Pueblo to Ault is 187.1 miles and takes about 3h 28m via Ronald Reagan Highway and E-470, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Colorado, moving from the Mountain West region to another part of the Mountain West. Expect a route that requires frequent turns and navigation through local roads, so it's not a simple point-and-go highway trip. You'll want to keep your navigation handy for this one, as it involves a mix of county roads and tollways. It's a straightforward, single-day journey that doesn't demand an overnight stay.
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
93.5 miles from Pueblo, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ronald Reagan Highway
68.9 mi
1h 11m
E-470
34.4 mi
34m
County Road 49
22 mi
25m
Heartland Expressway
15.4 mi
15m
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
12.9 mi
12m
Monument Valley Freeway
8.5 mi
9m
South Freeway
6.1 mi
8m
Highway 85
5.7 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Highway
— 68.9 mi, about 1h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pueblo, CO and Ault, CO.
1
Start on this road
0.2 mi·35 sec·this road
Toward Abriendo Avenue
2
Turn left onto Elm Street
29 ft·6 sec·Elm Street
3
Take the ramp
165 ft·4 sec
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·57 sec
5
Merge onto I 25
6.1 mi·8 min·South Freeway
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on I 25
13 mi·12 min·John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 25
23 mi·23 min·Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 25; US 24
8.5 mi·9 min·Monument Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 25
46 mi·47 min·Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Exit 194Toward CO 470 West, E 470 North Toll: Grand Junction, LimonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 194Toward E-470 North: LimonUse the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto E470
34 mi·34 min·E-470
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
1.1 mi·1 min
Exit 35Toward I 76 East: Fort MorganUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 76
15 mi·15 min·Heartland Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Exit 34Toward Kersey RoadUse the slight right lane.
16
Turn left onto CR 49
22 mi·25 min·County Road 49
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Continue on CR 47
4.8 mi·5 min·County Road 47
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn left onto CO 392
4.0 mi·7 min·Highway 392
19
Continue on CO 392
0.1 mi·14 sec·Main Street
20
Turn right onto US 85
2.5 mi·4 min·Highway 85
21
Continue on US 85
1.6 mi·3 min·South Oak Avenue
Use the straight lane.
22
Continue on US 85
3.1 mi·5 min·Highway 85
Use the straight lane.
23
Turn left onto CO 14
100 ft·3 sec·1st Street
24
Arrive at destination
CO 14
Trip Plan
Given this is a single-day drive of under four hours, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. It's wise to start your journey with a full tank of gas, as stops are limited to one planned stop. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition onto local roads. The route's turn-heavy nature means you should rely on your GPS or navigation app to stay on track. Prioritize getting an early start to maximize daylight and minimize traffic, particularly if you're traveling on a weekday.
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 93.5 miles from Pueblo, CO, or about 1h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68.9 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 41 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93.5 miles or 1h 40m 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 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ault, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Pueblo, 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 Pueblo, CO
This is one driving day of about 187.1 miles and 3h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Pueblo, 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 Ronald Reagan Highway for about 68.9 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 0.7 and 148.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in|I 25 / South Freeway
Merge onto I 25 / South Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
97.1 mi into trip|~1h 43m in
Take the exit toward CO 470 West, E 470 North Toll: Grand Junction, Limon
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 194
Toward CO 470 West, E 470 North Toll: Grand Jun...
8
97.3 mi into trip|~1h 44m in
Keep slight right at fork toward E-470 North: Limon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 194
Toward E-470 North: Limon
7
132.2 mi into trip|~2h 19m in
Take the exit toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 35
Toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
7
148.7 mi into trip|~2h 37m in
Take the exit toward Kersey Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 34
Toward Kersey Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.19 one way
$56.38 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg66 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$29.85
$59.70
premium
$4.39
$32.37
$64.73
diesel
$5.61
$41.31
$82.62
Estimated Tolls: $4.13
E-470
(34.4 mi)$4.13
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
56.1
0
$19.65
$8.98
Efficient EV
46.8
0
$16.37
$7.48
EV Truck/SUV
74.8
0
$26.19
$11.97
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (66% 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Pueblo, CO
Late night
in Pueblo on Sunday
Local time
1:54 AM
MDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ault, CO
Late night
in Ault on Sunday
Local time
1:54 AM
MDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
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
1 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
3h 28m 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.
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...
25 mi from route
~62 min detour
$10
near mile 45.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive, with only 21% of the route on highways. You'll encounter frequent changes in direction as you navigate County Road 49 and other local routes. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 68.9 miles on Ronald Reagan Highway, so there are moments of more consistent driving. Be prepared for a driving experience that feels more like exploring backroads than cruising on an interstate, with a dynamic feel as you transition between different types of roads.
Only 21% 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: 68.9 mi on Ronald Reagan Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near I 25 / South Freeway.
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 14 significant decision points across 187.1 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 0.7 miles (I 25 / South Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 97.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 97.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Pueblo, CO and Ault, CO, road signs point toward E 470 North Toll: Grand Junction, Limon and E-470 North: Limon.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 28m. Total distance: 187.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 68.9 miles on Ronald Reagan Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.13 in tolls one way, starting with E-470. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 4 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 Ault, 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 4 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (I 25 / South Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 97.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 97.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Ault, CO, but most travelers stay overnight.
