Bike path access
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Trip from Ouray, CO to Pueblo, CO
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 32m
Distance
260.9 mi
420 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$44
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 21m
★
6 AM
6h 33m
8 AM
6h 57m
10 AM
6h 42m
12 PM
6h 39m
3 PM
6h 43m
5 PM
6h 56m
8 PM
6h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ouray, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Pueblo, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Ouray to Pueblo is 260.9 miles and takes about 6h 32m via US 50, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This one-day trip stays within Colorado, traveling from the Mountain West region to another part of the Mountain West. You'll spend most of your time on highway, making for a relatively straightforward drive. Consider this route if you're looking for a direct connection between these two points 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
130.4 miles from Ouray, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 5m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 50 | 214.2 mi | 5h 27m |
| Main Street | 35.4 mi | 47m |
| East Main Street | 6 mi | 8m |
| North Freeway | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| Hillcrest Drive | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| South 12th Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| South Hillcrest Drive | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Sunnyside Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 50
— 214.2 mi, about 5h 27m
Traffic on I-25
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,381 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~157 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
21.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 102 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 Ouray, CO and Pueblo, CO.
1
Start on 6th Avenue
12 ft
·
2 sec
·
6th Avenue
2
Turn right onto US 550
35 mi
·
47 min
·
Main Street
3
Turn right onto South 12th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South 12th Street
4
Continue on Sunnyside Road
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Sunnyside Road
5
Enter roundabout onto Hillcrest Drive
153 ft
·
6 sec
·
Hillcrest Drive
6
Continue on Hillcrest Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Hillcrest Drive
7
Enter roundabout onto South Hillcrest Drive
130 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Hillcrest Drive
8
Continue on South Hillcrest Drive
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Hillcrest Drive
9
Turn right onto US 50
6.0 mi
·
8 min
·
East Main Street
10
Continue on US 50
117 mi
·
2 hr 47 min
·
US 50
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn left onto US 50
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
US 50
12
Continue on US 50
34 mi
·
55 min
·
US 50
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on US 50
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
US 50
Use the straight / left lanes.
14
Continue on US 50
61 mi
·
1 hr 39 min
·
US 50
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
Continue on US 50
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
US 50
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Take the exit onto US 50
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
US 50
Toward I 25 South: Trinidad
Use the right lane.
17
Merge onto I 25; US 50
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
North Freeway
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 100B
Toward 29th Street
19
Merge onto I 25; US 50
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Freeway
20
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
Exit 99B
Toward 13th Street
Use the slight right lane.
21
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
this road
22
Merge onto I 25; US 50 Bus
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
North Freeway
Use the straight lane.
23
Take the exit
107 ft
·
2 sec
Toward Abriendo Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
Toward Abriendo Avenue
Trip Plan
With a drive time of just over 6.5 hours, this route is easily manageable in a single day. Aim to leave Ouray in the morning to give yourself ample time to reach Pueblo. The longest stretch without a major town is 214.2 miles on US 50, so plan to fuel up before you leave Ouray or at one of the towns along that stretch. With only one recommended stop, you have a lot of flexibility in pacing your drive.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 130.4 miles from Ouray, CO, or about 3h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 214.2 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 57 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 130.4 miles or 3h 5m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pueblo, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ouray, 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 Ouray, CO
This is one driving day of about 260.9 miles and 6h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Ouray, 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 US 50 for about 214.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
130 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 57 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 130.4 miles from Ouray, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 50 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 214.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
1.5 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
2.3 mi from route
Mineral Palace Park
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.9 mi from route
~5 min detour
Pueblo, Colorado
Hours: 6 am–10 pm
+17195532790
Visit websiteMontrose Children's Museum
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
First break
1.4 mi from route
~4 min detour
Montrose, Colorado
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19709649995
Visit websiteBachelor Syracuse Mine Tour
