Colorado Springs to Kittredge is 84 miles and takes about 1 hour 41 minutes via Ronald Reagan Highway and CO 470, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Colorado, moving from the Mountain West region to the same region. Expect a mix of highway driving and surface roads as you make your way northwest. It's a relatively short drive, making it ideal for a single-day excursion, and the fuel cost is quite manageable.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.9 miles from Colorado Springs, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ronald Reagan Highway
45.9 mi
47m
CO 470
18.9 mi
21m
Monument Valley Freeway
5.7 mi
6m
US 285
4.2 mi
6m
Parmalee Gulch Road
3.7 mi
7m
Myers Gulch Road
1.8 mi
4m
CO 470 EXPR
1 mi
1m
West Bijou Street
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 Kittredge, 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 left at fork
0.4 mi·50 sec
Exit 194Toward CO 470 West: Grand JunctionUse the slight left lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·50 sec
Exit 194Toward CO 470 West: Grand Junction, Quebec StreetUse the slight right lane.
10
Continue on CO 470
6.0 mi·6 min·CO 470
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
162 ft·2 sec
Toward CO 470 ExpressUse the slight left lane.
12
Merge onto CO 470 EXPR
1.0 mi·1 min·CO 470 EXPR
13
Take the exit
125 ft·1 sec
Toward CO 470 West
14
Merge onto CO 470
13 mi·14 min·CO 470
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Exit 5AToward US 285 South: FairplayUse the straight / right lanes.
16
Merge onto US 285
4.2 mi·6 min·US 285
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn right onto CH 120
3.7 mi·7 min·Parmalee Gulch Road
18
Continue on CH 120
1.8 mi·4 min·Myers Gulch Road
19
Turn left onto Columbine Trail
490 ft·21 sec·Columbine Trail
20
Continue on Center Drive
0.2 mi·49 sec·Center Drive
21
At end of road, turn right onto Burnham Drive
118 ft·5 sec·Burnham Drive
22
Arrive at destination
Burnham Drive
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour 41 minute duration, leaving Colorado Springs in the morning should allow you to reach Kittredge with plenty of daylight. This is a drive that doesn't require an overnight stay, offering flexibility. Since the longest stretch on a highway is under 46 miles, you won't need to worry about long periods without services. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you transition from the main highways onto surface roads, as gas stations might be less frequent.
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 41.9 miles from Colorado Springs, CO, or about 45m 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 18 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.9 miles or 45m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kittredge, 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 83.9 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 73.6 — 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
73.6 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
Take the exit toward US 285 South: Fairplay
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 5A
Toward US 285 South: Fairplay
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.37 one way
$28.74 round trip
$4.35/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.59
$15.16
$30.32
premium
$4.93
$16.29
$32.58
diesel
$5.35
$17.67
$35.34
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.2
0
$8.81
$4.03
Efficient EV
21
0
$7.34
$3.36
EV Truck/SUV
33.6
0
$11.75
$5.37
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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 25, 2026
Origin
Colorado Springs, CO
Afternoon
in Colorado Springs on Wednesday
Local time
3:50 PM
MDT
Current temp
52°F
Partly Cloudy
NW 5 to 10 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Kittredge, CO
Afternoon
in Kittredge on Wednesday
Local time
3:50 PM
MDT
Current temp
48°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
4 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
1h 41m 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 36% of this 84-mile drive on highways, with the longest continuous stretch on Ronald Reagan Highway covering 45.9 miles. The profile indicates a blend of highway and surface roads, suggesting a transition as you move closer to your destination. You'll likely notice a shift from faster-paced highway cruising to more local road conditions at some point.
36% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 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?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 83.9 miles you will encounter 16 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
7,127 ft5,578 ft
Total Climb
2,643 ft
Total Descent
1,747 ft
Highest Point
7,127 ft
~24 mi in
Elevation Range
1,550 ft
Notable High Points
7,127 ft at ~24 miles+237 ft prominence
6,378 ft at ~47.9 miles+198 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 Kittredge, CO, road signs point toward E 470 North Toll: Grand Junction and 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 41m. Total distance: 83.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (36%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface 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.
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 Kittredge, 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 Kittredge, CO before heading back.
