Bike path access
0 mi from route
Trip from Colorado Springs, CO to Ridgway, CO
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 8m
Distance
262.6 mi
423 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 56m
★
6 AM
6h 8m
8 AM
6h 34m
10 AM
6h 17m
12 PM
6h 15m
3 PM
6h 19m
5 PM
6h 33m
8 PM
6h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Colorado Springs, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Ridgway, CO
Ofspace LLC, Culture
Trip Overview
Colorado Springs to Ridgway is 262.6 miles and takes about 6 hours 8 minutes via US 50 and US 24, with a fuel budget near $46 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Colorado, moving from the Mountain West region to another part of the Mountain West. With 88% of the drive on highways, expect a fairly straightforward cruise for most of the way. This route is well-suited for a single-day trip, but you could certainly break it up if you prefer a more leisurely pace.
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
131.3 miles from Colorado Springs, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 59m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 50 | 122.6 mi | 2h 55m |
| US 24 | 71.7 mi | 1h 27m |
| South Townsend Avenue | 25.3 mi | 33m |
| US 285 | 21 mi | 33m |
| Midland Expressway | 15.7 mi | 23m |
| West Cimarron Street | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| South Hillcrest Drive | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| West Colorado Avenue | 0.9 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
US 50
— 122.6 mi, about 2h 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colorado Springs, CO and Ridgway, CO.
1
Start on East Pikes Peak Avenue
66 ft
·
4 sec
·
East Pikes Peak Avenue
2
Turn left onto South Nevada Avenue
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
South Nevada Avenue
3
Turn right onto East Colorado Avenue
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
East Colorado Avenue
4
Continue on West Colorado Avenue
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West Colorado Avenue
5
Turn sharp left onto South Limit Street
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
South Limit Street
6
Turn right onto US 24
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
West Cimarron Street
7
Continue on US 24
16 mi
·
23 min
·
Midland Expressway
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 24; CO 67
45 mi
·
54 min
·
US 24; CO 67
9
Continue on US 24; CO 9
13 mi
·
14 min
·
US 24; CO 9
10
At end of road, turn left onto US 24; US 285
14 mi
·
18 min
·
US 24; US 285
11
At end of road, turn left onto US 285
11 mi
·
17 min
·
US 285
12
Continue on US 285
9.9 mi
·
15 min
·
US 285
13
Turn sharp right onto US 50
123 mi
·
2 hr 55 min
·
US 50
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn left onto South Hillcrest Drive
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Hillcrest Drive
15
Enter roundabout onto South Hillcrest Drive
110 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Hillcrest Drive
16
Continue on South Hillcrest Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Hillcrest Drive
17
Enter roundabout onto Sunnyside Road
21 ft
·
0 sec
·
Sunnyside Road
18
Continue on Sunnyside Road
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Sunnyside Road
19
Continue on South 12th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South 12th Street
20
Turn left onto US 550
25 mi
·
33 min
·
South Townsend Avenue
21
Turn right onto CO 62
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Sherman Street
22
Turn right onto North Charlotte Street
0.1 mi
·
37 sec
·
North Charlotte Street
23
Turn left
83 ft
·
4 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour duration, starting your drive from Colorado Springs in the morning is ideal to ensure you have ample daylight for the entire trip. While you can comfortably complete this in one day, factor in one planned stop to stretch your legs or refuel. The longest stretch without services is 122.6 miles on US 50, so be sure to keep an eye on your fuel gauge before embarking on that segment. Plan your fuel stops accordingly, as the $46 estimated cost suggests moderate pricing along the route.
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 131.3 miles from Colorado Springs, CO, or about 2h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 122.6 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 58 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 131.3 miles or 2h 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ridgway, 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 262.6 miles and 6h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 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 US 50 for about 122.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
131 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 58 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 131.3 miles from Colorado Springs, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 50 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 122.6 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, right off the route
First break
0 mi from route
Woodland Park, Colorado
Hours: 9 am–6 pm
+17196861820
Visit websiteCheyenne Mountain Zoo
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, ~12 min detour
4.7 mi from route
~12 min detour
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+17196339925
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 112.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Colorado Avenue
Turn right onto East Colorado Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
1.2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
South Limit Street
Turn sharp left onto South Limit Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
77.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 40m in
|
US 24; US 285
At end of road, turn left onto US 24; US 285
Navigation decision point
5
91.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 58m in
|
US 285
At end of road, turn left onto US 285
Navigation decision point
5
112.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 32m in
|
US 50
Turn sharp right onto US 50
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.04 one way
$80.08 round trip
$3.87/gal
25.4 MPG avg
92 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.12 | $42.56 | $85.13 |
| premium | $4.45 | $46.04 | $92.08 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $49.58 | $99.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 78.8 | 0 | $27.57 | $12.60 |
| Efficient EV | 65.7 | 0 | $22.98 | $10.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 105 | 1 | $36.76 | $16.81 |
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Origin
Colorado Springs, CO
Late night in Colorado Springs on Sunday
Local time
3:34 AM
MDT
Current temp
62°F
Mostly Clear
WNW 0 to 5 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 12:00PM MDT until July 20 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Denver CO
Destination
Ridgway, CO
Late night in Ridgway on Sunday
Local time
3:34 AM
MDT
Current temp
52°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph
13% chance
Live forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 12:00PM MDT until July 20 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Denver 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
10 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
6h 8m 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.
Curecanti National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
Three reservoirs and surrounding lands make up this recreation area in western Colorado. It is a landscape of tradeoffs; natural and human made features exist together. Geologic wonders are abundant f...
2 mi from route
~4 min detour
Free
near mile 199.2
View on nps.gov
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...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
$10
near mile 36.2
View on nps.gov
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park
National Park
Big enough to be overwhelming, yet still intimate enough to feel the pulse of time. Come see some of the steepest cliffs, oldest rock, and craggiest spires in North America. Forces of nature and the G...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
$30
near mile 226.4
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 88% of the 262.6 miles on higher-speed roads like US 50 and US 24. You'll encounter your longest stretch of uninterrupted driving for 122.6 miles on US 50. The route transitions to surface streets on South Townsend Avenue as you approach your destination. Expect a consistent driving experience with fewer exits for significant portions of the trip.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 122.6 mi on US 50.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 50 and US 24. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Colorado Avenue.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 8m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 12 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Colorado Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (South Limit Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 77.5 miles (US 24; US 285): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
10,839 ft
6,009 ft
Total Climb
8,188 ft
Total Descent
7,160 ft
Highest Point
10,839 ft
~131.3 mi in
Elevation Range
4,831 ft
Notable High Points
8,443 ft at ~18.8 miles
+310 ft prominence
9,043 ft at ~75 miles
+233 ft prominence
10,839 ft at ~131.3 miles
+2,666 ft prominence
8,298 ft at ~206.3 miles
+700 ft prominence
About the Cities
Starting in Colorado Springs, CO
Full guide →Founded 1871
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 8m. Total distance: 262.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 8m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 122.6 miles on US 50. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 2 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Ridgway, 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. There are 2 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Colorado Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (South Limit Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 77.5 miles (US 24; US 285): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Curecanti National Recreation Area, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument and Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Ridgway, CO before the return drive.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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