretch and refuel, as the turn-heavy nature of the route can be more taxing than standard highway driving. Keep your fuel budget of $41 in mind when selecting your pit stop, ensuring you don't run low during the more isolated segments of the drive. Flexibility is a major advantage here, as the lack of interstate traffic allows you to pull over or adjust your pace without getting caught in heavy commercial congestion. Always verify your navigation before starting, as the reliance on local roads means you will be making frequent turns throughout the day.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 135.6 miles from Colorado Springs, CO, or about 3h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 136.8 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 60 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 135.6 miles or 3h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cedaredge, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Colorado Springs, 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 Colorado Springs, CO
This is one driving day of about 271.1 miles and 6h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Colorado Springs, 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.
The longest stretch is on US 50 for about 136.8 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 235.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East Colorado Avenue
Turn right onto East Colorado Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
1.2 mi into trip|~3m in|South Limit Street
Turn sharp left onto South Limit Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
77.5 mi into trip|~1h 40m in|US 24; US 285
At end of road, turn left onto US 24; US 285
Navigation decision point
5
91.2 mi into trip|~1h 58m in|US 285
At end of road, turn left onto US 285
Navigation decision point
6
235.4 mi into trip|~5h 29m in|US 50 / North San Juan Avenue
Turn right onto US 50 / North San Juan Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.85 one way
$81.69 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg95 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$43.25
$86.50
premium
$4.39
$46.90
$93.80
diesel
$5.61
$59.86
$119.71
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
81.3
1
$28.47
$13.01
Efficient EV
67.8
0
$23.72
$10.84
EV Truck/SUV
108.4
1
$37.95
$17.35
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 15, 2026
Origin
Colorado Springs, CO
Evening
in Colorado Springs on Saturday
Local time
7:27 PM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cedaredge, CO
Evening
in Cedaredge on Saturday
Local time
7:27 PM
MDT
Current temp
75°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
31 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
6h 23m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 turn-heavy, local driving experience that prioritizes secondary roads over high-speed interstate travel. With a highway share of 0%, this route demands your full attention as you navigate through a series of turns rather than long, straight stretches. The character of the road is technical and requires a steady hand, moving away from the typical monotonous highway grind. Because you are avoiding major thoroughfares, the drive feels more intimate and connected to the local landscape. Prepare for a slower, more deliberate pace that rewards drivers who enjoy navigating winding paths through the Colorado terrain.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 136.8 mi on US 50.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 50 and US 24. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Colorado Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 23m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 16 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Colorado Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (South Limit Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 77.5 miles (US 24; US 285): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 23m. Total distance: 271.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 136.8 miles on US 50. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Cedaredge, CO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Colorado Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (South Limit Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 77.5 miles (US 24; US 285): Navigation decision point.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.4 hours each way, a round trip means 12.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Cedaredge, CO before the return drive.
