Longmont to Cañon City is 151.1 miles and takes about 3h 7m via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This one-day trip stays within Colorado, moving from the Mountain West region to another part of the Mountain West. Expect a drive that involves frequent turns and navigating local roads, rather than a straightforward highway cruise. It's a manageable distance for a single day, offering a practical way to travel between these two Colorado locations without an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
75.5 miles from Longmont, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North Valley Highway
79.5 mi
1h 29m
South Nevada Avenue
30.6 mi
40m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
11.9 mi
11m
3rd Street
9.5 mi
16m
Monument Valley Freeway
7.8 mi
9m
Royal Gorge Boulevard
3.7 mi
7m
Highway 119
3 mi
3m
3rd Avenue
1.8 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
North Valley Highway
— 79.5 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Longmont, CO and Cañon City, CO.
1
Start on this road
63 ft·6 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto 5th Avenue
0.2 mi·47 sec·5th Avenue
3
Turn right onto Collyer Street
0.2 mi·41 sec·Collyer Street
4
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue
1.8 mi·3 min·3rd Avenue
5
Turn left onto CO 119
1.6 mi·2 min·East Ken Pratt Boulevard
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on CO 119
3.0 mi·3 min·Highway 119
7
Take the exit onto West I 25 Frontage Road
0.5 mi·1 min·West I 25 Frontage Road
Toward I 25 SouthUse the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 25
12 mi·11 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 25
0.6 mi·36 sec·North Valley Highway
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
8.8 mi·10 min·North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
70 mi·1 hr 18 min·North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Continue on I 25
7.8 mi·9 min·Monument Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 140Toward CO 115 South: Tejon Street, Nevada AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn right onto CO 115
31 mi·40 min·South Nevada Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn right onto CR 123
9.5 mi·16 min·3rd Street
Use the right lane.
16
At end of road, turn left onto Mackenzie Avenue
126 ft·7 sec·Mackenzie Avenue
17
Turn right onto US 50
3.7 mi·7 min·Royal Gorge Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn right onto South 4th Street
0.1 mi·32 sec·South 4th Street
19
Turn right onto Macon Avenue
90 ft·4 sec·Macon Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
Macon Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour duration and 151.1-mile distance, this trip is easily achievable in a single day, allowing for a flexible departure time. The route has only one recommended stop, so plan your breaks accordingly, perhaps midway or before the longest stretch on North Valley Highway. With a fuel cost estimated at $23, it's a budget-friendly option. Pay close attention to your navigation as the route is described as 'Turn-heavy local drive'; ensure your GPS is set up before you depart Longmont to avoid unexpected detours.
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 75.5 miles from Longmont, CO, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.5 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 33 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.5 miles or 1h 26m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cañon City, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Longmont, 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 Longmont, CO
This is one driving day of about 151.1 miles and 3h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Longmont, 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 North Valley Highway for about 79.5 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 106.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|5th Avenue
Turn right onto 5th Avenue
Navigation decision point
8
6.8 mi into trip|~10m in|West I 25 Frontage Road
Take the exit onto West I 25 Frontage Road toward I 25 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 25 South
6
19.9 mi into trip|~24m in|I 25 / North Valley Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25 / North Valley Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
28.7 mi into trip|~34m in|I 25 / North Valley Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25 / North Valley Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
106.6 mi into trip|~2h 1m in
Take the exit toward CO 115 South: Tejon Street, Nevada Avenue
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: Tejon Street, Nevada Avenu...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.77 one way
$45.53 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$24.10
$48.21
premium
$4.39
$26.14
$52.28
diesel
$5.61
$33.36
$66.72
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.3
0
$15.87
$7.25
Efficient EV
37.8
0
$13.22
$6.04
EV Truck/SUV
60.4
0
$21.15
$9.67
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (66% 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
Longmont, CO
Late night
in Longmont on Sunday
Local time
2:03 AM
MDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cañon City, CO
Late night
in Cañon City on Sunday
Local time
2:03 AM
MDT
Current temp
78°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
3h 7m 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
~61 min detour
$10
near mile 104.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is characterized as a 'Turn-heavy local drive,' suggesting it's not a pure interstate experience. With only an 8% highway share, you'll be engaging with local roadways for most of the journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 79.5 miles on North Valley Highway, which provides a good period of consistent driving before you need to navigate more turns. Be prepared for a route that requires attention to navigation as you transition between roads like South Nevada Avenue and Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
Only 8% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 79.5 mi on North Valley Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 5th Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 151.1 miles you will encounter 15 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: near the start (5th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 6.8 miles (West I 25 Frontage Road): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.9 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 7m. Total distance: 151.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 79.5 miles on North Valley Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 2 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Cañon City, 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. There are 2 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (5th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 6.8 miles (West I 25 Frontage Road): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.9 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Cañon City, CO, but most travelers stay overnight.
