Traveling from Colorado Springs to Loveland covers 119.7 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 18 minutes. This trek stays within the Mountain West region, moving you through the heart of Colorado. Given the duration, this trip is perfectly suited as a one-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $18 on fuel for the journey. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive, it offers a different experience than a standard highway cruise, making it a manageable route for those looking to reach their destination without a multi-day commitment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
59.9 miles from Colorado Springs, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ronald Reagan Highway
70.1 mi
1h 18m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
27.3 mi
27m
North Valley Highway
9.6 mi
11m
Monument Valley Freeway
5.7 mi
6m
14th Street Southeast
3.7 mi
6m
South Lincoln Avenue
1.3 mi
2m
East State Highway 402
0.6 mi
1m
West Bijou Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Highway
— 70.1 mi, about 1h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colorado Springs, CO and Loveland, 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
70 mi·1 hr 18 min·Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
4.3 mi·5 min·North Valley Highway
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
5.3 mi·5 min·North Valley Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on I 25
27 mi·27 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 255Toward SH 402: Loveland and Greeley Canal
11
Keep slight left at fork
214 ft·5 sec
Exit 255Toward SH 402: Loveland and Greeley Canal
12
Enter roundabout onto CO 402
252 ft·14 sec·East State Highway 402
13
Continue on CO 402
0.1 mi·11 sec·East State Highway 402
14
Enter roundabout onto CO 402
144 ft·8 sec·East State Highway 402
15
Continue on CO 402
0.4 mi·46 sec·East State Highway 402
16
Continue on CO 402
3.7 mi·6 min·14th Street Southeast
17
Take the ramp
183 ft·5 sec
18
Merge onto US 287
1.3 mi·2 min·South Lincoln Avenue
19
Turn left onto East 6th Street
501 ft·23 sec·East 6th Street
20
Arrive at destination
East 6th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours is always a smart move. Because the route involves zero formal stops, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you head out, keeping that $18 budget in mind for your gas planning. You won't need to worry about splitting the trip into multiple days, allowing you to complete the 119.7-mile distance in one go. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to stay alert during the transition between the Ronald Reagan Highway and the other local segments, as the turn-heavy nature of the route requires your full attention throughout the 2-hour and 18-minute duration.
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 59.9 miles from Colorado Springs, CO, or about 1h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.1 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 26 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.9 miles or 1h 8m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Loveland, 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 119.7 miles and 2h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 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 70.1 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 113.9 — 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.
6
76.8 mi into trip|~1h 27m in|I 25 / North Valley Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25 / North Valley Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
81.2 mi into trip|~1h 33m in|I 25 / North Valley Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25 / North Valley Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
113.9 mi into trip|~2h 6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward SH 402: Loveland and Greeley Canal
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 255
Toward SH 402: Loveland and Greeley Canal
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.04 one way
$36.07 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$19.10
$38.19
premium
$4.39
$20.71
$41.41
diesel
$5.61
$26.43
$52.86
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.9
0
$12.57
$5.75
Efficient EV
29.9
0
$10.47
$4.79
EV Truck/SUV
47.9
0
$16.76
$7.66
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Colorado Springs, CO
Night
in Colorado Springs on Saturday
Local time
10:44 PM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Loveland, CO
Night
in Loveland on Saturday
Local time
10:44 PM
MDT
Current temp
44°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 18m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mix of driving styles on this route, as it is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straight interstate dash. You will navigate via the Ronald Reagan Highway, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, and the North Valley Highway. With only 5% of the trip spent on highways, the experience feels much more grounded and localized. The longest stretch you will encounter is a 70.1-mile segment on the Ronald Reagan Highway, which serves as the primary backbone of your trip. Prepare for a dynamic driving experience that shifts frequently as you transition between these different roadway types.
Only 5% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70.1 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 0.2 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 12 significant decision points across 119.7 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 76.8 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): 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.
On the drive from Colorado Springs, CO to Loveland, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Sh 402: Loveland And Greeley Canal along the way.
Sh 402: Loveland And Greeley Canal
113.7 mi in|~2h 6m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 18m. Total distance: 119.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 70.1 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 Loveland, 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. 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 76.8 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): 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 Loveland, CO before heading back.
