Colorado Springs to Nederland is 110.8 miles and takes about 2 hours 23 minutes via Ronald Reagan Highway, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Colorado, taking you from the Mountain West region to another part of the same mountainous territory. Expect a route with a higher number of turns, characteristic of local roads rather than a straightforward interstate journey. It’s a manageable single-day trip, perfect if you're looking for a less predictable drive with a good amount of steering involved.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
55.4 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
Ronald Reagan Highway
60.9 mi
1h 5m
Coal Creek Canyon Drive
18.7 mi
30m
West 6th Avenue Freeway
8.7 mi
10m
CO 93
8.3 mi
12m
Monument Valley Freeway
5.7 mi
6m
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
3.9 mi
6m
Peak-to-Peak Highway
2.7 mi
5m
West Bijou Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Highway
— 60.9 mi, about 1h 5m
Traffic on I-25
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 10 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,860 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,622
Quietest
2 AM
~281 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.3×
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 Nederland, 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
8.7 mi·10 min·West 6th Avenue Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on US 6
3.0 mi·4 min·Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
Use the left / uturn lanes.
13
Continue on CO 93
7.5 mi·10 min·CO 93
14
Continue on CO 93
0.7 mi·1 min·CO 93
Use the left lane.
15
Turn left onto CO 72
13 mi·22 min·Coal Creek Canyon Drive
Use the left lane.
16
At end of road, turn right onto CO 72
5.7 mi·8 min·Coal Creek Canyon Drive
17
Turn sharp right onto CO 119; CO 72
2.7 mi·5 min·Peak-to-Peak Highway
18
Continue on CO 119; CO 72
0.2 mi·34 sec·North Bridge Street
19
Arrive at destination
CO 119; CO 72
Trip Plan
Given this is a single-day drive of just over 2 hours, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Consider leaving in the morning to maximize daylight and enjoy the drive without feeling rushed. Since it's not an exceptionally long trip, you can decide on stops as you go, but keep in mind the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile means you'll be engaging with the road more consistently. For this route, pay close attention to your fuel gauge, especially as you move onto the local road segments where stations might be less frequent than on major interstates.
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 55.4 miles from Colorado Springs, CO, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60.9 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 55.4 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 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Nederland, 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 110.8 miles and 2h 23m.
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 60.9 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 67.8 — 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.
5
1 mi into trip|~2m in|I 25 / Monument Valley Freeway
Merge onto I 25 / Monument Valley Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.98 one way
$37.95 round trip
$4.35/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.59
$20.02
$40.05
premium
$4.93
$21.51
$43.02
diesel
$5.35
$23.34
$46.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.2
0
$11.63
$5.32
Efficient EV
27.7
0
$9.70
$4.43
EV Truck/SUV
44.3
0
$15.51
$7.09
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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 May 27, 2026
Origin
Colorado Springs, CO
Afternoon
in Colorado Springs on Wednesday
Local time
2:05 PM
MDT
Current temp
61°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 5 to 10 mph80% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 27 at 3:44PM MDT by NWS Denver CO
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued May 27 at 12:12PM MDT until May 27 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO
Destination
Nederland, CO
Afternoon
in Nederland on Wednesday
Local time
2:05 PM
MDT
Current temp
55°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 6 mph79% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 27 at 3:44PM MDT by NWS Denver CO
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued May 27 at 12:12PM MDT until May 27 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO
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
6 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 23m 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...
Rocky Mountain National Park's 415 square miles (265,807 acres) encompasses a spectacular range of mountain environments. From meadows found in the montane life zone to glistening alpine lakes and up...
29 mi from route
~72 min detour
$30
near mile 110.8
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 turn-heavy local drive, so be prepared for more active steering than a typical highway cruise. With only 21% of the drive on highways, you'll spend most of your time on roads that demand your attention. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 60.9 miles on Ronald Reagan Highway, offering a brief period of more consistent driving before you transition back to more winding sections. The journey involves navigating through Coal Creek Canyon Drive and West 6th Avenue Freeway, suggesting a transition from more open areas to potentially more developed or varied terrain.
Only 21% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 60.9 mi on Ronald Reagan Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 110.8 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 1 miles (I 25 / Monument Valley Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
8,242 ft5,361 ft
Total Climb
4,190 ft
Total Descent
1,956 ft
Highest Point
8,242 ft
~110.8 mi in
Elevation Range
2,882 ft
Notable High Points
7,140 ft at ~23.7 miles+395 ft prominence
6,406 ft at ~47.5 miles+177 ft prominence
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 Nederland, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Lakewood along the way.
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 2h 23m. Total distance: 110.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 60.9 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 Nederland, 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 1 miles (I 25 / Monument Valley Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument and Rocky Mountain National Park. 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 Nederland, CO before heading back.
