CDOT Rest Area: Pueblo North (Closed)
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Pueblo, CO to El Jebel, CO
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 26m
Distance
221.8 mi
357 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 13m
★
6 AM
5h 26m
8 AM
5h 53m
10 AM
5h 36m
12 PM
5h 33m
3 PM
5h 37m
5 PM
5h 52m
8 PM
5h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pueblo, CO
Wikimedia Commons
El Jebel, CO
Ben Khatry
Trip Overview
Pueblo to El Jebel is 221.8 miles and takes about 5h 26m via US 24 and CO 82, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Colorado, moving from the Mountain West region to another part of the Mountain West. Given the primarily highway profile, this drive is fairly straightforward for a single-day excursion. You'll spend most of your time on major roads, making it a convenient option if you're looking for a direct route with minimal complexity.
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
110.9 miles from Pueblo, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 14m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 24 | 93.6 mi | 1h 52m |
| CO 82 | 63.8 mi | 2h 11m |
| Ronald Reagan Highway | 23 mi | 23m |
| Midland Expressway | 15.7 mi | 23m |
| John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway | 12.9 mi | 12m |
| South Freeway | 6.1 mi | 8m |
| West Cimarron Street | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| Monument Valley Freeway | 1.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 24
— 93.6 mi, about 1h 52m
Traffic on I-25
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 6 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,315 veh/hr typical · worst 3,815
Quietest
2 AM
~167 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
19.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pueblo, CO and El Jebel, 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
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Monument Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto US 24
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
US 24
Exit 141
Toward US 24 West: Cimarron Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 24
456 ft
·
13 sec
·
US 24
Toward US 24 West: West Cimarron Street West, Manitou Springs, Pikes Peak, Woodland Park
Use the left lane.
11
Merge onto US 24
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
West Cimarron Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Continue on US 24
16 mi
·
23 min
·
Midland Expressway
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 24; CO 67
45 mi
·
54 min
·
US 24; CO 67
14
Continue on US 24; CO 9
13 mi
·
14 min
·
US 24; CO 9
15
At end of road, turn left onto US 24; US 285
14 mi
·
18 min
·
US 24; US 285
16
At end of road, turn right onto US 24
22 mi
·
24 min
·
US 24
17
Turn left onto CO 82
43 mi
·
1 hr 37 min
·
CO 82
18
Turn right onto CO 82
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
South Original Street
19
Continue on CO 82
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
20
Turn right onto CO 82
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
North 7th Street
21
Turn left onto CO 82
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Hallam Street
22
Enter roundabout onto CO 82
98 ft
·
2 sec
·
CO 82
23
Continue on CO 82
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
CO 82
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Continue on CO 82
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
CO 82
Use the straight lane.
25
Continue on CO 82
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
CO 82
Use the straight lane.
26
Continue on CO 82
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
CO 82
Use the straight lane.
27
Continue on CO 82
16 mi
·
25 min
·
CO 82
Use the straight lane.
28
Turn right onto CR 13
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
El Jebel Road
Use the right lane.
29
Enter roundabout onto CR 13
280 ft
·
8 sec
·
El Jebel Road
30
Continue on CR 13
174 ft
·
4 sec
·
El Jebel Road
31
Arrive at destination
CR 13
Trip Plan
For this relatively short 5h 26m drive, leaving Pueblo in the morning gives you plenty of flexibility. The route is mainly highway, so you won't need to plan for many stops, but the longest stretch without a significant break is 93.6 miles on US 24. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you get closer to El Jebel, and consider topping off in a larger town if you're concerned about fuel availability in more remote sections. A single day is ample time to complete this trip comfortably.
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 110.9 miles from Pueblo, CO, or about 2h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93.6 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 49 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.9 miles or 2h 14m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near El Jebel, 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 221.8 miles and 5h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 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 US 24 for about 93.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
111 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 49 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 110.9 miles from Pueblo, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 24 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 93.6 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.
CDOT Rest Area: Pueblo South
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, right off the route
Early stretch
0.9 mi from route
~2 min detour
Woodland Park, Colorado
Hours: 9 am–6 pm
+17196861820
Visit websiteMineral Palace Park
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
1.9 mi from route
~5 min detour
Pueblo, Colorado
Hours: 6 am–10 pm
+17195532790
Visit websiteCity Park
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
2.8 mi from route
~7 min detour
Pueblo, Colorado
Hours: 6 am–10 pm
+17195532790
Visit websiteBattlefield Colorado
4.9
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, ~9 min detour
Early stretch
3.7 mi from route
~9 min detour
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Hours: Closed
+17192592257
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 195 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 221.8 — 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
44.1 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
US 24
Take the exit onto US 24 toward US 24 West: Cimarron Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 141
Toward US 24 West: Cimarron Street
9
44.4 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
US 24
Keep slight left at fork onto US 24 toward US 24 West: West Cimarron Street West, Manitou Springs, Pikes Peak, Woodland Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward US 24 West: West Cimarron Street West, M...
