Monument, CO to Midway, CO is 55.1 miles and takes about 2h 39m via Gold Camp Road and Ronald Reagan Highway, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a turn-heavy local drive primarily within Colorado's Mountain West region. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short distance, this trip is perfect for a single day of exploration. It's a good option if you're looking for a straightforward journey without extensive planning, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
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
27.6 miles from Monument, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Gold Camp Road
12.8 mi
49m
Ronald Reagan Highway
12 mi
12m
Monument Valley Freeway
7.8 mi
9m
Old Stage Road
7 mi
26m
Forest Road
3.9 mi
15m
Seven Lakes Road
3.7 mi
15m
City Water Department Roads
2.2 mi
14m
Cheyenne Boulevard
1.5 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Gold Camp Road
— 12.8 mi, about 49m
Traffic on I-25
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,651 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~219 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
21.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Monument, CO and Midway, CO.
1
Start on Washington Street
53 ft·7 sec·Washington Street
2
Turn left onto 2nd Street
0.5 mi·1 min·2nd Street
3
Take the ramp
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 25: I 25 SouthUse the right lane.
4
Merge onto I 25
12 mi·12 min·Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on I 25
7.8 mi·9 min·Monument Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·55 sec
Exit 140Toward CO 115 South: Tejon Street, Nevada AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn right onto South Tejon Street
0.4 mi·51 sec·South Tejon Street
Use the right lane.
8
Enter roundabout
141 ft·3 sec
9
Continue
90 ft·1 sec
10
Turn straight onto Cheyenne Boulevard
1.5 mi·3 min·Cheyenne Boulevard
11
Turn left onto Cresta Road
0.3 mi·55 sec·Cresta Road
12
At end of road, turn right onto Mesa Avenue
0.1 mi·15 sec·Mesa Avenue
13
Enter roundabout onto Mesa Avenue
66 ft·1 sec·Mesa Avenue
14
Continue on Mesa Avenue
0.1 mi·16 sec·Mesa Avenue
15
Continue on Park Avenue
0.1 mi·16 sec·Park Avenue
16
Continue on El Pomar Road
0.4 mi·1 min·El Pomar Road
17
Turn left onto Penrose Boulevard
0.5 mi·1 min·Penrose Boulevard
18
Turn right onto FS 368
7.0 mi·26 min·Old Stage Road
19
Continue on FR 370
13 mi·49 min·Gold Camp Road
20
Turn right onto Seven Lakes Road
3.7 mi·15 min·Seven Lakes Road
21
Continue on City Water Department Roads
2.2 mi·14 min·City Water Department Roads
22
Continue on Forest Road
3.9 mi·15 min·Forest Road
23
Turn straight
0.7 mi·4 min
24
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 39m duration and 55.1-mile distance, you can comfortably complete this trip in a single day, so consider an early start to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop, plan your refueling and rest breaks strategically, especially since the longest stretch is 12.8 miles. The estimated fuel cost is $8, but it's always wise to check current prices. A practical tip for this route: keep an eye on your navigation as you approach the transitions between Gold Camp Road and Ronald Reagan Highway, as the 'turn-heavy' nature of this drive means precise routing is key.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 27.6 miles from Monument, CO, or about 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 12.8 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 12 miles or 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 27.6 miles or 44m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Midway, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Monument, 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 Monument, CO
This is one driving day of about 55.1 miles and 2h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 12 miles from Monument, 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 Gold Camp Road for about 12.8 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 23.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 25: I 25 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 25: I 25 South
5
1.2 mi into trip|~3m in|I 25 / Ronald Reagan Highway
Merge onto I 25 / Ronald Reagan Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
21 mi into trip|~24m 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...
6
21.4 mi into trip|~25m in|South Tejon Street
Turn right onto South Tejon Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
23.8 mi into trip|~31m in|Mesa Avenue
Enter roundabout onto Mesa Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.44 one way
$18.87 round trip
$4.35/gal25.4 MPG avg19 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.59
$9.96
$19.91
premium
$4.93
$10.70
$21.39
diesel
$5.35
$11.61
$23.21
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
16.5
0
$5.79
$2.64
Efficient EV
13.8
0
$4.82
$2.20
EV Truck/SUV
22
0
$7.71
$3.53
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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 May 30, 2026
Origin
Monument, CO
Afternoon
in Monument on Wednesday
Local time
3:54 PM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Clear
W 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Midway, CO
Afternoon
in Midway on Wednesday
Local time
3:54 PM
MDT
Current temp
43°F
Clear
WSW 10 mph0% chanceLive 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
3 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 39m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
$10
near mile 49.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a varied driving experience, leaning towards a turn-heavy local feel rather than a straight interstate cruise. With only 14% of the drive on highways, expect a more intimate connection with the landscape. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 12.8 miles on Gold Camp Road, suggesting periods of more consistent travel before navigating changes in road type. The road's personality shifts, blending efficient highway segments with the character of local byways.
Only 14% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.8 mi on Gold Camp Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 39m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles (I 25 / Ronald Reagan Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 21 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
10,576 ft5,995 ft
Total Climb
4,990 ft
Total Descent
2,914 ft
Highest Point
10,576 ft
~47.3 mi in
Elevation Range
4,581 ft
Notable High Points
9,995 ft at ~39.4 miles+192 ft prominence
10,576 ft at ~47.3 miles+35 ft prominence
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.8 miles on Gold Camp Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles (I 25 / Ronald Reagan Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 21 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 Midway, CO before heading back.
