Highland Park to Fairplay is 49.3 miles and takes about 1h 13m via US 285, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Colorado's Mountain West region, offering a straightforward drive. It's a good option for a quick transfer between locations without a major time commitment. You'll be on main roads for the entire duration, making it a simple and predictable route.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 285
41.9 mi
55m
Deer Creek Road
6.3 mi
15m
Main Street
0.5 mi
1m
CR 43A
0.4 mi
1m
P72
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 285
— 41.9 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Highland Park, CO and Fairplay, CO.
1
Start on P72
0.2 mi·43 sec·P72
2
Turn left onto CR 43
6.3 mi·15 min·Deer Creek Road
3
Turn slight left onto CR 43A
0.4 mi·1 min·CR 43A
4
At end of road, turn right onto US 285
42 mi·55 min·US 285
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn right onto CO 9
0.5 mi·1 min·Main Street
6
Arrive at destination
CO 9
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 24.7 miles from Highland Park, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
2 of 2
2 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 6.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|CR 43 / Deer Creek Road
Turn left onto CR 43 / Deer Creek Road
Navigation decision point
7
6.9 mi into trip|~16m in|US 285
At end of road, turn right onto US 285
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.52 one way
$15.03 round trip
$3.87/gal25.4 MPG avg17 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$7.99
$15.98
premium
$4.45
$8.64
$17.29
diesel
$4.80
$9.31
$18.62
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
14.8
0
$5.18
$2.37
Efficient EV
12.3
0
$4.31
$1.97
EV Truck/SUV
19.7
0
$6.90
$3.16
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Highland Park, CO
Late night
in Highland Park on Monday
Local time
2:13 AM
MDT
Current temp
82°F
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
ENE 2 to 8 mph15% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 11:16PM MDT until July 20 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Denver CO
Destination
Fairplay, CO
Late night
in Fairplay on Monday
Local time
2:13 AM
MDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
ENE 2 to 8 mph20% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 11:16PM MDT until July 20 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Denver CO
76°F
Georgetown, CO
25 mi in
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
5 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 13m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 85% of this 49.3-mile trip on highways, with the longest continuous stretch on US 285 covering 41.9 miles. The transition to surface roads occurs with about 7.4 miles remaining, primarily on Deer Creek Road and Main Street. Expect mostly highway cruising, with minimal need to navigate complex intersections until you reach your destination.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
6 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.9 mi on US 285.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 285 and Deer Creek Road. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near CR 43 / Deer Creek Road.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Highland Park, CO to Fairplay, CO is easy. At 1h 13m with 85% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (CR 43 / Deer Creek Road): Navigation decision point; at 6.9 miles (US 285): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
Fairplay is a town in the south central region of Colorado, in the Rocky Mountains of the United States of America. It is believed to be the virtual basis of the fictional town of South Park, in the animated series of the same name.
Top landmarks
•Park County Courthouse and Jail — courthouse in Fairplay, Colorado, United States
The longest stretch is about 41.9 miles on US 285. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.2 miles (CR 43 / Deer Creek Road): Navigation decision point; at 6.9 miles (US 285): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Fairplay, CO before heading back.
