Longmont, CO to La Junta, CO is 211.4 miles and takes about 4h 25m via North Valley Highway, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Colorado, traversing the Mountain West region from start to finish. Expect a largely surface road experience, making it a more relaxed drive than a pure interstate trip. With only one recommended stop and a manageable distance, this is a straightforward option for a single-day excursion.
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
105.7 miles from Longmont, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North Valley Highway
79.5 mi
1h 29m
East Cranston Avenue
27.9 mi
46m
Ronald Reagan Highway
22.9 mi
23m
CO 96
20.7 mi
27m
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
12.9 mi
12m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
11.9 mi
11m
Monument Valley Freeway
8.8 mi
10m
US 50
7.6 mi
12m
Longest stretch:
North Valley Highway
— 79.5 mi, about 1h 29m
Traffic on I-25
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 42 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~4,825 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,583
Quietest
2 AM
~318 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Longmont, CO and La Junta, 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
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
1.8 mi·2 min·North Freeway
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Exit 101Toward US 50 West, CO 47 East: Cañon CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto CO 47
3.7 mi·4 min·César Chávez Memorial Highway
Use the straight / sharp right lanes.
19
Take the exit
231 ft·6 sec
Use the left lane.
20
Continue on Pete Jimenez Parkway
515 ft·14 sec·Pete Jimenez Parkway
Use the left lane.
21
Continue on William White Boulevard
2.8 mi·4 min·William White Boulevard
22
Turn right onto Paul Harvey Boulevard
0.4 mi·1 min·Paul Harvey Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
23
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Use the left lane.
24
Merge onto US 50; CO 96
1.0 mi·1 min·US 50; CO 96
Use the straight lane.
25
Continue on US 50; CO 96
6.6 mi·10 min·US 50; CO 96
Use the straight / right lanes.
26
Turn left onto CO 96
21 mi·27 min·CO 96
Use the left lane.
27
Turn right onto CO 167; CR 3
1.7 mi·3 min·CO 167; CR 3
28
Turn left onto US 50
28 mi·46 min·East Cranston Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
29
Take the exit onto West 3rd Street
0.7 mi·1 min·West 3rd Street
Toward 3rd Street
30
Turn right onto Santa Fe Avenue
370 ft·15 sec·Santa Fe Avenue
31
Turn left onto West 4th Street
204 ft·14 sec·West 4th Street
32
Turn left
23 ft·1 sec
33
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 25m estimated drive time, leaving Longmont in the morning should allow you to reach La Junta with plenty of daylight to spare. Plan for your single stop to be a brief one, perhaps for a quick stretch or to grab a snack. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 79.5-mile stretch on North Valley Highway, as services might be less frequent in that section. The $29 fuel estimate is helpful for budgeting, but it's always wise to have a little extra cash on hand for unexpected needs.
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 105.7 miles from Longmont, CO, or about 2h 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 47 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.7 miles or 2h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near La Junta, 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 211.4 miles and 4h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 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 23
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.8 and 145.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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.
6
107.7 mi into trip|~2h 3m 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.
8
145.2 mi into trip|~2h 41m in
Take the exit toward US 50 West, CO 47 East: Cañon City
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 101
Toward US 50 West, CO 47 East: Cañon City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.86 one way
$73.72 round trip
$4.43/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.68
$38.98
$77.97
premium
$5.02
$41.76
$83.53
diesel
$6.28
$52.23
$104.47
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.4
0
$22.20
$10.15
Efficient EV
52.9
0
$18.50
$8.46
EV Truck/SUV
84.6
1
$29.60
$13.53
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 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 Oct 22, 2026
Origin
Longmont, CO
Night
in Longmont on Thursday
Local time
10:29 PM
MDT
Current temp
72°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
S 5 mph23% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued October 22 at 2:13PM MDT until October 23 at 6:00PM MDT by NWS Pueblo CO
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued October 22 at 1:57PM MDT by NWS Pueblo CO
Destination
La Junta, CO
Night
in La Junta on Thursday
Local time
10:29 PM
MDT
Current temp
84°F
Partly Sunny
S 10 mph8% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued October 22 at 2:13PM MDT until October 23 at 6:00PM MDT by NWS Pueblo CO
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued October 22 at 1:57PM MDT by NWS Pueblo CO
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
12 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
4h 25m 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
~60 min detour
$10
near mile 102.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend most of your time on surface roads, with only about 21% of the 211.4 miles on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a single road is 79.5 miles on North Valley Highway. After that initial highway segment, expect more frequent intersections and lower speed limits as you transition to surface streets. The majority of this drive involves navigating through towns and rural areas rather than high-speed cruising.
Only 21% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
33 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?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.8 miles in near West I 25 Frontage Road.
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 23 significant decision points across 211.4 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 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; at 28.7 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Longmont is a city of about 100,000 in North Central Colorado. The city lies in Boulder and Weld counties 30 miles (48 km) north-northwest of the Denver.
Top landmarks
•Dickens Opera House — bank building in Longmont, United States of America
•Longmont Carnegie Library — Carnegie library in Longmont, United States of America
•Downtown Longmont Historic District — historic district in Longmont, Colorado
La Junta is a town in the Eastern Plains of Colorado. It is notable to travelers as the nearest town to Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site, preserving an historically important locale along the Santa Fe Trail.
Top landmarks
•Koshare Indian Museum — museum in La Junta, Colorado
•Wilson A. Hart House — house in La Junta, Colorado
•Daniel Sciumbato Grocery Store — commercial building in La Junta, Colorado
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 25m. Total distance: 211.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 25m 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 3 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 La Junta, 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 3 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 28.7 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 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at La Junta, CO, but most travelers stay overnight.
