Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 14m
Distance
63.6 mi
102 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pueblo, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Black Forest, CO
Justin Wolfert
Pueblo, CO to Black Forest, CO is 63.6 miles and takes about 1h 14m via Ronald Reagan Highway and John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Mountain West region, connecting two points in Colorado. Expect a relatively short trip that is mostly on local roads, suggesting a more relaxed pace. The total distance is manageable, making it a feasible day trip for many.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan Highway | 28 mi | 29m |
| John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway | 12.9 mi | 12m |
| Monument Valley Freeway | 8.5 mi | 9m |
| South Freeway | 6.1 mi | 8m |
| Shoup Road | 4.3 mi | 7m |
| Interquest Parkway | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| Black Forest Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Elm Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Pueblo, CO and Black Forest, CO.
Start on this road
Turn left onto Elm Street
Take the ramp
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 25
Continue on I 25
Continue on I 25
Continue on I 25; US 24
Continue on I 25
Take the exit
Continue on Interquest Parkway
Turn right onto Shoup Road
Turn left onto CR 189
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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.
A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 31.8 miles from Pueblo, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 56.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto Elm Street
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Merge onto I 25 / South Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Interquest Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$9.58 one way
$19.17 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $10.15 | $20.29 |
| premium | $4.39 | $11.00 | $22.00 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.04 | $28.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.1 | 0 | $6.68 | $3.05 |
| Efficient EV | 15.9 | 0 | $5.56 | $2.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.4 | 0 | $8.90 | $4.07 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Pueblo on Tuesday
Local time
6:10 AM
MDT
Current temp
80°F
Sunny
Destination
Morning in Black Forest on Tuesday
Local time
6:10 AM
MDT
Current temp
31°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This route is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive, with only 27% of the journey on highways. You'll navigate through a mix of road types, transitioning from quicker highway sections to more involved local streets. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 28 miles on Ronald Reagan Highway. Be prepared for frequent turns and potential changes in speed limits as you move through different communities.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Elm Street.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 14m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Elm Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 14m. Total distance: 63.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (27%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
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.
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