Connecting the Mountain West hubs of Glenwood Springs and Pueblo, this 243.5-mile journey takes approximately 4 hours and 32 minutes to complete. Because the route is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate haul, it is best suited for a single-day trip. You should budget roughly $33 for fuel to cover the distance across Colorado. Since the entire trip stays within the same mountain region, you won't experience drastic shifts in climate or time zones, but the winding nature of the roads makes it a more engaging drive than a standard highway cruise. Whether you are heading out for business or a change of scenery, this direct path offers a straightforward way to traverse the state in a single afternoon.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
133.1 miles from Glenwood Springs, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
145.3 mi
2h 48m
North Valley Highway
60.6 mi
1h 5m
Ronald Reagan Highway
22.9 mi
23m
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
12.9 mi
12m
Monument Valley Freeway
8.8 mi
10m
West 6th Avenue Freeway
7.9 mi
9m
North Freeway
5.2 mi
6m
US 6
0.6 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 145.3 mi, about 2h 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Glenwood Springs, CO and Pueblo, CO.
1
Start on Pine Street
123 ft·8 sec·Pine Street
2
Turn right onto West 6th Street
0.1 mi·21 sec·West 6th Street
3
Enter roundabout onto Laurel Street
144 ft·2 sec·Laurel Street
4
Continue on Laurel Street
448 ft·23 sec·Laurel Street
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
6
Merge onto I 70
145 mi·2 hr 48 min·I 70
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 261Toward US 6 East: 6th Avenue, LakewoodUse the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto US 6
7.9 mi·9 min·West 6th Avenue Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto US 6
0.6 mi·59 sec·US 6
Toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado SpringsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 25 South: Colorado Springs
11
Merge onto I 25
61 mi·1 hr 5 min·North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 25
8.8 mi·10 min·Monument Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 25; US 24
0.2 mi·12 sec·Ronald Reagan Highway
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 25
23 mi·23 min·Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 25
13 mi·12 min·John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 25
2.6 mi·2 min·North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi·32 sec
Exit 100BToward 29th Street
18
Merge onto I 25; US 50
1.0 mi·1 min·North Freeway
19
Take the exit
0.1 mi·12 sec
Exit 99BToward 13th StreetUse the slight right lane.
20
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·18 sec·this road
21
Merge onto I 25; US 50 Bus
1.6 mi·2 min·North Freeway
Use the straight lane.
22
Take the exit
107 ft·2 sec
Toward Abriendo Avenue
23
Arrive at destination
Toward Abriendo Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a 243.5-mile local trek, plan to depart early in the morning to maximize your daylight hours and avoid heavy local traffic. You are allotted one stop along the way, so choose your break point wisely to stretch your legs and refresh your fuel supply. Given the technical nature of the turn-heavy roads, keep your pace steady and remain alert for changing speed limits as you move between local streets and the Grand Army of the Republic Highway. Budgeting $33 for gas is a good baseline, but keep a little extra in your travel fund to account for potential variations in local fuel prices. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so don't hesitate to adjust your departure time if weather or traffic reports suggest a slower pace.
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 133.1 miles from Glenwood Springs, CO, or about 2h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 145.3 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 59 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 133.1 miles or 2h 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pueblo, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Glenwood Springs, 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 Glenwood Springs, CO
This is one driving day of about 266.2 miles and 5h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Glenwood Springs, 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 70 for about 145.3 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 0.2 and 264.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
8
145.7 mi into trip|~2h 49m in
Take the exit toward US 6 East: 6th Avenue, Lakewood
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 261
Toward US 6 East: 6th Avenue, Lakewood
7
153.9 mi into trip|~2h 59m in|US 6
Take the exit onto US 6 toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs
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.
Toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs
6
224.6 mi into trip|~4h 17m in|I 25 / Ronald Reagan Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 25 / Ronald Reagan Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
264.2 mi into trip|~4h 58m in
Take the exit toward 13th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 99B
Toward 13th Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.11 one way
$80.22 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg93 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$42.47
$84.93
premium
$4.39
$46.05
$92.10
diesel
$5.61
$58.77
$117.55
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79.9
0
$27.95
$12.78
Efficient EV
66.6
0
$23.29
$10.65
EV Truck/SUV
106.5
1
$37.27
$17.04
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Glenwood Springs, CO
Night
in Glenwood Springs on Saturday
Local time
10:49 PM
MDT
Current temp
37°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Pueblo, CO
Night
in Pueblo on Saturday
Local time
10:49 PM
MDT
Current temp
81°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
44 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
5h 1m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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
~61 min detour
$10
near mile 220.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a hands-on driving experience, as this route is defined by its turn-heavy local character rather than long, monotonous highway stretches. You will navigate through town streets like West 6th and Laurel, transitioning onto the Grand Army of the Republic Highway as you make your way toward Pueblo. Because the highway share is 0%, you won't be spending time on major interstates, meaning the pace of the drive remains consistent but requires your full attention at the wheel. With no long, uninterrupted stretches on West 6th Street, the route demands frequent adjustments and careful navigation through local corridors. This is a drive where you will feel every mile, keeping you active and engaged behind the wheel throughout the entire four-and-a-half-hour duration.
63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 145.3 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and North Valley Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 266.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 145.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 153.9 miles (US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
10,334 ft4,691 ft
Total Climb
5,840 ft
Total Descent
6,908 ft
Highest Point
10,334 ft
~76.1 mi in
Elevation Range
5,643 ft
Notable High Points
10,334 ft at ~76.1 miles+221 ft prominence
6,633 ft at ~209.1 miles+73 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Glenwood Springs, CO and Pueblo, CO, road signs point toward Lakewood and Colorado Springs.
Glenwood Springs is located in the western half of Colorado, United States of America, right where the south central, Front Range, and northwestern regions meet. It is in Garfield County roughly halfway between Vail and Aspen. Resting at about the same elevation as Denver, Glenwood Springs is famous for its hot springs pool.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 1m. Total distance: 266.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 145.3 miles on I 70. 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.
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 Pueblo, CO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 145.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 153.9 miles (US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.0 hours each way, a round trip means 10.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Pueblo, CO before the return drive.
