Origin
Erie, CO
Late night in Erie on Sunday
Local time
3:57 AM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Erie, CO to Colorado Springs, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 53m
Distance
95.3 mi
153 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 45m
★
6 AM
1h 53m
8 AM
2h 10m
10 AM
1h 59m
12 PM
1h 57m
3 PM
2h 0m
5 PM
2h 9m
8 PM
1h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Erie, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 95.3-mile trip from Erie to Colorado Springs is easily manageable as a single-day excursion, taking approximately 1 hour and 53 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $14, it's an economical option for exploring the Mountain West region of Colorado. The route primarily utilizes North Valley Highway, Monument Valley Freeway, and Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, offering a straightforward journey. Given its manageable distance and duration, this drive is perfect for a spontaneous day trip, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. You'll be traversing familiar terrain within the same state, making navigation simple.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.6 miles from Erie, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Valley Highway | 79.5 mi | 1h 29m |
| Monument Valley Freeway | 5.9 mi | 6m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 4.1 mi | 4m |
| Erie Parkway | 3.5 mi | 6m |
| Briggs Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East Kiowa Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| West Kiowa Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Bijou Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
North Valley Highway
— 79.5 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Erie, CO and Colorado Springs, CO.
1
Start on Wells Street
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Wells Street
2
Turn right onto Briggs Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Briggs Street
3
Turn left onto Erie Parkway
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Erie Parkway
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 25 South
Use the right lane.
5
Merge onto I 25
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 25
0.6 mi
·
36 sec
·
North Valley Highway
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
8.8 mi
·
10 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
70 mi
·
1 hr 18 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Continue on I 25
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Monument Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 142
Toward Bijou Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
495 ft
·
14 sec
Toward I 25: Downtown
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Turn left onto West Bijou Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
West Bijou Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Continue on West Kiowa Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
West Kiowa Street
14
Continue on East Kiowa Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
East Kiowa Street
15
Turn right onto North Weber Street
490 ft
·
17 sec
·
North Weber Street
16
Turn right onto East Pikes Peak Avenue
422 ft
·
14 sec
·
East Pikes Peak Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
East Pikes Peak Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 1-day, 95.3-mile drive, you have the flexibility to depart at your leisure, though an early start can help you maximize your time at your destination. With an estimated duration of just under two hours and a fuel cost of around $14, there's no need to split this trip. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 79.5-mile stretch on North Valley Highway, as stops might be less frequent. Planning for a single fuel stop if needed would be prudent. This route is designed for efficiency, so focus on enjoying the journey.
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 47.6 miles from Erie, CO, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.5 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 21 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.6 miles or 57m 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 31m
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 Erie, CO so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Erie, CO
This is one driving day of about 95.3 miles and 1h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Erie, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on North Valley Highway for about 79.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
48 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 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 47.6 miles from Erie, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before North Valley Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 79.5 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 4.3 and 94.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4.3 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the ramp toward I 25 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 25 South
6
9.3 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
I 25 / North Valley Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25 / North Valley Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
18.1 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
I 25 / North Valley Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25 / North Valley Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
94.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 49m in
Take the exit toward Bijou Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 142
Toward Bijou Street
8
94.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 50m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 25: Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward I 25: Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.36 one way
$28.72 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
33 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $15.20 | $30.41 |
| premium | $4.39 | $16.49 | $32.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.04 | $42.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.6 | 0 | $10.01 | $4.57 |
| Efficient EV | 23.8 | 0 | $8.34 | $3.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 38.1 | 0 | $13.34 | $6.10 |
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Destination
Colorado Springs, CO
Late night in Colorado Springs on Sunday
Local time
3:57 AM
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
2 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 53m 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...
24 mi from route
~60 min detour
$10
near mile 92
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for much of this 95.3-mile journey, with only about 10% of the route on highways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 79.5 miles along North Valley Highway, which will likely be your primary focus. This suggests a driving experience that involves more frequent navigation and potentially slower speeds compared to an interstate cruise. The road character will shift as you transition between these main thoroughfares. Be prepared for a more engaging drive that requires your attention.
Only 10% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 79.5 mi on North Valley Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 4.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 95.3 miles you will encounter 10 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 4.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 9.3 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.1 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 53m. Total distance: 95.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 79.5 miles on North 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 Colorado Springs, 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 4.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 9.3 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.1 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Colorado Springs, CO before heading back.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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