Spanning 87.7 miles, this trek from Fort Carson to Commerce City typically takes about 1 hour and 36 minutes to complete. You will primarily navigate via Chiles Avenue, O'Connell Boulevard, and I-25 North as you travel through the Mountain West region. Because the duration is well under two hours, this journey is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stays. Plan for a fuel budget of approximately $12 to cover the distance. It is a straightforward, practical connection between these two Colorado points that keeps your travel logistics simple and efficient.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.7 miles from Fort Carson, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ronald Reagan Highway
55.5 mi
58m
Monument Valley Freeway
7.7 mi
8m
North Colorado Boulevard
4.8 mi
10m
CO 115
4.4 mi
7m
South Colorado Boulevard
2.9 mi
6m
Chiles Avenue
1 mi
2m
North Vasquez Boulevard
0.8 mi
1m
O'Connell Boulevard
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Highway
— 55.5 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Carson, CO and Commerce City, 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
56 mi·58 min·Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 204Toward CO 2: Colorado BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward CO 2: South Colorado BoulevardUse the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
335 ft·10 sec
Toward CO 2 North: Colorado Boulevard
13
Turn straight onto CO 2
2.9 mi·6 min·South Colorado Boulevard
Use the right lane.
14
Continue on CO 2
4.8 mi·10 min·North Colorado Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
15
Merge onto US 6; US 85; CO 2
0.8 mi·1 min·North Vasquez Boulevard
16
Turn left onto Dexter Street
0.2 mi·52 sec·Dexter Street
Use the left lane.
17
Turn left
0.1 mi·53 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. However, given the turn-heavy nature of the roads, try to avoid peak local traffic hours to ensure a smoother experience without unnecessary delays. You do not need to worry about complex stop-planning, as the duration is manageable for a single, continuous push. Keep your $12 fuel budget in mind before you head out, and ensure your vehicle is ready for frequent stops and turns rather than high-speed cruising. A helpful tip for this specific route is to stay alert on Chiles Avenue, as the lack of long straightaways means you will need to remain engaged with navigation throughout the entire 87.7-mile 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 39.7 miles from Fort Carson, CO, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.5 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 17 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.7 miles or 48m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Commerce City, 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 79.3 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 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 55.5 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.3 and 70.5 — 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
7
70 mi into trip|~1h 20m in
Take the exit toward CO 2: Colorado Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 204
Toward CO 2: Colorado Boulevard
7
70.3 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
Keep slight right at fork toward CO 2: South Colorado Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward CO 2: South Colorado Boulevard
6
70.5 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
Keep slight right at fork toward CO 2 North: Colorado Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward CO 2 North: Colorado Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.95 one way
$23.90 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$12.65
$25.30
premium
$4.39
$13.72
$27.44
diesel
$5.61
$17.51
$35.02
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: 27.7 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
23.8
0
$8.33
$3.81
Efficient EV
19.8
0
$6.94
$3.17
EV Truck/SUV
31.7
0
$11.10
$5.08
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 16, 2026
Origin
Fort Carson, CO
Night
in Fort Carson on Saturday
Local time
10:37 PM
MDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Sunny
SSW 20 to 25 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 12:55PM MDT until April 18 at 8:00AM MDT by NWS Goodland KS
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 16 at 12:44PM MDT until April 17 at 4:00PM MDT by NWS Pueblo CO
Destination
Commerce City, CO
Night
in Commerce City on Saturday
Local time
10:37 PM
MDT
Current temp
46°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
29 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
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...
24 mi from route
~60 min detour
$10
near mile 10.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route features a 0% highway share, meaning your time is spent navigating surface streets rather than cruising at high speeds on major freeways. You will find no long, uninterrupted stretches, as the longest segment on Chiles Avenue offers zero miles of straight-line driving. The personality of this trip is defined by constant adjustments and local road maneuvers, making it feel less like a highway commute and more like a focused, technical navigation through the local area.
Only 15% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55.5 mi on Ronald Reagan 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 6.3 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 79.3 miles you will encounter 13 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 70 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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: 79.3 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 55.5 miles on Ronald Reagan 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 Commerce City, 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 70 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Commerce City, CO before heading back.