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
2.6 mi from route
~6 min detour
Ouray, Colorado
+19703250220
Visit websiteCity Park
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2.8 mi from route
~7 min detour
Pueblo, Colorado
Hours: 6 am–10 pm
+17195532790
Visit websiteMuseum of Colorado Prisons
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Cañon City, Colorado
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+17192693015
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 36.1 and 259.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
36.1 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
Hillcrest Drive
Enter roundabout onto Hillcrest Drive
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
257 mi into trip
|
~6h 27m in
|
US 50
Take the exit onto US 50 toward I 25 South: Trinidad
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 25 South: Trinidad
5
257.4 mi into trip
|
~6h 28m in
Take the exit toward 29th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 100B
Toward 29th Street
7
258.9 mi into trip
|
~6h 30m in
Take the exit toward 13th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 99B
Toward 13th Street
5
259.3 mi into trip
|
~6h 30m in
|
I 25; US 50 Bus / North Freeway
Merge onto I 25; US 50 Bus / North Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.45 one way
$88.89 round trip
$4.33/gal
25.4 MPG avg
91 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.58 | $47.00 | $94.01 |
| premium | $4.90 | $50.37 | $100.74 |
| diesel | $6.18 | $63.47 | $126.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 78.3 | 0 | $27.39 | $12.52 |
| Efficient EV | 65.2 | 0 | $22.83 | $10.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 104.4 | 1 | $36.53 | $16.70 |
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Origin
Ouray, CO
Night in Ouray on Sunday
Local time
9:19 PM
MDT
Current temp
40°F
Mostly Cloudy
0 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Pueblo, CO
Night in Pueblo on Sunday
Local time
9:19 PM
MDT
Current temp
43°F
Mostly Clear
WNW 5 mph
0% chance
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
3 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
6h 32m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
Curecanti National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
Three reservoirs and surrounding lands make up this recreation area in western Colorado. It is a landscape of tradeoffs; natural and human made features exist together. Geologic wonders are abundant f...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 72
Park Closure: East Portal Road
Caution: Fire Operations
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park
National Park
Big enough to be overwhelming, yet still intimate enough to feel the pulse of time. Come see some of the steepest cliffs, oldest rock, and craggiest spires in North America. Forces of nature and the G...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
$30
near mile 45
View on nps.gov
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...
29 mi from route
~73 min detour
$10
near mile 215.9
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly highway, with 83% of the drive on high-speed roads like US 50. You'll encounter a long stretch of 214.2 miles on US 50 before transitioning to surface streets. Expect a rural cruising feel for the majority of the trip, with the transition to Main Street in Pueblo marking the end of the highway segment.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 214.2 mi on US 50.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 50 and Main Street. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 36.1 miles in near Hillcrest Drive.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 260.9 miles you will encounter 14 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 36.1 miles (Hillcrest Drive): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 257 miles (US 50): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 257.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
9,169 ft
4,691 ft
Total Climb
3,367 ft
Total Descent
6,461 ft
Highest Point
9,169 ft
~149.2 mi in
Elevation Range
4,478 ft
Notable High Points
7,598 ft at ~74.6 miles
+62 ft prominence
9,169 ft at ~149.2 miles
+771 ft prominence
About the Cities
Starting in Ouray, CO
Full guide →Ouray is a small town in Southwestern Colorado, magnificently situated in the San Juan Mountains and nicknamed "The Switzerland of America" for its scenery and outdoor recreational opportunities.
Arriving in Pueblo, CO
Full guide →Founded 1885
Pueblo, also known as the Steel City or Home of the Heroes, is a city of about 112,000 people in the Eastern Plains of Colorado. It is on the confluence of the Arkansas River and Fountain Creek.
Top landmarks
- • El Pueblo History Museum — local history museum in Pueblo, Colorado
- • Minnequa Steel Works Office Building and Dispensary, Colorado Fuel and Iron Company — commercial building in Pueblo, United States of America
- • Coronado Motel
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 32m. Total distance: 260.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 32m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 214.2 miles on US 50. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 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 Pueblo, 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 6 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 36.1 miles (Hillcrest Drive): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 257 miles (US 50): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 257.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Curecanti National Recreation Area, Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park 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 6.5 hours each way, a round trip means 13.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Pueblo, CO before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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