Traveling from Manassa to Colorado Springs covers 188.2 miles through the heart of the Colorado Mountain West. You should plan for a drive time of approximately 3 hours and 51 minutes, making this a very manageable single-day excursion. With a total estimated fuel cost of $29, it remains an affordable trek for most travelers. While you could easily complete the trip in one go, the route's mixed profile allows for a flexible pace. Because both your origin and destination sit within the same region, you will experience a consistent mountain-inspired landscape throughout the journey.
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
94.1 miles from Manassa, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 25 Business
86.9 mi
1h 30m
Santa Fe Avenue
71.4 mi
1h 27m
US 285
21.5 mi
35m
Main Street
3.2 mi
6m
US Highway 85/87
1.6 mi
2m
South Nevada Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
Walsen Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Fourth Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 25 Business
— 86.9 mi, about 1h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Manassa, CO and Colorado Springs, CO.
1
Start on North 5th Street
130 ft·7 sec·North 5th Street
2
Turn right onto CO 142
2.8 mi·5 min·Main Street
3
Turn right onto US 285; CO 17
21 mi·35 min·US 285; CO 17
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
Turn right onto Fourth Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Fourth Street
5
At end of road, turn left onto US 160; CO 17
521 ft·17 sec·Denver Avenue
6
Continue on US 160; CO 17
0.3 mi·41 sec·Broadway Avenue
7
Continue on US 160
71 mi·1 hr 27 min·Santa Fe Avenue
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn left onto I 25 Business
0.4 mi·43 sec·Main Street
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on I 25 Business
210 ft·3 sec·Main Street
10
Continue on I 25 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·Walsen Avenue
11
Continue on I 25 Business
1.6 mi·2 min·US Highway 85/87
12
Take the ramp onto I 25 Business
87 mi·1 hr 30 min·I 25 Business
Toward I 25 North: PuebloUse the straight / right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 140Toward CO 115 South: Nevada Avenue, Tejon StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
406 ft·13 sec
Toward Nevada Avenue North, DowntownUse the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn right onto South Nevada Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·South Nevada Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Turn right onto East Cimarron Street
489 ft·21 sec·East Cimarron Street
Use the right lane.
17
Turn left onto South Weber Street
0.5 mi·1 min·South Weber Street
18
Turn left onto East Pikes Peak Avenue
422 ft·14 sec·East Pikes Peak Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
East Pikes Peak Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 188.2-mile journey, aim to depart early in the day to navigate the various road types with ease. Since the route includes one recommended stop, use that break strategically to stretch your legs and refresh before tackling the longer highway segments. Budgeting roughly $29 for fuel is a solid baseline, but keep an eye on your tank levels before hitting the longer interstate portions. Because the drive is under four hours, you have the flexibility to adjust your itinerary based on traffic or weather conditions. A helpful tip for this specific route is to monitor your speed closely as you transition between the smaller local roads and the faster I-25 Business segments.
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 94.1 miles from Manassa, CO, or about 2h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.9 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 41 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 94.1 miles or 2h 8m 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 13m
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 Manassa, 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 Manassa, CO
This is one driving day of about 188.2 miles and 3h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Manassa, 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 I 25 Business for about 86.9 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.8 and 187.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.8 mi into trip|~5m in|US 285; CO 17
Turn right onto US 285; CO 17
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
96.7 mi into trip|~2h 11m in|I 25 Business / Main Street
Turn left onto I 25 Business / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
186.4 mi into trip|~3h 46m 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
186.7 mi into trip|~3h 47m 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
187.5 mi into trip|~3h 49m in|East Cimarron Street
Turn right onto East Cimarron Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.36 one way
$56.71 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg66 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$30.02
$60.05
premium
$4.39
$32.56
$65.11
diesel
$5.61
$41.55
$83.10
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
56.5
0
$19.76
$9.03
Efficient EV
47.1
0
$16.47
$7.53
EV Truck/SUV
75.3
0
$26.35
$12.04
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (67% 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 21, 2026
Origin
Manassa, CO
Late night
in Manassa on Tuesday
Local time
5:10 AM
MDT
Current temp
27°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Colorado Springs, CO
Late night
in Colorado Springs on Tuesday
Local time
5:10 AM
MDT
Current temp
33°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
6 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
3h 51m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive offers a varied experience, transitioning across different road types to keep your time behind the wheel interesting. You will navigate a mix of local roads like Santa Fe Avenue and US 285, which account for about 42% of your journey. The remaining 58% of the route consists of highway driving, providing a balanced pace between speed and local navigation. Be prepared for a substantial 86.9-mile stretch on I-25 Business, which represents the longest uninterrupted portion of your trip. The transition between these road categories ensures that the drive feels dynamic rather than monotonous.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 86.9 mi on I 25 Business.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.8 miles in near US 285; CO 17.
Driving Effort5/10
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 188.2 miles you will encounter 12 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 2.8 miles (US 285; CO 17): Lane positioning matters here; at 96.7 miles (I 25 Business / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 186.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Colorado Springs is a city of about 490,000 in the western U.S. state of Colorado. The seat of El Paso County, the city lies 63 miles (101 km) south of Denver at the foot of Pikes Peak in South Central Colorado.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 51m. Total distance: 188.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (58%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 86.9 miles on I 25 Business. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.8 miles (US 285; CO 17): Lane positioning matters here; at 96.7 miles (I 25 Business / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 186.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Colorado Springs, CO, but most travelers stay overnight.
