Colorado Springs to Loma is 325.4 miles and takes about 6h 1m via I 70, with a fuel budget near $49 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays entirely within Colorado, connecting the Mountain West region to itself. Expect a straightforward journey that's largely on major highways, making it a practical choice for a single-day trip. If you're looking for a direct route with minimal fuss, this is a solid option to consider for your travel plans.
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
162.7 miles from Colorado Springs, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
246.4 mi
4h 31m
Ronald Reagan Highway
60.9 mi
1h 5m
West 6th Avenue Freeway
7.6 mi
9m
Monument Valley Freeway
5.7 mi
6m
13 Road
1.2 mi
2m
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
0.9 mi
1m
West Bijou Street
0.2 mi
<1m
East Pikes Peak Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 246.4 mi, about 4h 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colorado Springs, CO and Loma, 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
61 mi·1 hr 5 min·Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 209A-BToward US 6 West: 6th AvenueUse the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·53 sec
Exit 209BToward US 6 West: 6th Avenue, LakewoodUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on US 6
0.9 mi·1 min·Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 6
0.1 mi·10 sec·US 6
Toward US 6
11
Merge onto US 6
7.6 mi·9 min·West 6th Avenue Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.7 mi·55 sec
Toward I 70 West: Grand JunctionUse the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 70
246 mi·4 hr 31 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Toward CO 139: Loma, Rangely
15
Turn right onto CO 139
1.2 mi·2 min·13 Road
16
Turn left onto M¼
62 ft·2 sec·M 1/4 Road
17
Arrive at destination
M¼
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour duration, starting your drive in Colorado Springs earlier in the day is advisable to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop and a highway-focused profile, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longest stretch on I 70, as services can be spaced out. The $49 fuel cost estimate is helpful for budgeting, and since it's a manageable one-day drive, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time as needed.
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 162.7 miles from Colorado Springs, CO, or about 3h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 246.4 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 72 miles or 1h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 162.7 miles or 3h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Loma, 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 325.4 miles and 6h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 72 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 I 70 for about 246.4 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 0.2 and 76.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|North Cascade Avenue
Turn right onto North Cascade Avenue
Navigation decision point
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.
7
67.6 mi into trip|~1h 14m in
Take the exit toward US 6 West: 6th Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 209A-B
Toward US 6 West: 6th Avenue
9
67.8 mi into trip|~1h 15m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 6 West: 6th Avenue, Lakewood
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 209B
Toward US 6 West: 6th Avenue, Lakewood
6
76.8 mi into trip|~1h 27m in
Take the exit toward I 70 West: Grand Junction
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 70 West: Grand Junction
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.03 one way
$98.06 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg114 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$51.91
$103.82
premium
$4.39
$56.29
$112.58
diesel
$5.61
$71.84
$143.69
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 113.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
97.6
1
$34.17
$15.62
Efficient EV
81.4
0
$28.47
$13.02
EV Truck/SUV
130.2
1
$45.56
$20.83
Gas CO2
114 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (67% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Colorado Springs, CO
Evening
in Colorado Springs on Saturday
Local time
7:29 PM
MDT
Current temp
21°F
Clear
NNW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 18 at 2:58AM MDT until April 18 at 7:00PM MDT by NWS Goodland KS
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 18 at 1:05AM MDT until April 18 at 8:00AM MDT by NWS Goodland KS
Destination
Loma, CO
Evening
in Loma on Saturday
Local time
7:29 PM
MDT
Current temp
59°F
Sunny
ESE 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 18 at 2:58AM MDT until April 18 at 7:00PM MDT by NWS Goodland KS
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 18 at 1:05AM MDT until April 18 at 8:00AM MDT by NWS Goodland KS
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
38 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 1m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Colorado National Monument
National Monument
Colorado National Monument preserves one of the grand landscapes of the American West. But this treasure is much more than a monument. Towering monoliths exist within a vast plateau and canyon panoram...
5 mi from route
~11 min detour
$25
near mile 314.1
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?
This route is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 80% of your travel on interstates and freeways. You'll encounter long, uninterrupted stretches, including a significant 246.4-mile segment on I 70. The character of the road is consistent for much of the journey, emphasizing efficient travel over winding scenic byways. Be prepared for a steady pace as you cover these miles on main arteries like I 70 and Ronald Reagan Highway.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 246.4 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and Ronald Reagan Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near North Cascade Avenue.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 325.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (North Cascade Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (West Bijou Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 67.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
On the drive from Colorado Springs, CO to Loma, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Lakewood along the way.
Lakewood
67.8 mi in|~1h 15m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 1m. Total distance: 325.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 1m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 246.4 miles on I 70. 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 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 Loma, 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 0.2 miles (North Cascade Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (West Bijou Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 67.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Colorado National Monument and Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 12.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Loma, CO before the return drive.
