Traveling from Commerce City to Fort Carson covers 80 miles across the Colorado Mountain West region. You can expect a drive time of approximately 1 hour and 41 minutes, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. With a modest fuel budget of $12, the journey is both efficient and straightforward for your schedule. Because the route is categorized as a turn-heavy local drive, it demands a bit more attention than a standard interstate cruise. Whether you are heading south for work or personal travel, this trip is manageable in a single stint without the need for planned stops.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40 miles from Commerce City, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South Valley Highway
55.8 mi
58m
Monument Valley Freeway
7.8 mi
9m
North Colorado Boulevard
7.8 mi
16m
South Nevada Avenue
5.4 mi
8m
Nelson Boulevard
0.9 mi
2m
North Vasquez Boulevard
0.7 mi
<1m
Wetzel Avenue
0.4 mi
1m
Dexter Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
South Valley Highway
— 55.8 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Commerce City, CO and Fort Carson, CO.
1
Start on this road
0.1 mi·55 sec·this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto Dexter Street
0.1 mi·33 sec·Dexter Street
3
Turn right
148 ft·16 sec
4
Turn left
96 ft·12 sec
5
At end of road, turn left onto East 60th Avenue
200 ft·14 sec·East 60th Avenue
6
Turn right onto US 6; US 85; CO 2
0.7 mi·49 sec·North Vasquez Boulevard
Use the right lane.
7
Turn slight right onto CO 2
7.8 mi·16 min·North Colorado Boulevard
Toward CO 2Use the slight right lane.
8
Continue on CO 2
0.1 mi·17 sec·South Colorado Boulevard
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward I 25 South: Colo Springs
10
Merge onto I 25
56 mi·58 min·South Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 25
7.8 mi·9 min·Monument Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 140Toward CO 115 South: Tejon Street, Nevada AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto CO 115
5.4 mi·8 min·South Nevada Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn left onto Nelson Boulevard
0.1 mi·29 sec·Nelson Boulevard
Use the left lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto Nelson Boulevard
102 ft·2 sec·Nelson Boulevard
16
Keep slight left at fork onto Nelson Boulevard
0.1 mi·17 sec·Nelson Boulevard
17
Enter roundabout onto Nelson Boulevard
142 ft·3 sec·Nelson Boulevard
18
Continue on Nelson Boulevard
0.5 mi·1 min·Nelson Boulevard
19
Turn right onto Wetzel Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·Wetzel Avenue
20
Turn left onto Prussman Avenue
42 ft·1 sec·Prussman Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
Prussman Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this 1 hour and 41-minute trip is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You won't need to worry about planning for major rest stops, as the entire 80-mile route can be completed in one go. Keep your $12 fuel budget in mind before you head out to ensure you have enough to cover the distance without hassle. Given the high volume of local road navigation, prioritize your navigation settings before leaving Commerce City to manage the frequent turns effectively. Staying focused on the transition between the South Valley Highway and the Monument Valley Freeway will help you navigate this local-heavy route with ease.
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 40 miles from Commerce City, CO, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.8 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 18 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40 miles or 53m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Carson, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Commerce City, CO so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Commerce City, CO
This is one driving day of about 80 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Commerce City, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on South Valley Highway for about 55.8 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 72.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Dexter Street
At end of road, turn right onto Dexter Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|East 60th Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto East 60th Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.4 mi into trip|~2m in|US 6; US 85; CO 2 / North Vasquez Boulevard
Turn right onto US 6; US 85; CO 2 / North Vasquez Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
72.8 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Take the exit toward CO 115 South: Tejon Street, Nevada Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 140
Toward CO 115 South: Tejon Street, Nevada Avenu...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.05 one way
$24.11 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$12.76
$25.52
premium
$4.39
$13.84
$27.68
diesel
$5.61
$17.66
$35.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24
0
$8.40
$3.84
Efficient EV
20
0
$7.00
$3.20
EV Truck/SUV
32
0
$11.20
$5.12
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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
Commerce City, CO
Late night
in Commerce City on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fort Carson, CO
Late night
in Fort Carson on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
MDT
Current temp
45°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
1 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
1h 41m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mix of driving conditions on this 80-mile trek, as only 10% of the route consists of highway travel. The journey relies heavily on local roads, including North Colorado Boulevard, South Valley Highway, and the Monument Valley Freeway. You will spend the most consistent time behind the wheel during the 55.8-mile stretch on the South Valley Highway. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive, you will find yourself navigating frequent transitions rather than settling into a monotonous interstate grind. Stay alert as the road character shifts between these primary corridors throughout your trip.
Only 10% 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: 55.8 mi on South Valley 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 0.1 miles in near Dexter Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 80 miles you will encounter 16 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 0.1 miles (Dexter Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (East 60th Avenue): Navigation decision point.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 41m. Total distance: 80 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 55.8 miles on South Valley 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 Fort Carson, 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 0.1 miles (Dexter Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (East 60th Avenue): Navigation decision point.
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 Fort Carson, CO before heading back.
