This 118.4-mile drive from Pueblo, Colorado, to Derby, Colorado, will take you about 2 hours and 18 minutes. It's a straightforward trip within the Mountain West region, making it an excellent candidate for a single-day excursion. You'll primarily be on the Ronald Reagan Highway, John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway, and Monument Valley Freeway. With a projected fuel cost of around $18, this route offers an economical journey. The overall feel is that of a turn-heavy local drive, so be prepared for frequent navigation changes.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
59.2 miles from Pueblo, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ronald Reagan Highway
78.5 mi
1h 22m
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
12.9 mi
12m
Monument Valley Freeway
8.5 mi
9m
South Freeway
6.1 mi
8m
North Colorado Boulevard
4.8 mi
10m
North Vasquez Boulevard
3 mi
3m
South Colorado Boulevard
2.9 mi
6m
Kimberly Street
0.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Highway
— 78.5 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pueblo, CO and Derby, 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
56 mi·58 min·Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 204Toward CO 2: Colorado BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward CO 2: South Colorado BoulevardUse the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
335 ft·10 sec
Toward CO 2 North: Colorado Boulevard
13
Turn straight onto CO 2
2.9 mi·6 min·South Colorado Boulevard
Use the right lane.
14
Continue on CO 2
4.8 mi·10 min·North Colorado Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
15
Merge onto US 6; US 85; CO 2
3.0 mi·3 min·North Vasquez Boulevard
16
Turn right onto East 77th Avenue
0.2 mi·30 sec·East 77th Avenue
Use the right lane.
17
Turn left onto Kimberly Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Kimberly Street
18
Arrive at destination
Kimberly Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour and 18-minute duration, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to allow for a relaxed pace and avoid potential afternoon traffic. While there are no designated stops listed, plan for brief breaks as needed, especially considering the turn-heavy nature of the drive. Keep an eye on your fuel; the estimated cost is $18, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. A specific tip for this route: pay close attention to lane changes when transitioning between the Ronald Reagan Highway, John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway, and Monument Valley Freeway, as these can be frequent.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 59.2 miles from Pueblo, CO, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.5 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 26 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.2 miles or 1h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Derby, 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 118.4 miles and 2h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Pueblo, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Ronald Reagan Highway for about 78.5 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 118 — 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.
7
106.7 mi into trip|~1h 54m in
Take the exit toward CO 2: Colorado Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 204
Toward CO 2: Colorado Boulevard
7
107 mi into trip|~1h 55m in
Keep slight right at fork toward CO 2: South Colorado Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward CO 2: South Colorado Boulevard
6
107.2 mi into trip|~1h 56m in
Keep slight right at fork toward CO 2 North: Colorado Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward CO 2 North: Colorado Boulevard
5
118 mi into trip|~2h 16m in|East 77th Avenue
Turn right onto East 77th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.84 one way
$35.68 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$18.89
$37.78
premium
$4.39
$20.48
$40.96
diesel
$5.61
$26.14
$52.28
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.5
0
$12.43
$5.68
Efficient EV
29.6
0
$10.36
$4.74
EV Truck/SUV
47.4
0
$16.58
$7.58
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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 16, 2026
Origin
Pueblo, CO
Late night
in Pueblo on Tuesday
Local time
4:25 AM
MDT
Current temp
80°F
Sunny
SW 10 to 20 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 16 at 2:53AM MDT until April 16 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS Goodland KS
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued April 16 at 2:37AM MDT until April 18 at 8:00AM MDT by NWS Denver CO
Destination
Derby, CO
Late night
in Derby on Tuesday
Local time
4:25 AM
MDT
Current temp
58°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
22 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 18m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' personality for this 118.4-mile journey. While only 12% of the route is on highways, you'll encounter some longer stretches, including a significant 78.5-mile segment on the Ronald Reagan Highway. This suggests a route that blends faster-paced highway sections with more intricate local road navigation. The profile indicates that you’ll be making frequent adjustments, so staying attentive to your GPS or directions will be key to a smooth transit.
Only 12% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 78.5 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 12 significant decision points across 118.4 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 106.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 107 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 2h 18m. Total distance: 118.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 78.5 miles on Ronald Reagan Highway. 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 Derby, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 106.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 107 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Derby, CO before heading back.