5
44.5 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
US 24 / West Cimarron Street
Merge onto US 24 / West Cimarron Street
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
221.8 mi into trip
|
~5h 25m in
|
CR 13 / El Jebel Road
Enter roundabout onto CR 13 / El Jebel Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.99 one way
$75.97 round trip
$4.35/gal
25.4 MPG avg
78 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.59 | $40.08 | $80.16 |
| premium | $4.93 | $43.06 | $86.12 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $46.72 | $93.44 |
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: 77.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 66.5 | 0 | $23.29 | $10.65 |
| Efficient EV | 55.5 | 0 | $19.41 | $8.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 88.7 | 1 | $31.05 | $14.20 |
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 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
Afternoon in Pueblo on Wednesday
Local time
1:05 PM
MDT
Current temp
54°F
Mostly Clear
NNW 5 to 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Destination
El Jebel, CO
Afternoon in El Jebel on Wednesday
Local time
1:05 PM
MDT
Current temp
43°F
Mostly Clear
ESE 5 mph
2% chance
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
11 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 26m 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.
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...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
$10
near mile 76.5
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for about 81% of this 221.8-mile drive. The longest continuous stretch on these main roads is 93.6 miles, primarily on US 24. This means you'll experience extended periods of rural cruising before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a mostly highway feel for the bulk of the trip.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 93.6 mi on US 24.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 24 and CO 82. 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 Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 221.8 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 44.1 miles (US 24): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.4 miles (US 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
10,714 ft
4,691 ft
Total Climb
7,316 ft
Total Descent
5,525 ft
Highest Point
10,714 ft
~174.3 mi in
Elevation Range
6,022 ft
Notable High Points
8,587 ft at ~63.4 miles
+469 ft prominence
9,131 ft at ~95.1 miles
+163 ft prominence
8,974 ft at ~126.8 miles
+5 ft prominence
10,714 ft at ~174.3 miles
+1,120 ft prominence
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.
Between Pueblo, CO and El Jebel, CO, road signs point toward Manitou Springs, Pikes Peak and Woodland Park.
Manitou Springs
44.4 mi in
|
~48m
|
via US 24
Pikes Peak
44.4 mi in
|
~48m
|
via US 24
Woodland Park
44.4 mi in
|
~48m
|
via US 24
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Starbucks
Cafe
Near the end, right off the route
Home stretch
0.6 mi from route
~2 min detour
Basalt, CO
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteStarbucks
Cafe
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
1.8 mi from route
~5 min detour
Colorado Springs, CO
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteOver Easy
Cafe
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2.1 mi from route
~5 min detour
Aspen
Cuisine: american
Hours: Mo-Th 7:30-14:00; Fr-Su 7:30-15:00
Visit websiteJour de Fête
Cafe
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.8 mi from route
~4 min detour
Aspen, CO
Local
Cafe
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.9 mi from route
~5 min detour
Thunderbird Inn
Cafe
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
3.1 mi from route
~8 min detour
Creekside Cuisine & Craft Beer
Restaurant
Early in the drive, right off the route
Early stretch
0.4 mi from route
~1 min detour
Manitou Springs, CO
Cuisine: american
Visit websiteWendy's
Fast_food
Near the end, right off the route
Home stretch
0 mi from route
Subway
Fast_food
Early in the drive, right off the route
Early stretch
0.7 mi from route
~2 min detour
Manitou Springs, CO
Cuisine: sandwich
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-21:00; Su 09:00-20:00
Visit websiteMona Lisa Fondue
Restaurant
Early in the drive, right off the route
Early stretch
0.4 mi from route
~1 min detour
The Cliff House
Restaurant
Early in the drive, right off the route
Early stretch
0.4 mi from route
~1 min detour
Manitou Springs, CO
Cuisine: american
Tutta Sweets
Restaurant
Early in the drive, right off the route
Early stretch
0.4 mi from route
~1 min detour
Runyan Field
Park
Near the start, right off the route
0.4 mi from route
~1 min detour
COLORADO WOLF AND WILDLIFE CENTER
Attraction
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
1.1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Divide, CO
Visit websiteSouth Spring Cañon Picnic Area
Picnic_site
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
1.1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Siamese Twins
Attraction
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
1.4 mi from route
~3 min detour
Ute Rock
Viewpoint
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.4 mi from route
~4 min detour
Mesa Trail Overlook
Viewpoint
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
1.9 mi from route
~5 min detour
Pueblo Levee Mural Project
Artwork
Near the start, right off the route
0.1 mi from route
George Eber Duclo
Memorial
Early in the drive, right off the route
Early stretch
0.1 mi from route
Robert Emmet Mine
Mine
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Aspen Art Museum
Museum
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.8 mi from route
~5 min detour
Aspen, CO
Hours: Tu-Su 10:00-18:00
Visit websiteMiddle Tunnel Mine
Mine
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.5 mi from route
~4 min detour
Garden of the Gods Mine
Archaeological_site
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
1.8 mi from route
~5 min detour
CO
Red Crags Bed and Breakfast
Guest_house
Early in the drive, right off the route
Early stretch
0.6 mi from route
~1 min detour
Visit website
Rodelia
Guest_house
Near the end, right off the route
Home stretch
0.4 mi from route
~1 min detour
Villahotel La Niche
Hotel
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Mushroom Gulch Site 3
Camp_site
Around the midpoint, short detour
Halfway reset
2.8 mi from route
~7 min detour
Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.
About the Cities
Starting in Pueblo, CO
Full guide →Founded 1885
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.
Top landmarks
- • El Pueblo History Museum — local history museum in Pueblo, Colorado
- • Minnequa Steel Works Office Building and Dispensary, Colorado Fuel and Iron Company — commercial building in Pueblo, United States of America
- • Coronado Motel
Arriving in El Jebel, CO
Full guide →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 26m. Total distance: 221.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 93.6 miles on US 24. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 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 El Jebel, 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 3 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 44.1 miles (US 24): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.4 miles (US 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at El Jebel, 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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