CDOT Rest Area: Shaw Creek
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Pueblo, CO to Bayfield, 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
5h 25m
Distance
250.8 mi
404 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 12m
★
6 AM
5h 25m
8 AM
5h 52m
10 AM
5h 35m
12 PM
5h 32m
3 PM
5h 36m
5 PM
5h 51m
8 PM
5h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pueblo, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Bayfield, CO
Thirdman
Trip Overview
Pueblo to Bayfield is 250.8 miles and takes about 5h 25m via West U.S. Highway 160, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Colorado, connecting the Mountain West region on both ends. Expect a mixed driving experience with a substantial portion on highways, offering a straightforward path. With a recommended one-day drive, it's a manageable distance for most drivers looking to connect these two points efficiently.
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
125.4 miles from Pueblo, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 29m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West 7th Street | 71.4 mi | 1h 27m |
| West U.S. Highway 160 | 70.4 mi | 1h 35m |
| John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway | 40.5 mi | 40m |
| US 160 | 38 mi | 48m |
| Main Street | 16.6 mi | 27m |
| South Freeway | 4.2 mi | 4m |
| I 25 Business | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| San Juan Street | 2.6 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
West 7th Street
— 71.4 mi, about 1h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pueblo, CO and Bayfield, 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 right at fork
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
5
Merge onto I 25
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
South Freeway
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on I 25
41 mi
·
40 min
·
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
7
Take the exit onto I 25 Business
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
I 25 Business
Exit 52
Toward South I 25 Business, US 160 West: Walsenburg, Alamosa
8
Turn right onto US 160
71 mi
·
1 hr 27 min
·
West 7th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on US 160; CO 17
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Broadway Avenue
10
Continue on US 160; CO 17
521 ft
·
18 sec
·
Denver Avenue
11
Turn right onto Fourth Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Fourth Street
12
Turn left onto West Avenue
403 ft
·
15 sec
·
West Avenue
13
Turn right onto US 160; US 285
17 mi
·
27 min
·
Main Street
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 160; US 285
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
Park Avenue
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on US 160; US 285
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
1st Avenue
16
Continue on US 160
13 mi
·
14 min
·
West U.S. Highway 160
17
Continue on US 160
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Grand Avenue
18
Continue on US 160
58 mi
·
1 hr 20 min
·
West U.S. Highway 160
19
Continue on US 160
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
San Juan Street
20
Continue on US 160
11 mi
·
14 min
·
US 160
Use the straight lane.
21
Continue on US 160
27 mi
·
34 min
·
US 160
Use the straight lane.
22
Turn left onto CR 501
513 ft
·
25 sec
·
CR 501
23
At end of road, turn right onto US 160 BUS
219 ft
·
9 sec
·
US 160 BUS
24
Turn left onto CR 521
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
South Buck Highway
25
Arrive at destination
CR 521
Trip Plan
Aim to depart Pueblo in the morning to maximize daylight and allow ample time for the 5h 25m drive. Since this is a one-day trip, you can be flexible with your timing, but starting early is best. Plan for one stop to break up the 250.8 miles; the longest stretch without significant road changes is 71.4 miles, so keep that in mind for fuel or a quick break. With a fuel cost estimated at $38, it's advisable to top off your tank before leaving Pueblo to ensure you have enough for the entire drive through the Mountain West.
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 125.4 miles from Pueblo, CO, or about 2h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 71.4 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 55 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.4 miles or 2h 29m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bayfield, 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 250.8 miles and 5h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 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 West 7th Street for about 71.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
125 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 55 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 125.4 miles from Pueblo, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before West 7th Street if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 71.4 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.
Cuerno Verde Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
TA Express
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
1.4 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 250.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
0.6 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.
6
45.3 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
I 25 Business
Take the exit onto I 25 Business toward South I 25 Business, US 160 West: Walsenburg, Alamosa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 52
Toward South I 25 Business, US 160 West: Walsen...
6
120.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 21m in
|
US 160; US 285 / Main Street
Turn right onto US 160; US 285 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
250.4 mi into trip
|
~5h 24m in
|
US 160 BUS
At end of road, turn right onto US 160 BUS
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.79 one way
$75.58 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
88 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $40.01 | $80.02 |
| premium | $4.39 | $43.39 | $86.77 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $55.37 | $110.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 75.2 | 0 | $26.33 | $12.04 |
| Efficient EV | 62.7 | 0 | $21.95 | $10.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 100.3 | 1 | $35.11 | $16.05 |
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% 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
Pueblo, CO
Late night in Pueblo on Tuesday
Local time
4:57 AM
MDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bayfield, CO
Late night in Bayfield on Tuesday
Local time
4:57 AM
MDT
Current temp
30°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
35 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 25m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route involves 46% highway driving, meaning you'll spend nearly half the time on faster roads like the John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway. The longest continuous stretch on surface roads is 71.4 miles, primarily on West 7th Street, before transitioning to highway conditions. You'll notice the change from more urban-feeling exits to more open cruising as you progress.
46% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 71.4 mi on West 7th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 250.8 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 0.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 0.6 miles (I 25 / South Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.3 miles (I 25 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Pueblo, CO to Bayfield, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Alamosa along the way.
Alamosa
45.3 mi in
|
~46m
|
via I 25 Business
About the Cities
Starting in Pueblo, CO
Full guide →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.
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 5h 25m. Total distance: 250.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (46%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 71.4 miles on West 7th Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
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 0.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 0.6 miles (I 25 / South Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.3 miles (I 25 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Bayfield, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Bayfield, CO
More trips to Bayfield, CO
Explore more options from Pueblo, CO or browse trips ending in Bayfield, CO.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CO road trips.