Orchard Mesa to Colorado Springs is 311.5 miles and takes about 5h 56m via I 70 BUS, North Valley Highway, and West 6th Avenue Freeway, with a fuel budget near $50 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Colorado, traversing the Mountain West region. With most of the drive on highways, expect a relatively straightforward transit. This route is a solid choice if you're looking for a direct way to get from point A to point B without extensive detours.
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
155.8 miles from Orchard Mesa, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70 BUS
230.5 mi
4h 21m
North Valley Highway
60.6 mi
1h 5m
West 6th Avenue Freeway
7.9 mi
9m
Monument Valley Freeway
5.9 mi
6m
Pitkin Avenue
2 mi
3m
US 50
2 mi
3m
US 6
0.6 mi
<1m
East Kiowa Street
0.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 70 BUS
— 230.5 mi, about 4h 21m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,405 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,990
Quietest
2 AM
~79 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.8×
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 Orchard Mesa, CO and Colorado Springs, CO.
1
Start on 27
14 ft·2 sec·27 Road
2
Turn left onto US 50
2.0 mi·3 min·US 50
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn right onto I 70 BUS
2.0 mi·3 min·Pitkin Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Continue on I 70 BUS
4.3 mi·7 min·I 70 BUS
5
Continue on I 70 BUS; US 6
0.8 mi·1 min·I 70 BUS; US 6
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 BUS
225 mi·4 hr 12 min·I 70 BUS
Toward I 70 East: DenverUse the slight right lane.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 261Toward US 6 East: 6th Avenue, LakewoodUse the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto US 6
7.9 mi·9 min·West 6th Avenue Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto US 6
0.6 mi·59 sec·US 6
Toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado SpringsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 25 South: Colorado Springs
11
Merge onto I 25
61 mi·1 hr 5 min·North Valley Highway
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
Given the 5h 56m estimated drive time, leaving in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight. While the route is manageable in one day, there's one designated stop, suggesting a mid-drive break could be beneficial for stretching. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer highway segments, as gas stations might be less frequent. The estimated $50 fuel cost is a good baseline for budgeting, but always factor in potential fluctuations. Since this is a single-day drive, you have the flexibility to depart a bit later if needed, but be mindful of the time.
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 155.8 miles from Orchard Mesa, CO, or about 3h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 230.5 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 69 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 155.8 miles or 3h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 53m
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 Orchard Mesa, 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 Orchard Mesa, CO
This is one driving day of about 311.5 miles and 5h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 miles from Orchard Mesa, 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 70 BUS for about 230.5 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 9.1 and 310.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
9.1 mi into trip|~15m in|I 70 BUS
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 BUS toward I 70 East: Denver
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 70 East: Denver
8
234.5 mi into trip|~4h 28m in
Take the exit toward US 6 East: 6th Avenue, Lakewood
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 261
Toward US 6 East: 6th Avenue, Lakewood
7
242.7 mi into trip|~4h 39m in|US 6
Take the exit onto US 6 toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs
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.
Toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs
7
310.4 mi into trip|~5h 53m 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
310.6 mi into trip|~5h 53m 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
$47.50 one way
$95.00 round trip
$3.87/gal25.4 MPG avg109 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$50.49
$100.98
premium
$4.45
$54.61
$109.22
diesel
$4.80
$58.82
$117.63
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 109 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
93.5
1
$32.71
$14.95
Efficient EV
77.9
0
$27.26
$12.46
EV Truck/SUV
124.6
1
$43.61
$19.94
Gas CO2
109 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 16, 2026
Origin
Orchard Mesa, CO
Evening
in Orchard Mesa on Saturday
Local time
7:28 PM
MDT
Current temp
98°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NNW 5 mph18% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 3:41PM MDT until July 16 at 6:45PM MDT by NWS Pueblo CO
Destination
Colorado Springs, CO
Evening
in Colorado Springs on Saturday
Local time
7:28 PM
MDT
Current temp
87°F
Mostly Sunny
SE 10 mph8% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 3:41PM MDT until July 16 at 6:45PM 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
11 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
5h 56m 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.
Colorado National Monument
National Monument
Colorado National Monument preserves one of the grand landscapes of the American West. But this treasure is much more than a monument. Towering monoliths exist within a vast plateau and canyon panoram...
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
~63 min detour
$10
near mile 311.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 79% of the 311.5 miles on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 230.5 miles, likely on I 70 BUS. Expect to transition from highway cruising to surface roads as you approach your destination. The frequent exits on the urban freeways closer to Colorado Springs will require your attention.
79% 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: 230.5 mi on I 70 BUS.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 BUS and North Valley Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.1 miles in near I 70 BUS.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 311.5 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 9.1 miles (I 70 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 234.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 242.7 miles (US 6): 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
9,023 ft4,646 ft
Total Climb
6,438 ft
Total Descent
5,075 ft
Highest Point
9,023 ft
~178 mi in
Elevation Range
4,377 ft
Notable High Points
9,023 ft at ~178 miles+153 ft prominence
7,302 ft at ~289.3 miles+1,056 ft prominence
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 Orchard Mesa, CO to Colorado Springs, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Lakewood along the way.
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.
Top landmarks
•United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel — chapel in Colorado, USA
•Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun — commemorative tower and chapel in Colorado Springs, Colorado
•St. Mary's Cathedral — cathedral in Colorado Springs, United States of America
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 56m. Total distance: 311.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 230.5 miles on I 70 BUS. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 11 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 Colorado Springs, 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 11 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 9.1 miles (I 70 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 234.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 242.7 miles (US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Colorado National Monument and Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Colorado Springs, CO before the return drive.
