Origin
Colorado Springs, CO
Late night in Colorado Springs on Sunday
Local time
4:28 AM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Colorado Springs, CO to Midway, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 17m
Distance
35.2 mi
57 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 8m
★
6 AM
2h 18m
8 AM
2h 37m
10 AM
2h 24m
12 PM
2h 22m
3 PM
2h 25m
5 PM
2h 36m
8 PM
2h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Midway, CO
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
Colorado Springs to Midway is 35.2 miles and takes about 2h 17m via Gold Camp Road and Old Stage Road, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Colorado's Mountain West region, offering a local feel that's more about the journey than a quick transit. It’s a good option if you're looking for a shorter, more engaging trip without committing to an overnight stay. You'll primarily use unpaved forest roads, so be sure your vehicle is prepared for this type of terrain.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
17.6 miles from Colorado Springs, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 1m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Gold Camp Road | 12.8 mi | 49m |
| Old Stage Road | 7 mi | 26m |
| Forest Road | 3.9 mi | 15m |
| Seven Lakes Road | 3.7 mi | 15m |
| City Water Department Roads | 2.2 mi | 14m |
| Cheyenne Boulevard | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| South Nevada Avenue | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| Penrose Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Gold Camp Road
— 12.8 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colorado Springs, CO and Midway, CO.
1
Start on East Pikes Peak Avenue
66 ft
·
4 sec
·
East Pikes Peak Avenue
2
Turn left onto South Nevada Avenue
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
South Nevada Avenue
3
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Toward I 25 North, US 24 West: Denver
4
Turn left onto South Tejon Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Tejon Street
Use the left lane.
5
Enter roundabout
141 ft
·
3 sec
6
Continue
90 ft
·
1 sec
7
Turn straight onto Cheyenne Boulevard
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Cheyenne Boulevard
8
Turn left onto Cresta Road
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
Cresta Road
9
At end of road, turn right onto Mesa Avenue
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Mesa Avenue
10
Enter roundabout onto Mesa Avenue
66 ft
·
1 sec
·
Mesa Avenue
11
Continue on Mesa Avenue
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Mesa Avenue
12
Continue on Park Avenue
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Park Avenue
13
Continue on El Pomar Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
El Pomar Road
14
Turn left onto Penrose Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Penrose Boulevard
15
Turn right onto FS 368
7.0 mi
·
26 min
·
Old Stage Road
16
Continue on FR 370
13 mi
·
49 min
·
Gold Camp Road
17
Turn right onto Seven Lakes Road
3.7 mi
·
15 min
·
Seven Lakes Road
18
Continue on City Water Department Roads
2.2 mi
·
14 min
·
City Water Department Roads
19
Continue on Forest Road
3.9 mi
·
15 min
·
Forest Road
20
Turn straight
0.7 mi
·
4 min
21
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 17m duration and the unpaved nature of the roads, starting your drive earlier in the day is advisable to maximize daylight. There are no specific stops noted, so plan to bring any snacks or water you might need. The fuel cost is estimated at $5, but it's wise to start with a full tank, especially since you'll be on forest roads for much of the trip. A concrete tip: check the weather forecast before you depart, as conditions on forest roads can change rapidly and affect drivability.
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 17.6 miles from Colorado Springs, CO, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 12.8 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 35 miles or 2h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 17.6 miles or 1h 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 1h 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Midway, 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 35.2 miles and 2h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Colorado Springs, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Gold Camp Road for about 12.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.6 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 3.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.3 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Turn right toward I 25 North, US 24 West: Denver
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 25 North, US 24 West: Denver
6
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
South Tejon Street
Turn left onto South Tejon Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
1.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
3.4 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
Cresta Road
Turn left onto Cresta Road
Navigation decision point
5
3.8 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
Mesa Avenue
Enter roundabout onto Mesa Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.30 one way
$10.61 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $5.62 | $11.23 |
| premium | $4.39 | $6.09 | $12.18 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.77 | $15.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.70 | $1.69 |
| Efficient EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.08 | $1.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.93 | $2.25 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Midway, CO
Late night in Midway on Sunday
Local time
4:28 AM
MDT
Current temp
42°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
2 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
2h 17m 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.
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...
17 mi from route
~43 min detour
$10
near mile 29.1
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized by its turn-heavy local drive, with no highway share to speak of. You'll be navigating a mix of Gold Camp Road, Old Stage Road, and Forest Road, so expect winding sections. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 12.8 miles on Gold Camp Road. As you progress, the drive transitions from paved roads to unpaved, requiring your attention and a suitable vehicle. This is not a route for high speeds; it's about carefully maneuvering through varied terrain.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.8 mi on Gold Camp Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 17m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.4 miles (South Tejon Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 17m. Total distance: 35.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.8 miles on Gold Camp Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.4 miles (South Tejon Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
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 Midway, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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