Origin
Colorado Springs, CO
Late night in Colorado Springs on Sunday
Local time
4:03 AM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Colorado Springs, CO to Highlands Ranch, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 8m
Distance
59.9 mi
96 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 3m
★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 13m
5 PM
1h 19m
8 PM
1h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Highlands Ranch, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 59.9-mile drive from Colorado Springs to Highlands Ranch, Colorado, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 8 minutes. You'll primarily navigate via the Ronald Reagan Highway, Monument Valley Freeway, and CO 470, with about 17% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $9, making it an economical option. The overall feel is that of a turn-heavy local drive, perfect for a straightforward commute or a short excursion within the Mountain West region. Given its manageable length and duration, an overnight split isn't necessary.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan Highway | 45.9 mi | 47m |
| Monument Valley Freeway | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| CO 470 | 4.2 mi | 4m |
| South University Boulevard | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Venneford Ranch Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East Thistle Ridge Road | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| West Bijou Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Pikes Peak Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Highway
— 45.9 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colorado Springs, CO and Highlands Ranch, CO.
1
Start on East Pikes Peak Avenue
0.2 mi
·
47 sec
·
East Pikes Peak Avenue
2
Turn right onto North Cascade Avenue
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
North Cascade Avenue
3
Turn left onto West Bijou Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
West Bijou Street
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward I 25
5
Merge onto I 25
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Monument Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 25
46 mi
·
47 min
·
Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 194
Toward CO 470 West, E 470 North Toll: Grand Junction, Limon
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 194
Toward CO 470 West: Grand Junction
Use the slight left lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 194
Toward CO 470 West: Grand Junction, Quebec Street
Use the slight right lane.
10
Continue on CO 470
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
CO 470
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 21
Toward CO 177: University Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn left onto CO 177
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South University Boulevard
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
13
Turn right onto Venneford Ranch Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Venneford Ranch Road
14
Turn right onto East Thistle Ridge Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
East Thistle Ridge Road
15
Turn left onto South Wild Iris Run
351 ft
·
15 sec
·
South Wild Iris Run
16
Arrive at destination
South Wild Iris Run
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.9 miles from Colorado Springs, 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 57.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
West Bijou Street
Turn left onto West Bijou Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
52.6 mi into trip
|
~56m in
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 194
Toward CO 470 West, E 470 North Toll: Grand Jun...
8
52.8 mi into trip
|
~57m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CO 470 West: Grand Junction
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 194
Toward CO 470 West: Grand Junction
9
53.2 mi into trip
|
~58m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 194
Toward CO 470 West: Grand Junction, Quebec Stre...
7
57.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
Take the exit toward CO 177: University Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 21
Toward CO 177: University Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.03 one way
$18.05 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $9.56 | $19.11 |
| premium | $4.39 | $10.36 | $20.72 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.23 | $26.45 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 21 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18 | 0 | $6.29 | $2.88 |
| Efficient EV | 15 | 0 | $5.24 | $2.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24 | 0 | $8.39 | $3.83 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Highlands Ranch, CO
Late night in Highlands Ranch on Sunday
Local time
4:03 AM
MDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
33 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
1h 8m 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 driving experience characterized by frequent turns, typical of a local route, rather than a long, monotonous highway stretch. While 17% of the drive utilizes highways, the majority involves navigating through local roads and freeway segments. The longest uninterrupted drive is 45.9 miles on the Ronald Reagan Highway, offering a substantial period of consistent travel before you transition to other main roads like the Monument Valley Freeway and CO 470. This route's personality shifts as you progress, moving from more open highway segments to areas with more intersections and local traffic patterns.
Only 17% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 45.9 mi on Ronald Reagan Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 0.4 miles in near West Bijou Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 59.9 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.4 miles (West Bijou Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 52.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Colorado Springs, CO and Highlands Ranch, CO, road signs point toward E 470 North Toll: Grand Junction and Limon.
E 470 North Toll: Grand Junction
52.6 mi in
|
~56m
Limon
52.6 mi in
|
~56m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 8m. Total distance: 59.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 45.9 miles on Ronald Reagan 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 Highlands Ranch, 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 0.4 miles (West Bijou Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 52.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Highlands Ranch, CO before heading back.
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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