Pueblo to Windsor is 170.4 miles and takes about 3h 11m via Ronald Reagan Highway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, and John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Colorado, taking you from the Mountain West region to another part of the same region. Expect a trip that mostly utilizes surface roads after some initial highway cruising. It’s a straightforward, single-day option for getting between these two Colorado cities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
85.2 miles from Pueblo, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ronald Reagan Highway
93.1 mi
1h 42m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
34.3 mi
34m
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
12.9 mi
12m
North Valley Highway
9.6 mi
11m
Monument Valley Freeway
8.5 mi
9m
South Freeway
6.1 mi
8m
East County Road 32
2.5 mi
4m
Main Street
1.4 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Highway
— 93.1 mi, about 1h 42m
Traffic on I-25
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,285 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~299 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14.3×
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 Windsor, 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
70 mi·1 hr 18 min·Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
4.3 mi·5 min·North Valley Highway
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
5.3 mi·5 min·North Valley Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Continue on I 25
34 mi·34 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 262Toward CO 392: Windsor, Fort Collins
14
Turn right onto CO 392
2.5 mi·4 min·East County Road 32
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on CO 392
0.5 mi·50 sec·Highway 392
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on CO 392
1.4 mi·3 min·Main Street
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn right onto 7th Street
369 ft·10 sec·7th Street
Use the right lane.
18
Turn slight left
138 ft·9 sec
19
Turn left onto Walnut Street
0.3 mi·42 sec·Walnut Street
20
Turn right onto 4th Street
484 ft·26 sec·4th Street
21
Turn left onto Elm Street
317 ft·13 sec·Elm Street
22
Arrive at destination
Elm Street
Trip Plan
Given this is a 1-day trip covering 170.4 miles, leaving Pueblo in the morning should give you ample time to reach Windsor before evening. With a fuel cost estimated around $30, it's wise to fill up before you leave Pueblo to ensure you have enough for the entire drive. The route involves a significant portion on surface roads, so factor in potentially slower speeds and more traffic lights, especially as you approach Windsor. Plan for one main stop, perhaps around the halfway point, to stretch your legs and refuel if needed.
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 85.2 miles from Pueblo, CO, or about 1h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93.1 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 37 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.2 miles or 1h 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Windsor, 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 170.4 miles and 3h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 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 Ronald Reagan Highway for about 93.1 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 169.9 — 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.
6
121.3 mi into trip|~2h 14m in|I 25 / North Valley Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25 / North Valley Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
125.6 mi into trip|~2h 20m in|I 25 / North Valley Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25 / North Valley Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
165.2 mi into trip|~3h in
Take the exit toward CO 392: Windsor, Fort Collins
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 262
Toward CO 392: Windsor, Fort Collins
6
169.9 mi into trip|~3h 9m in|7th Street
Turn right onto 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.18 one way
$58.37 round trip
$4.35/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.59
$30.79
$61.59
premium
$4.93
$33.08
$66.16
diesel
$5.35
$35.89
$71.78
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51.1
0
$17.89
$8.18
Efficient EV
42.6
0
$14.91
$6.82
EV Truck/SUV
68.2
0
$23.86
$10.91
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (67% 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 May 20, 2026
Origin
Pueblo, CO
Afternoon
in Pueblo on Wednesday
Local time
3:45 PM
MDT
Current temp
41°F
Rain Showers
NE 5 to 10 mph76% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued May 19 at 8:46PM MDT until May 20 at 9:00AM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO
Destination
Windsor, CO
Afternoon
in Windsor on Wednesday
Local time
3:45 PM
MDT
Current temp
39°F
Chance Rain Showers
S 6 mph48% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued May 19 at 8:46PM MDT until May 20 at 9:00AM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO
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
2 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
3h 11m 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?
This trip is mostly surface roads, with only 9% of the 170.4 miles spent on highways. You'll encounter the longest stretch of highway driving for 93.1 miles on the Ronald Reagan Highway. After this, expect to transition to surface streets, which means more opportunities for stops and a potentially slower pace. Be prepared for a less continuous, more varied driving experience as you move between the main highways and local roads.
Only 9% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 93.1 mi on Ronald Reagan Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 170.4 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 121.3 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 125.6 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): 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.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 11m. Total distance: 170.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 93.1 miles on Ronald Reagan Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 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 Windsor, 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 6 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 121.3 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 125.6 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Windsor, CO, but most travelers stay overnight.
