Traveling from Fort Carson to Broomfield covers 93.4 miles through the Mountain West, a trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 51 minutes. Since it is a relatively short distance, you can easily complete this journey as a simple day trip without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via the Ronald Reagan Highway, the Monument Valley Freeway, and the Denver–Boulder Turnpike. With a fuel budget of approximately $14, the route is quite cost-effective for a quick commute. Whether you are heading north for business or a change of pace, this drive offers a straightforward connection between two key Colorado locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.7 miles from Fort Carson, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ronald Reagan Highway
68.6 mi
1h 16m
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
8.7 mi
10m
Monument Valley Freeway
7.7 mi
8m
CO 115
4.4 mi
7m
Chiles Avenue
1 mi
2m
O'Connell Boulevard
0.4 mi
<1m
CO 121
0.2 mi
<1m
West Midway Boulevard
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Highway
— 68.6 mi, about 1h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Carson, CO and Broomfield, CO.
1
Start on Prussman Avenue
0.1 mi·23 sec·Prussman Avenue
2
Turn right onto Chiles Avenue
1.0 mi·2 min·Chiles Avenue
3
Turn left onto O'Connell Boulevard
0.4 mi·41 sec·O'Connell Boulevard
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·53 sec
5
Merge onto CO 115
4.4 mi·7 min·CO 115
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn left
0.1 mi·14 sec
Toward I 25 North, US 24 West: DenverUse the left lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward I 25 North, US 24 West: DenverUse the straight / right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 25; US 24
7.7 mi·8 min·Monument Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 25
69 mi·1 hr 16 min·Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi·51 sec
Exit 217AToward US 36 West: Westminster, BoulderUse the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto US 36
2.1 mi·2 min·Denver–Boulder Turnpike
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
1.7 mi·1 min·Denver–Boulder Turnpike
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
2.3 mi·2 min·Denver–Boulder Turnpike
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
1.9 mi·2 min·Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
0.8 mi·52 sec·Denver–Boulder Turnpike
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi·42 sec
Toward CO 121: Wadsworth ParkwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn right onto CO 121
0.2 mi·30 sec·CO 121
18
Continue on US 287
204 ft·5 sec·US 287
19
Turn right onto West Midway Boulevard
0.2 mi·31 sec·West Midway Boulevard
Use the right lane.
20
Turn right onto Nickel Street
0.1 mi·22 sec·Nickel Street
Use the right lane.
21
Turn left onto West 3rd Avenue
273 ft·17 sec·West 3rd Avenue
Use the left lane.
22
Turn left
192 ft·14 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour and 51 minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around local traffic patterns. Since the trip involves zero scheduled stops, you should fuel up before leaving Fort Carson to ensure you stay within your $14 estimate. Keep in mind that the heavy reliance on local roads means your pace will fluctuate; build in a little extra time for potential congestion. Since this is a single-day commitment, take advantage of the short distance by traveling during off-peak hours to make the drive more manageable. Use the Ronald Reagan Highway stretch to settle into a steady rhythm before you encounter the turn-heavy sections closer to your destination.
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 46.7 miles from Fort Carson, CO, or about 57m 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 21 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.7 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Broomfield, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fort Carson, CO so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Fort Carson, CO
This is one driving day of about 93.4 miles and 1h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Fort Carson, 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.3 and 92.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
6.3 mi into trip|~11m in
Turn left toward I 25 North, US 24 West: Denver
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 25 North, US 24 West: Denver
7
6.4 mi into trip|~12m in
Take the ramp toward I 25 North, US 24 West: Denver
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 25 North, US 24 West: Denver
8
83.1 mi into trip|~1h 37m 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
89.6 mi into trip|~1h 45m in|US 36 / Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36 / Denver–Boulder Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
92.3 mi into trip|~1h 48m in
Take the exit toward CO 121: Wadsworth Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CO 121: Wadsworth Parkway
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.07 one way
$28.15 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$14.90
$29.80
premium
$4.39
$16.16
$32.31
diesel
$5.61
$20.62
$41.24
Estimated Tolls: $0.60
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
(8.7 mi)$0.60
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
$14
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.7 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
0
$9.81
$4.48
Efficient EV
23.4
0
$8.17
$3.74
EV Truck/SUV
37.4
0
$13.08
$5.98
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.
Forecast as of Apr 19, 2026
Origin
Fort Carson, CO
Late night
in Fort Carson on Tuesday
Local time
3:14 AM
MDT
Current temp
33°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Broomfield, CO
Late night
in Broomfield on Tuesday
Local time
3:14 AM
MDT
Current temp
56°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
23 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 51m 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 turn-heavy local drive that transitions through various road types as you head north. Only 23% of this 93.4-mile journey consists of highway driving, meaning you will spend a significant portion of the trip navigating local infrastructure. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on the Ronald Reagan Highway, spanning 68.6 miles. Because of the local nature of the route, stay alert for frequent turns rather than expecting a monotonous interstate grind. The road's personality shifts from the initial departure point to the final arrival in Broomfield, requiring your full attention behind the wheel.
Only 23% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
23 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?
9/10
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 6.3 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 93.4 miles you will encounter 18 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 6.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 83.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Fort Carson, CO to Broomfield, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Boulder along the way.
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.
Broomfield is a combined city and county of about 77,000 in the Denver Metropolitan Area of the western U.S. state of Colorado. Broomfield lies 14 miles (23 km) northwest of Denver and 12 miles (19 km) southeast of Boulder. The only other combined city and county in Colorado is the City and County of Denver, the state capital.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 51m. Total distance: 93.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
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 $0.60 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 Broomfield, 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 6.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 83.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Broomfield, CO before heading back.
