Bike path access
0 mi from route
Trip from Telluride, CO to Pueblo, CO
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 19m
Distance
290.3 mi
467 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$44
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 9m
★
6 AM
7h 20m
8 AM
7h 41m
10 AM
7h 27m
12 PM
7h 25m
3 PM
7h 28m
5 PM
7h 40m
8 PM
7h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Telluride, CO
gabesdotphotos photographer
Pueblo, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Telluride to Pueblo is 290.3 miles and takes about 7h 19m via US 50 and US 550, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Colorado, connecting two points in the Mountain West region. Given the mostly highway profile, expect a relatively straightforward drive. With two recommended stops and a longest stretch of 214.2 miles, it's a manageable one-day excursion.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
145.1 miles from Telluride, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 30m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 50 | 214.2 mi | 5h 27m |
| US 550 | 25.3 mi | 32m |
| CO 62 | 23.3 mi | 31m |
| CO 145 | 12.7 mi | 21m |
| East Main Street | 6 mi | 8m |
| West Colorado Avenue | 3.5 mi | 8m |
| North Freeway | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| Hillcrest Drive | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 50
— 214.2 mi, about 5h 27m
Traffic on I-25
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 2 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,440 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~161 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
21.4×
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 Telluride, CO and Pueblo, CO.
1
Start on West Colorado Avenue
0.5 mi
·
2 min
·
West Colorado Avenue
2
Enter roundabout onto West Colorado Avenue
85 ft
·
4 sec
·
West Colorado Avenue
3
Continue on West Colorado Avenue
2.9 mi
·
6 min
·
West Colorado Avenue
Use the straight lane.
4
Enter roundabout onto CO 145
38 ft
·
0 sec
·
CO 145
5
Continue on CO 145
13 mi
·
21 min
·
CO 145
6
At end of road, turn right onto CO 62
23 mi
·
31 min
·
CO 62
7
Turn left onto US 550
25 mi
·
32 min
·
US 550
8
Turn right onto South 12th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South 12th Street
9
Continue on Sunnyside Road
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Sunnyside Road
10
Enter roundabout onto Hillcrest Drive
153 ft
·
6 sec
·
Hillcrest Drive
11
Continue on Hillcrest Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Hillcrest Drive
12
Enter roundabout onto South Hillcrest Drive
130 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Hillcrest Drive
13
Continue on South Hillcrest Drive
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Hillcrest Drive
14
Turn right onto US 50
6.0 mi
·
8 min
·
East Main Street
15
Continue on US 50
117 mi
·
2 hr 47 min
·
US 50
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn left onto US 50
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
US 50
17
Continue on US 50
34 mi
·
55 min
·
US 50
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on US 50
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
US 50
Use the straight / left lanes.
19
Continue on US 50
61 mi
·
1 hr 39 min
·
US 50
Use the straight / left lanes.
20
Continue on US 50
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
US 50
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Take the exit onto US 50
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
US 50
Toward I 25 South: Trinidad
Use the right lane.
22
Merge onto I 25; US 50
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
North Freeway
23
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 100B
Toward 29th Street
24
Merge onto I 25; US 50
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Freeway
25
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
Exit 99B
Toward 13th Street
Use the slight right lane.
26
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
this road
27
Merge onto I 25; US 50 Bus
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
North Freeway
Use the straight lane.
28
Take the exit
107 ft
·
2 sec
Toward Abriendo Avenue
29
Arrive at destination
Toward Abriendo Avenue
Trip Plan
Starting your drive early from Telluride is a good idea, especially since this is a single-day trip of over 7 hours. Plan for your two stops strategically to break up the 214.2-mile stretch on US 50. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch between services could be significant. The $45 fuel cost is an estimate, so check current prices. Since this is a manageable one-day drive, you have flexibility in your timing and stop durations.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 145.1 miles from Telluride, CO, or about 3h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 214.2 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 64 miles or 1h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 145.1 miles or 3h 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pueblo, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Telluride, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Telluride, CO
This is one driving day of about 290.3 miles and 7h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Telluride, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 50 for about 214.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
145 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 64 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 145.1 miles from Telluride, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 50 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 214.2 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.
