Traveling from Del Norte to Colorado Springs covers 194.9 miles across the Mountain West, a journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 57 minutes of driving time. Because this is a manageable distance, you can easily complete the entire route in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $30 on fuel to bridge the gap between these two Colorado locations. The trip relies on a combination of local routes like Santa Fe Avenue and Grand Avenue, alongside stretches of I-25 Business. Whether you are heading to the city for business or recreation, this drive offers a straightforward transit across the region that fits well into a busy schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
97.4 miles from Del Norte, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 25 Business
86.9 mi
1h 30m
Santa Fe Avenue
71.4 mi
1h 27m
Grand Avenue
16.8 mi
28m
West U.S. Highway 160
12.6 mi
14m
US Highway 85/87
1.6 mi
2m
1st Avenue
0.8 mi
2m
South Nevada Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
Walsen Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 25 Business
— 86.9 mi, about 1h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Del Norte, CO and Colorado Springs, CO.
1
Start on US 160
0.5 mi·1 min·Grand Avenue
2
Continue on US 160
13 mi·14 min·West U.S. Highway 160
3
Continue on US 160
0.8 mi·2 min·1st Avenue
4
Continue on US 160; US 285
0.3 mi·45 sec·Park Avenue
5
Continue on US 160; US 285
16 mi·27 min·Grand Avenue
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on US 160; US 285
0.3 mi·42 sec·Sixth Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Turn left onto US 285
0.2 mi·30 sec·West Avenue
Use the left lane.
8
Turn right onto Fourth Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Fourth Street
9
At end of road, turn left onto US 160; CO 17
521 ft·17 sec·Denver Avenue
10
Continue on US 160; CO 17
0.3 mi·41 sec·Broadway Avenue
11
Continue on US 160
71 mi·1 hr 27 min·Santa Fe Avenue
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn left onto I 25 Business
0.4 mi·43 sec·Main Street
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on I 25 Business
210 ft·3 sec·Main Street
14
Continue on I 25 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·Walsen Avenue
15
Continue on I 25 Business
1.6 mi·2 min·US Highway 85/87
16
Take the ramp onto I 25 Business
87 mi·1 hr 30 min·I 25 Business
Toward I 25 North: PuebloUse the straight / right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 140Toward CO 115 South: Nevada Avenue, Tejon StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork
406 ft·13 sec
Toward Nevada Avenue North, DowntownUse the straight / right lanes.
19
Turn right onto South Nevada Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·South Nevada Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Turn right onto East Cimarron Street
489 ft·21 sec·East Cimarron Street
Use the right lane.
21
Turn left onto South Weber Street
0.5 mi·1 min·South Weber Street
22
Turn left onto East Pikes Peak Avenue
422 ft·14 sec·East Pikes Peak Avenue
23
Arrive at destination
East Pikes Peak Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a roughly four-hour drive, try to depart in the morning to ensure you reach Colorado Springs with plenty of daylight to spare. You should plan for at least one dedicated stop along the way to stretch your legs and break up the 194.9-mile journey. Keep your $30 fuel budget in mind, as local prices can fluctuate significantly between the smaller towns and the larger urban areas. Because the route is relatively short, you have the flexibility to adjust your itinerary based on traffic flow or personal preference. Pay close attention to your speed when transitioning off the 86.9-mile stretch of I-25 Business, as speed limits frequently change as you move back into local road zones.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 97.4 miles from Del Norte, CO, or about 2h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.9 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 43 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 97.4 miles or 2h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Colorado Springs, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Del Norte, 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 Del Norte, CO
This is one driving day of about 194.9 miles and 3h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from Del Norte, 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 I 25 Business for about 86.9 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 103.4 and 194.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
103.4 mi into trip|~2h 17m in|I 25 Business / Main Street
Turn left onto I 25 Business / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
106.1 mi into trip|~2h 22m in|I 25 Business
Take the ramp onto I 25 Business toward I 25 North: Pueblo
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 25 North: Pueblo
8
193 mi into trip|~3h 52m in
Take the exit toward CO 115 South: Nevada Avenue, Tejon Street
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: Nevada Avenue, Tejon Stree...
8
193.3 mi into trip|~3h 53m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Nevada Avenue North, Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward Nevada Avenue North, Downtown
6
194.2 mi into trip|~3h 55m in|East Cimarron Street
Turn right onto East Cimarron Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.37 one way
$58.73 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg68 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$31.09
$62.18
premium
$4.39
$33.72
$67.43
diesel
$5.61
$43.03
$86.06
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 68.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
58.5
0
$20.46
$9.36
Efficient EV
48.7
0
$17.05
$7.80
EV Truck/SUV
78
0
$27.29
$12.47
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (66% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Del Norte, CO
Night
in Del Norte on Saturday
Local time
10:48 PM
MDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Colorado Springs, CO
Night
in Colorado Springs on Saturday
Local time
10:48 PM
MDT
Current temp
44°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
18 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
3h 57m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience that transitions between different road types as you make your way toward Colorado Springs. With a highway share of 52%, the route balances faster interstate travel with slower, local road segments. You will encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 86.9 miles on I-25 Business, which serves as the backbone of your journey. The road personality shifts from the quieter local streets of your origin to the more structured environment of the highway system. Prepare for a varied pace that requires you to stay alert as you navigate the transition from rural stretches to the more developed traffic patterns near your destination.
52% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 86.9 mi on I 25 Business.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 103.4 miles in near I 25 Business / Main Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 194.9 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 103.4 miles (I 25 Business / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 106.1 miles (I 25 Business): Lane positioning matters here; at 193 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 57m. Total distance: 194.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (52%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 86.9 miles on I 25 Business. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 103.4 miles (I 25 Business / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 106.1 miles (I 25 Business): Lane positioning matters here; at 193 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Colorado Springs, CO, but most travelers stay overnight.
