Colorado Springs to Keenesburg is 109.4 miles and takes about 1 hour 56 minutes via Ronald Reagan Highway, E-470, and Heartland Expressway, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Colorado, moving from the Mountain West region to the same region. It's a straightforward trip primarily on surface roads, making it a good option for a quick, uncomplicated transit. Plan for a single day, as the duration is well within typical driving limits.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
54.7 miles from Colorado Springs, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ronald Reagan Highway
45.9 mi
47m
E-470
34.4 mi
34m
Heartland Expressway
19.8 mi
19m
Monument Valley Freeway
5.7 mi
6m
North Market Street
0.3 mi
<1m
West Bijou Street
0.2 mi
<1m
East Pikes Peak Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
North Cascade Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Highway
— 45.9 mi, about 47m
Traffic on I-25
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,516 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~218 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
20.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colorado Springs, CO and Keenesburg, 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 194Toward CO 470 West, E 470 North Toll: Grand Junction, LimonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 194Toward E-470 North: LimonUse the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto E470
34 mi·34 min·E-470
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
1.1 mi·1 min
Exit 35Toward I 76 East: Fort MorganUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 76
20 mi·19 min·Heartland Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 39Toward Keenesburg
13
Turn sharp right onto North Market Street
0.3 mi·49 sec·North Market Street
14
Turn left onto East Woodward Avenue
401 ft·13 sec·East Woodward Avenue
15
Turn right onto South Main Street
367 ft·10 sec·South Main Street
16
Arrive at destination
South Main Street
Trip Plan
Given this route is under two hours, you can easily complete it in a single day. Consider leaving in the morning to avoid any potential afternoon traffic, especially as you get closer to your destination. With only one day needed and no designated stops, you have a lot of flexibility. You can make this trip with minimal fuel cost, around $19, but it’s always wise to start with a full tank. Pay attention to local speed limits on the surface road portions, as they can vary widely.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 54.7 miles from Colorado Springs, CO, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45.9 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 24 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.7 miles or 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Keenesburg, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Colorado Springs, CO
This is one driving day of about 109.4 miles and 1h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Colorado Springs, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Ronald Reagan Highway for about 45.9 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 108.9 — 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 right at fork toward E-470 North: Limon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 194
Toward E-470 North: Limon
7
87.8 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 35
Toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
6
108.9 mi into trip|~1h 55m in|North Market Street
Turn sharp right onto North Market Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.74 one way
$37.47 round trip
$4.35/gal25.4 MPG avg38 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.59
$19.77
$39.54
premium
$4.93
$21.24
$42.48
diesel
$5.35
$23.04
$46.09
Estimated Tolls: $4.13
E-470
(34.4 mi)$4.13
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.8
0
$11.49
$5.25
Efficient EV
27.4
0
$9.57
$4.38
EV Truck/SUV
43.8
0
$15.32
$7.00
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (66% 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 May 31, 2026
Origin
Colorado Springs, CO
Afternoon
in Colorado Springs on Wednesday
Local time
3:51 PM
MDT
Current temp
81°F
Mostly Sunny
S 5 to 10 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Keenesburg, CO
Afternoon
in Keenesburg on Wednesday
Local time
3:51 PM
MDT
Current temp
83°F
Sunny
WNW 12 mph1% chanceLive 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
2 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 56m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
National Monument
Beneath a grassy mountain valley in central Colorado lies one of the richest and most diverse fossil deposits in the world. Petrified redwood stumps up to 14 feet wide and thousands of detailed fossil...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 23% of your time on highways, with the remaining portion on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a main road is 45.9 miles on Ronald Reagan Highway. Expect a transition from highway speeds to more frequent stops and lower speeds as you move onto surface roads, particularly as you approach Keenesburg. The profile suggests a drive with many intersections and traffic lights.
Only 23% 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?
8/10
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 Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 109.4 miles you will encounter 13 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.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
7,160 ft4,953 ft
Total Climb
1,253 ft
Total Descent
2,309 ft
Highest Point
7,160 ft
~23.4 mi in
Elevation Range
2,207 ft
Notable High Points
7,160 ft at ~23.4 miles+420 ft prominence
6,385 ft at ~46.9 miles+102 ft prominence
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 Keenesburg, CO, road signs point toward E 470 North Toll: Grand Junction, Limon and E-470 North: Limon.
Colorado Springs is a city of about 490,000 in the western U.S. state of Colorado. The seat of El Paso County, the city lies 63 miles (101 km) south of Denver at the foot of Pikes Peak in South Central Colorado.
Top landmarks
•United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel — chapel in Colorado, USA
•Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun — commemorative tower and chapel in Colorado Springs, Colorado
•St. Mary's Cathedral — cathedral in Colorado Springs, United States of America
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 56m. Total distance: 109.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
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.
Expect about $4.13 in tolls one way, starting with E-470. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Keenesburg, 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 — 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 Keenesburg, CO before heading back.
