Spanning 97.2 miles, the journey from Lochbuie to Colorado Springs is a straightforward trek through the Mountain West. You should anticipate a drive time of approximately 1 hour and 29 minutes, making this an ideal candidate for a quick day trip. With a fuel budget of roughly $13, it is an economical excursion that does not require an overnight stay. While the route utilizes segments of I-76 and East 168th Avenue, it functions primarily as a local connection rather than a long-haul interstate haul. Because the drive is relatively short, you have the flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule without worrying about fatigue. This route serves as a practical link between these two Colorado locations, offering a direct path for those looking to travel between the regions efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.5 miles from Lochbuie, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 25
45.7 mi
47m
E-470
35.1 mi
35m
Heartland Expressway
6.2 mi
6m
Monument Valley Freeway
5.9 mi
6m
County Road 37
0.4 mi
<1m
East Kiowa Street
0.3 mi
1m
West Kiowa Street
0.2 mi
<1m
West Bijou Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 25
— 45.7 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lochbuie, CO and Colorado Springs, CO.
1
Start on County Road 37
0.4 mi·58 sec·County Road 37
2
At end of road, turn right onto I-76 Frontage Road
0.1 mi·15 sec·I-76 Frontage Road
3
Enter roundabout onto East 168th Avenue
252 ft·5 sec·East 168th Avenue
4
Continue on East 168th Avenue
109 ft·2 sec·East 168th Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·46 sec
Toward I 76 West
6
Merge onto I 76
6.2 mi·6 min·Heartland Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
1.0 mi·2 min
Exit 18Toward E470 Toll South: LimonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto E470
35 mi·35 min·E-470
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 1AToward I 25: Denver, Colorado Springs
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 1AToward I 25 South: Colorado SpringsUse the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Merge onto I 25
46 mi·47 min·I 25
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 25
5.9 mi·6 min·Monument Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 142Toward Bijou StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
495 ft·14 sec
Toward I 25: DowntownUse the straight / left lanes.
15
Turn left onto West Bijou Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·West Bijou Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
16
Continue on West Kiowa Street
0.2 mi·35 sec·West Kiowa Street
17
Continue on East Kiowa Street
0.3 mi·1 min·East Kiowa Street
18
Turn right onto North Weber Street
490 ft·17 sec·North Weber Street
19
Turn right onto East Pikes Peak Avenue
422 ft·14 sec·East Pikes Peak Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
East Pikes Peak Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick 1 hour and 29 minute trip, you have the advantage of total scheduling flexibility. You do not need to worry about planning formal stops, as the duration is manageable in a single stretch. Before heading out, double-check your vehicle's fuel levels, as the $13 estimate is based on typical consumption for the 97.2-mile distance. Because this is a turn-heavy local route, pay close attention to your navigation system to ensure you don't miss any of the specific transitions required between East 168th Avenue and your local connections. Making this drive during off-peak hours will help you avoid potential congestion, ensuring you reach Colorado Springs as efficiently as possible.
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 48.5 miles from Lochbuie, CO, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45.7 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 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.5 miles or 51m 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 23m
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 Lochbuie, CO so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lochbuie, CO
This is one driving day of about 97 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Lochbuie, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 25 for about 45.7 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 7.2 and 96.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
7.2 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the exit toward E470 Toll South: Limon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 18
Toward E470 Toll South: Limon
6
43.3 mi into trip|~45m in
Take the exit toward I 25: Denver, Colorado Springs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 1A
Toward I 25: Denver, Colorado Springs
8
43.5 mi into trip|~46m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 25 South: Colorado Springs
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward I 25 South: Colorado Springs
7
95.8 mi into trip|~1h 41m in
Take the exit toward Bijou Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 142
Toward Bijou Street
8
96.1 mi into trip|~1h 42m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 25: Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward I 25: Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.61 one way
$29.23 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$15.47
$30.95
premium
$4.39
$16.78
$33.56
diesel
$5.61
$21.42
$42.83
Estimated Tolls: $4.22
E-470
(35.1 mi)$4.22
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
$15
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.1
0
$10.18
$4.66
Efficient EV
24.3
0
$8.49
$3.88
EV Truck/SUV
38.8
0
$13.58
$6.21
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Lochbuie, CO
Morning
in Lochbuie on Sunday
Local time
6:00 AM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Colorado Springs, CO
Morning
in Colorado Springs on Sunday
Local time
6:00 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
2 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 44m 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...
24 mi from route
~60 min detour
$10
near mile 93.6
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 driving experience rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. Since the highway share is 0%, you will spend your time navigating local roads and connectors rather than sustained high-speed lanes. Even with the inclusion of I-76 in the route data, there are effectively 0 miles of uninterrupted highway driving, meaning you will stay engaged with the steering wheel throughout the trip. The road personality is defined by its technical nature, requiring your full attention as you transition between local segments. As you progress toward your destination, the character of the road remains consistent, favoring a local pace that keeps you moving steadily through the Colorado landscape.
60% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 45.7 mi on I 25.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 7.2 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 97 miles you will encounter 14 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 7.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Lochbuie, CO to Colorado Springs, CO, road signs begin pointing toward E470 Toll South: Limon along the way.
E470 Toll South: Limon
7.2 mi in|~8m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 44m. Total distance: 97 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (60%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 45.7 miles on I 25. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.22 in tolls one way, starting with E-470. 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 Colorado Springs, 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 7.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Colorado Springs, CO before heading back.
