Spanning 387.2 miles across the Colorado Mountain West, this journey from Pueblo to Rangely takes approximately 8 hours and 1 minute of driving time. Because of the winding, turn-heavy nature of the local roads, attempting this in a single day can be exhausting. I recommend splitting this trip over two days to keep your travel stress-free and manageable. You should budget about $59 for fuel to cover the distance, though local prices may fluctuate. Since the route avoids major interstates entirely, you will get a very intimate look at the regional landscape as you traverse the state. Planning for an overnight stay allows you to navigate the more technical sections of the drive while you are fresh and alert.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
193.6 miles from Pueblo, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
170.8 mi
3h 12m
Ronald Reagan Highway
83.8 mi
1h 29m
CO 64
55 mi
1h 28m
Government Road
37.1 mi
59m
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
12.9 mi
12m
Monument Valley Freeway
8.5 mi
9m
West 6th Avenue Freeway
7.6 mi
9m
South Freeway
6.1 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 170.8 mi, about 3h 12m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,405 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,990
Quietest
2 AM
~79 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Rangely, 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
61 mi·1 hr 5 min·Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 209A-BToward US 6 West: 6th AvenueUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·53 sec
Exit 209BToward US 6 West: 6th Avenue, LakewoodUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on US 6
0.9 mi·1 min·Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 6
0.1 mi·10 sec·US 6
Toward US 6
14
Merge onto US 6
7.6 mi·9 min·West 6th Avenue Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.7 mi·55 sec
Toward I 70 West: Grand JunctionUse the slight right lane.
16
Merge onto I 70
171 mi·3 hr 12 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward CO 13 North: Rifle, Meeker
18
Turn right onto CO 13
0.3 mi·35 sec·CO 13
19
Turn slight right onto Whiteriver Avenue
1.5 mi·3 min·Whiteriver Avenue
20
Turn right onto CO 13
0.3 mi·26 sec·Railroad Avenue
21
Continue on CO 13
37 mi·59 min·Government Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Turn left onto CO 64
55 mi·1 hr 28 min·CO 64
Use the left lane.
23
Arrive at destination
CO 64
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 387.2-mile trek, plan for at least two deliberate stops to break up the technical driving segments. Departing early in the morning is essential, as the turn-heavy nature of these local roads can be tiring after several hours. Since fuel costs are estimated at $59, keep an eye on your gauge when passing through smaller towns where gas stations might be less frequent. Because you are navigating local roads rather than high-speed highways, do not let your GPS time estimates lull you into a false sense of speed. My best advice for this specific route is to prioritize daylight driving, as the winding local roads are far easier to manage when you have full visibility of the turns ahead.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 193.6 miles from Pueblo, CO, or about 3h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 170.8 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 85 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 193.6 miles or 3h 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 193.6 miles or 3h 35m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rangely, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Pueblo, CO
Aim for roughly 194 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Rangely, CO
Aim for roughly 194 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 85 miles from Pueblo, CO.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 70 for about 170.8 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 121.3 — 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
112.1 mi into trip|~2h 1m in
Take the exit toward US 6 West: 6th Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 209A-B
Toward US 6 West: 6th Avenue
9
112.2 mi into trip|~2h 2m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 6 West: 6th Avenue, Lakewood
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 209B
Toward US 6 West: 6th Avenue, Lakewood
5
113.6 mi into trip|~2h 4m in|US 6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 6 toward US 6
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 6
6
121.3 mi into trip|~2h 14m in
Take the exit toward I 70 West: Grand Junction
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 70 West: Grand Junction
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$66.31 one way
$132.62 round trip
$4.35/gal25.4 MPG avg136 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.59
$69.97
$139.94
premium
$4.93
$75.17
$150.34
diesel
$5.35
$81.56
$163.11
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$66
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$196–$306
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 135.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
116.2
1
$40.66
$18.59
Efficient EV
96.8
1
$33.88
$15.49
EV Truck/SUV
154.9
1
$54.21
$24.78
Gas CO2
135 kg
EV CO2
45 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Pueblo, CO
Afternoon
in Pueblo on Wednesday
Local time
1:08 PM
MDT
Current temp
54°F
Mostly Clear
NNW 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Rangely, CO
Afternoon
in Rangely on Wednesday
Local time
1:08 PM
MDT
Current temp
42°F
Partly Cloudy
ENE 5 mph4% chanceLive 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
12 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
8h 1m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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
~63 min detour
$10
near mile 53.4
150 million years ago, dinosaurs roamed here. Their fossils are still embedded in the rocks. Today, mountains, desert, and rivers flowing in canyons support a variety of life. Petroglyphs reveal the l...
29 mi from route
~72 min detour
$25
near mile 373.8
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 driving experience that favors slow-paced navigation over high-speed cruising. Unlike a standard interstate commute, this route features a 0% highway share, relying instead on smaller thoroughfares like Elm Street, South Freeway, and John F. You will spend your time navigating technical stretches rather than settling into a monotonous flow of heavy traffic. The road’s personality is defined by constant adjustments rather than long, straight-line stretches, requiring your full attention behind the wheel. Prepare for a hands-on driving day that rewards those who prefer backroads over the predictability of major expressways.
64% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 170.8 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and Ronald Reagan Highway. 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 Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 387.2 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 112.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 112.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
10,636 ft4,691 ft
Total Climb
8,043 ft
Total Descent
7,503 ft
Highest Point
10,636 ft
~165.9 mi in
Elevation Range
5,945 ft
Notable High Points
6,603 ft at ~55.3 miles+298 ft prominence
10,636 ft at ~165.9 miles+73 ft prominence
6,346 ft at ~304.2 miles+210 ft prominence
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 Rangely, CO, road signs point toward Lakewood and Meeker.
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
The longest stretch is about 170.8 miles on I 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 194 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 12 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 Rangely, 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 12 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 112.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 112.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument and Dinosaur National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.0 hours each way, a round trip means 16.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Rangely, CO before the return drive.
