Traveling from La Junta to Colorado Springs covers 106.9 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 48 minutes. Because this is a relatively short trek, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $15 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Mountain West locations. Navigating this route involves primarily local roads like West 4th Street, Santa Fe Avenue, and West 1st Street, rather than major interstates. It serves as a straightforward connection between these two Colorado points, making it a manageable drive for those looking to reach their destination efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.9 miles from La Junta, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 50
26.2 mi
43m
Ronald Reagan Highway
23 mi
23m
CO 96
20.7 mi
27m
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
12.9 mi
12m
West 3rd Street
9.3 mi
15m
César Chávez Memorial Highway
3.8 mi
5m
William White Boulevard
2.8 mi
4m
North Freeway
1.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 50
— 26.2 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between La Junta, CO and Colorado Springs, CO.
1
Start on this road
23 ft·3 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto West 4th Street
204 ft·11 sec·West 4th Street
3
Turn right onto Santa Fe Avenue
0.2 mi·32 sec·Santa Fe Avenue
4
At end of road, turn left onto US 50
0.7 mi·1 min·West 1st Street
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on US 50
9.3 mi·15 min·West 3rd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on US 50
19 mi·31 min·US 50
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Turn right onto CO 167
1.7 mi·3 min·South Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Turn left onto CO 96
21 mi·27 min·CO 96
9
Continue on US 50; CO 96
7.6 mi·12 min·US 50; CO 96
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn right onto Paul Harvey Boulevard
0.3 mi·48 sec·Paul Harvey Boulevard
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
12
At end of road, turn left onto William White Boulevard
2.8 mi·4 min·William White Boulevard
13
Turn right onto CO 47
3.8 mi·5 min·César Chávez Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward I 25 North: Denver
15
Merge onto I 25
1.8 mi·1 min·North Freeway
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on I 25
13 mi·12 min·John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 25
23 mi·23 min·Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 140Toward CO 115 South: Nevada Avenue, Tejon StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork
406 ft·13 sec
Toward Nevada Avenue North, DowntownUse the straight / right lanes.
20
Turn right onto South Nevada Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·South Nevada Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Turn right onto East Cimarron Street
489 ft·21 sec·East Cimarron Street
Use the right lane.
22
Turn left onto South Weber Street
0.5 mi·1 min·South Weber Street
23
Turn left onto East Pikes Peak Avenue
422 ft·14 sec·East Pikes Peak Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
East Pikes Peak Avenue
Trip Plan
Since the total duration is under two hours, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time. You won't need to worry about planning formal stops for this quick trip, but keeping your fuel budget of $15 in mind is a smart way to stay prepared before you head out. Because you are navigating entirely on local roads, maintain a steady pace and be mindful of local traffic patterns throughout the journey. The lack of highway miles means you should account for potential stop-and-go conditions while moving through the various streets on your route. Use this short travel time to your advantage by planning your arrival in Colorado Springs for whenever suits your schedule best.
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 52.9 miles from La Junta, CO, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.2 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 23 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.9 miles or 1h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 4m
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 La Junta, 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 La Junta, CO
This is one driving day of about 105.8 miles and 2h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from La Junta, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 50 for about 26.2 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 28.9 and 105.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
28.9 mi into trip|~49m in|CO 167 / South Main Street
Turn right onto CO 167 / South Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
59.1 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|Paul Harvey Boulevard
Turn right onto Paul Harvey Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
8
104 mi into trip|~2h 21m in
Take the exit toward CO 115 South: Nevada Avenue, Tejon Street
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.
Exit 140
Toward CO 115 South: Nevada Avenue, Tejon Stree...
8
104.3 mi into trip|~2h 22m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Nevada Avenue North, Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward Nevada Avenue North, Downtown
6
105.2 mi into trip|~2h 24m in|East Cimarron Street
Turn right onto East Cimarron Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.94 one way
$31.88 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$16.88
$33.76
premium
$4.39
$18.30
$36.61
diesel
$5.61
$23.36
$46.72
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.7
0
$11.11
$5.08
Efficient EV
26.5
0
$9.26
$4.23
EV Truck/SUV
42.3
0
$14.81
$6.77
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 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 15, 2026
Origin
La Junta, CO
Late night
in La Junta on Sunday
Local time
3:57 AM
MDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
2h 26m 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...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
$10
near mile 105.8
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 rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features 0% highway travel. You will spend your time navigating through local thoroughfares, meaning you should be prepared for frequent adjustments and standard road transitions. There is no single long-distance stretch on this path, as the longest uninterrupted segment is 0 miles on West 4th Street. This setup creates a more engaged experience behind the wheel compared to a high-speed highway commute. Stay alert to the changing nature of the local streets as you transition from the starting point to your final destination.
46% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.2 mi on US 50.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 28.9 miles in near CO 167 / South Main Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 105.8 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 28.9 miles (CO 167 / South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 59.1 miles (Paul Harvey Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 104 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
6,009 ft4,078 ft
Total Climb
1,931 ft
Total Descent
0 ft
Highest Point
6,009 ft
~105.8 mi in
Elevation Range
1,931 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 26m. Total distance: 105.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (46%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.2 miles on US 50. 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 28.9 miles (CO 167 / South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 59.1 miles (Paul Harvey Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 104 miles: 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Colorado Springs, CO before heading back.
