Origin
Parker, CO
Late night in Parker on Tuesday
Local time
5:09 AM
MDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Parker, CO to Colorado Springs, CO
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 6m
Distance
55 mi
88 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Parker, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Parker to Colorado Springs is a straightforward 55-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 6 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this trip works perfectly as a quick day trip, allowing you to head out and back without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily utilize a mix of Crowfoot Valley Road, I-25, and the Monument Valley Freeway to complete the trek. Budgeting around $8 for fuel covers the trip comfortably, making it an affordable excursion within the Mountain West region. Since both cities share the same regional characteristics, you can expect a familiar feel throughout the drive. Overall, this is a highly efficient route that serves as a practical connection between these two Colorado hubs.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 25 | 36 mi | 37m |
| Crowfoot Valley Road | 6.1 mi | 9m |
| Monument Valley Freeway | 5.9 mi | 6m |
| South Parker Road | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| Founders Parkway | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Stroh Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| East Kiowa Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| East Mainstreet | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 25
— 36 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Parker, CO and Colorado Springs, CO.
1
Start on South Pikes Peak Drive
100 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Pikes Peak Drive
2
Turn right onto East Mainstreet
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
East Mainstreet
3
Turn left onto CO 83
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
South Parker Road
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto Stroh Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Stroh Road
Use the right lane.
5
Turn left onto Crowfoot Valley Road
6.1 mi
·
9 min
·
Crowfoot Valley Road
6
Turn right onto CO 86
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Founders Parkway
Use the left lane.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I 25 South: Colorado Springs
8
Merge onto I 25
36 mi
·
37 min
·
I 25
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 25
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Monument Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 142
Toward Bijou Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
495 ft
·
14 sec
Toward I 25: Downtown
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Turn left onto West Bijou Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
West Bijou Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Continue on West Kiowa Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
West Kiowa Street
14
Continue on East Kiowa Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
East Kiowa Street
15
Turn right onto North Weber Street
490 ft
·
17 sec
·
North Weber Street
16
Turn right onto East Pikes Peak Avenue
422 ft
·
14 sec
·
East Pikes Peak Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
East Pikes Peak Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.5 miles from Parker, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 3 and 54.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
Stroh Road
Turn right onto Stroh Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
11.9 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
I 25
Merge onto I 25
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
53.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m 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
54.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m 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
5
54.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
|
West Bijou Street
Turn left onto West Bijou Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.29 one way
$16.57 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $8.77 | $17.55 |
| premium | $4.39 | $9.51 | $19.03 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.14 | $24.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.5 | 0 | $5.77 | $2.64 |
| Efficient EV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.81 | $2.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22 | 0 | $7.70 | $3.52 |
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.
Destination
Colorado Springs, CO
Late night in Colorado Springs on Tuesday
Local time
5:09 AM
MDT
Current temp
33°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
25 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
1h 6m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive that emphasizes speed and efficiency over winding backroads. Approximately 79% of your total mileage is spent on highways, providing a consistent pace for the majority of the hour-long trip. You will encounter a significant 36-mile stretch on I-25, which acts as the backbone of your journey. While the transition from local roads like Crowfoot Valley Road to the major interstate brings a change in traffic density, the route remains predictable. Behind the wheel, you will experience a steady, utilitarian drive that prioritizes reaching your destination quickly rather than offering a technical or slow-paced touring experience.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36 mi on I 25.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 25 and Crowfoot Valley Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3 miles in near Stroh Road.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 55 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 3 miles (Stroh Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.9 miles (I 25): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 53.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Colorado Springs, CO
Full guide →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.
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 1h 6m. Total distance: 55 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 36 miles on I 25. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 3 miles (Stroh Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.9 miles (I 25): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 53.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Colorado Springs, CO before heading back.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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