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
2.3 mi from route
Telluride Ski Resort
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
1.8 mi from route
~5 min detour
Telluride, Colorado
Hours: 9 am–4 pm
+18007788581
Visit websiteFree Gondola - Telluride Station
4.9
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, right off the route
0.1 mi from route
Telluride, Colorado
Visit websiteTown Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, right off the route
0.3 mi from route
~1 min detour
Telluride, Colorado
Hours: Open 24 hours
+19707282173
Museum of Colorado Prisons
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, right off the route
Home stretch
0.5 mi from route
~1 min detour
Cañon City, Colorado
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+17192693015
Visit websiteTelluride Visitors Center & Tourism Board
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, right off the route
0 mi from route
Telluride, Colorado
Hours: 8 am–6 pm
+18888687169
Visit websiteMineral Palace Park
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.9 mi from route
~5 min detour
Pueblo, Colorado
Hours: 6 am–10 pm
+17195532790
Visit websiteCity Park
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2.8 mi from route
~7 min detour
Pueblo, Colorado
Hours: 6 am–10 pm
+17195532790
Visit websiteMontrose Children's Museum
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
2.8 mi from route
~7 min detour
Montrose, Colorado
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19709649995
Visit websiteMt. Sneffels Trailhead
4.9
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, ~11 min detour
4.3 mi from route
~11 min detour
Ridgway, Colorado
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 16.2 and 288.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
16.2 mi into trip
|
~30m in
|
CO 62
At end of road, turn right onto CO 62
Navigation decision point
5
65.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 36m in
|
Hillcrest Drive
Enter roundabout onto Hillcrest Drive
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
286.4 mi into trip
|
~7h 13m in
|
US 50
Take the exit onto US 50 toward I 25 South: Trinidad
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 25 South: Trinidad
5
286.9 mi into trip
|
~7h 14m in
Take the exit toward 29th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 100B
Toward 29th Street
7
288.3 mi into trip
|
~7h 16m in
Take the exit toward 13th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 99B
Toward 13th Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.27 one way
$88.53 round trip
$3.87/gal
25.4 MPG avg
102 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.12 | $47.05 | $94.11 |
| premium | $4.45 | $50.89 | $101.79 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $54.81 | $109.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 87.1 | 1 | $30.48 | $13.93 |
| Efficient EV | 72.6 | 0 | $25.40 | $11.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 116.1 | 1 | $40.64 | $18.58 |
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 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.
Origin
Telluride, CO
Late night in Telluride on Sunday
Local time
1:00 AM
MDT
Current temp
70°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
0 mph
84% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 4:39PM MDT until July 17 at 6:15PM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 3:57PM MDT until July 17 at 7:00PM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO
Destination
Pueblo, CO
Late night in Pueblo on Sunday
Local time
1:00 AM
MDT
Current temp
93°F
Sunny
ESE 10 mph
3% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 4:39PM MDT until July 17 at 6:15PM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 3:57PM MDT until July 17 at 7:00PM 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
23 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
7h 19m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
Curecanti National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
Three reservoirs and surrounding lands make up this recreation area in western Colorado. It is a landscape of tradeoffs; natural and human made features exist together. Geologic wonders are abundant f...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 100.1
View on nps.gov
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park
National Park
Big enough to be overwhelming, yet still intimate enough to feel the pulse of time. Come see some of the steepest cliffs, oldest rock, and craggiest spires in North America. Forces of nature and the G...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
$30
near mile 70.1
View on nps.gov
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...
29 mi from route
~73 min detour
$10
near mile 240.2
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 96% highway, meaning you'll spend most of your time on major roads. The longest continuous stretch on US 50 spans 214.2 miles. You'll transition to surface roads for just a small portion of the drive. Expect a sense of rural cruising for much of this trip.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 214.2 mi on US 50.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 50 and US 550. You will hit about 18 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 16.2 miles in near CO 62.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 290.3 miles you will encounter 18 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 16.2 miles (CO 62): Navigation decision point; at 65.5 miles (Hillcrest Drive): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 286.4 miles (US 50): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
9,571 ft
4,691 ft
Total Climb
3,703 ft
Total Descent
7,801 ft
Highest Point
9,571 ft
~165.9 mi in
Elevation Range
4,880 ft
Notable High Points
7,639 ft at ~103.7 miles
+81 ft prominence
9,571 ft at ~165.9 miles
+1,560 ft prominence
About the Cities
Starting in Telluride, CO
Full guide →Founded 1878
Telluride is in the southern Rocky Mountains approximately 100 miles (160 km) from Four Corners, the intersection of Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah. Telluride is home to the Telluride Ski Resort, and home of an independent film festival.
Top landmarks
- • Telluride Historic District — historic district in Colorado, United States
Arriving 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
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 7h 19m. Total distance: 290.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 19m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 214.2 miles on US 50. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 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 Pueblo, 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 5 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 16.2 miles (CO 62): Navigation decision point; at 65.5 miles (Hillcrest Drive): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 286.4 miles (US 50): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Curecanti National Recreation Area, Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park and Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.3 hours each way, a round trip means 14.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Pueblo, 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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