Colorado Springs to Sherrelwood is 77.7 miles and takes about 1h 30m via Ronald Reagan Highway, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Colorado, moving from the Mountain West region to a similar environment. It's a relatively short trip, making it suitable for a single day. The route is primarily on local roads with some freeway segments, so expect a varied driving experience. Consider this an easy option if you're looking for a straightforward drive between these two Colorado locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.9 miles from Colorado Springs, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ronald Reagan Highway
68.6 mi
1h 16m
Monument Valley Freeway
5.7 mi
6m
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
1 mi
1m
El Paso Boulevard
0.3 mi
<1m
Pecos Street
0.2 mi
<1m
West Bijou Street
0.2 mi
<1m
East Pikes Peak Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
North Cascade Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Highway
— 68.6 mi, about 1h 16m
Traffic on I-25
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~5,006 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~373 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.4×
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 Sherrelwood, 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
69 mi·1 hr 16 min·Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi·51 sec
Exit 217AToward US 36 West: Westminster, BoulderUse the slight left lane.
8
Merge onto US 36
1.0 mi·1 min·Denver–Boulder Turnpike
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward Pecos StreetUse the slight right lane.
10
Turn right onto Pecos Street
0.2 mi·36 sec·Pecos Street
11
Turn right onto El Paso Boulevard
0.3 mi·49 sec·El Paso Boulevard
Use the right lane.
12
Turn left onto Lipan Drive
483 ft·22 sec·Lipan Drive
13
Turn right onto Elder Street
359 ft·15 sec·Elder Street
14
Arrive at destination
Elder Street
Trip Plan
Given the short 1h 30m duration, you have a lot of flexibility with this drive. Leaving in the morning allows you to arrive well before lunch, or you could depart in the afternoon and still reach Sherrelwood with plenty of daylight. With only 77.7 miles, you likely won't need many stops for gas, but it's always wise to keep your tank at least half full, especially when transitioning to local roads. The fuel cost is estimated at $12, so budget accordingly. Pay attention to the changing speed limits as you move from the highway segments to the more populated local roads.
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 38.9 miles from Colorado Springs, CO, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68.6 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 17 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.9 miles or 45m 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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sherrelwood, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Colorado Springs, CO
This is one driving day of about 77.7 miles and 1h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 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 68.6 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 77.3 — 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.
8
75.3 mi into trip|~1h 25m in
Take the exit toward US 36 West: Westminster, Boulder
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 217A
Toward US 36 West: Westminster, Boulder
6
76.9 mi into trip|~1h 27m in
Take the exit toward Pecos Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Pecos Street
7
77.3 mi into trip|~1h 28m in|El Paso Boulevard
Turn right onto El Paso Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.31 one way
$26.61 round trip
$4.35/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.59
$14.04
$28.08
premium
$4.93
$15.08
$30.17
diesel
$5.35
$16.37
$32.73
Estimated Tolls: $0.07
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
(1 mi)$0.07
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.3
0
$8.16
$3.73
Efficient EV
19.4
0
$6.80
$3.11
EV Truck/SUV
31.1
0
$10.88
$4.97
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Colorado Springs, CO
Afternoon
in Colorado Springs on Wednesday
Local time
12:13 PM
MDT
Current temp
80°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 10 mph14% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued June 1 at 3:48PM MDT until June 1 at 4:30PM MDT by NWS Pueblo CO
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued June 1 at 3:44PM MDT until June 1 at 4:00PM MDT by NWS Denver CO
Destination
Sherrelwood, CO
Afternoon
in Sherrelwood on Wednesday
Local time
12:13 PM
MDT
Current temp
80°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
E 8 mph42% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued June 1 at 3:48PM MDT until June 1 at 4:30PM MDT by NWS Pueblo CO
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued June 1 at 3:44PM MDT until June 1 at 4:00PM MDT by NWS Denver CO
89°F
Meridian, CO
39 mi in
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
1h 30m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend a small portion of this drive on highways, with only 9% of the 77.7 miles being freeway. The longest continuous stretch on a main road is 68.6 miles on Ronald Reagan Highway. After that, expect to transition to more local roads with frequent intersections. The frequent turns mean you'll be adjusting your speed often, rather than cruising on open highway.
Only 9% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 68.6 mi on Ronald Reagan Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near North Cascade Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 77.7 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 75.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
7,298 ft5,157 ft
Total Climb
1,418 ft
Total Descent
2,141 ft
Highest Point
7,298 ft
~22.2 mi in
Elevation Range
2,141 ft
Notable High Points
7,298 ft at ~22.2 miles+478 ft prominence
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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 1h 30m. Total distance: 77.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 68.6 miles on Ronald Reagan Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.07 in tolls one way, starting with Denver–Boulder Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 Sherrelwood, CO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 75.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Sherrelwood, CO before heading back.
