Palmer Lake to Midway is 58.4 miles and takes about 2h 44m via Gold Camp Road and Ronald Reagan Highway, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Colorado, traversing the Mountain West region. Expect a drive that primarily utilizes surface roads, offering a more grounded experience compared to interstate travel. With just one recommended stop and a duration under three hours, it's a manageable day trip for anyone looking for a straightforward route.
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
29.2 miles from Palmer Lake, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 43m 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
CO 105
3.6 mi
6m
City Water Department Roads
2.2 mi
14m
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 Palmer Lake, CO and Midway, CO.
1
Start on Upper Glenway
223 ft·11 sec·Upper Glenway
2
Turn right onto Pie Corner
0.1 mi·27 sec·Pie Corner
3
At end of road, turn right onto CO 105
3.6 mi·6 min·CO 105
4
Take the ramp
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 25: I 25 SouthUse the straight lane.
5
Merge onto I 25
12 mi·12 min·Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 25
7.8 mi·9 min·Monument Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·55 sec
Exit 140Toward CO 115 South: Tejon Street, Nevada AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn right onto South Tejon Street
0.4 mi·51 sec·South Tejon Street
Use the right lane.
9
Enter roundabout
141 ft·3 sec
10
Continue
90 ft·1 sec
11
Turn straight onto Cheyenne Boulevard
1.5 mi·3 min·Cheyenne Boulevard
12
Turn left onto Cresta Road
0.3 mi·55 sec·Cresta Road
13
At end of road, turn right onto Mesa Avenue
0.1 mi·15 sec·Mesa Avenue
14
Enter roundabout onto Mesa Avenue
66 ft·1 sec·Mesa Avenue
15
Continue on Mesa Avenue
0.1 mi·16 sec·Mesa Avenue
16
Continue on Park Avenue
0.1 mi·16 sec·Park Avenue
17
Continue on El Pomar Road
0.4 mi·1 min·El Pomar Road
18
Turn left onto Penrose Boulevard
0.5 mi·1 min·Penrose Boulevard
19
Turn right onto FS 368
7.0 mi·26 min·Old Stage Road
20
Continue on FR 370
13 mi·49 min·Gold Camp Road
21
Turn right onto Seven Lakes Road
3.7 mi·15 min·Seven Lakes Road
22
Continue on City Water Department Roads
2.2 mi·14 min·City Water Department Roads
23
Continue on Forest Road
3.9 mi·15 min·Forest Road
24
Turn straight
0.7 mi·4 min
25
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 44m duration, leaving in the morning from Palmer Lake allows ample time to reach Midway, even with a planned stop. The longest stretch without a break is 12.8 miles on Gold Camp Road, so keep an eye on your fuel gauge before embarking, as the estimated fuel cost is $9. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility in your departure time. Be aware that the route is predominantly surface roads, so plan for potentially slower speeds and more local intersections.
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 29.2 miles from Palmer Lake, CO, or about 43m 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 13 miles or 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 29.2 miles or 43m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 3m
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 Palmer Lake, 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 Palmer Lake, CO
This is one driving day of about 58.4 miles and 2h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 13 miles from Palmer Lake, 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.8 and 27.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.8 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the ramp toward I 25: I 25 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 25: I 25 South
5
4.5 mi into trip|~8m 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
24.3 mi into trip|~30m 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
24.7 mi into trip|~31m in|South Tejon Street
Turn right onto South Tejon Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
27.1 mi into trip|~36m in|Mesa Avenue
Enter roundabout onto Mesa Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.00 one way
$20.00 round trip
$4.35/gal25.4 MPG avg20 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.59
$10.55
$21.11
premium
$4.93
$11.34
$22.67
diesel
$5.35
$12.30
$24.60
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
17.5
0
$6.13
$2.80
Efficient EV
14.6
0
$5.11
$2.34
EV Truck/SUV
23.4
0
$8.18
$3.74
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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 22, 2026
Origin
Palmer Lake, CO
Afternoon
in Palmer Lake on Wednesday
Local time
3:51 PM
MDT
Current temp
40°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
NNW 5 to 10 mph23% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued May 21 at 9:42PM MDT until May 21 at 10:30PM MDT by NWS Goodland KS
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued May 21 at 9:28PM MDT until May 22 at 12:45AM MDT by NWS Denver CO
Destination
Midway, CO
Afternoon
in Midway on Wednesday
Local time
3:51 PM
MDT
Current temp
35°F
Partly Cloudy
WNW 5 mph9% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued May 21 at 9:42PM MDT until May 21 at 10:30PM MDT by NWS Goodland KS
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued May 21 at 9:28PM MDT until May 22 at 12:45AM MDT by NWS Denver 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
5 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 44m 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
~43 min detour
$10
near mile 52.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly surface roads, with only 20% of the drive on highways. You'll experience a significant stretch of 12.8 miles on Gold Camp Road before transitioning to other main roads like Ronald Reagan Highway and Monument Valley Freeway. Expect to be on surface roads for the majority of your travel time, which means you'll likely notice more local traffic and varied speed limits.
Only 20% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
25 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?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.8 miles in.
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 58.4 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 3.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles (I 25 / Ronald Reagan Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.3 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
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 44m. Total distance: 58.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (20%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
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 3.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles (I 25 / Ronald Reagan Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.3 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.
