Origin
Wheat Ridge, CO
Night in Wheat Ridge on Saturday
Local time
10:42 PM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wheat Ridge, CO to Colorado Springs, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 28m
Distance
74.9 mi
121 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 21m
★
6 AM
1h 28m
8 AM
1h 42m
10 AM
1h 33m
12 PM
1h 32m
3 PM
1h 34m
5 PM
1h 41m
8 PM
1h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wheat Ridge, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Wheat Ridge to Colorado Springs is a straightforward 74.9-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 28 minutes. Because this trip is well within the scope of a single day, you can easily complete it in one go without the need for an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via the North Valley Highway, Monument Valley Freeway, and West 6th Avenue Freeway. Budgeting approximately $11 for fuel makes this an economical excursion within the Mountain West region. Whether you are heading out for business or a change of scenery, the route is designed for efficiency and simplicity. It serves as a reliable link between these two Colorado hubs, keeping your travel plans flexible and stress-free.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Valley Highway | 60.6 mi | 1h 5m |
| Monument Valley Freeway | 5.9 mi | 6m |
| West 6th Avenue Freeway | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| North Wadsworth Boulevard | 2.6 mi | 5m |
| US 6 | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| East Kiowa Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Teller Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| West 32nd Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
North Valley Highway
— 60.6 mi, about 1h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wheat Ridge, CO and Colorado Springs, CO.
1
Start on this road
24 ft
·
3 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Teller Street
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
Teller Street
3
Turn right onto CR 181
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
West 32nd Avenue
4
Turn left onto CO 121
2.6 mi
·
5 min
·
North Wadsworth Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
Toward US 6 East: Denver
6
Merge onto US 6
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
West 6th Avenue Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto US 6
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
·
US 6
Toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 25 South: Colorado Springs
9
Merge onto I 25
61 mi
·
1 hr 5 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 25
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Monument Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 142
Toward Bijou Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
495 ft
·
14 sec
Toward I 25: Downtown
Use the straight / left lanes.
13
Turn left onto West Bijou Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
West Bijou Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Continue on West Kiowa Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
West Kiowa Street
15
Continue on East Kiowa Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
East Kiowa Street
16
Turn right onto North Weber Street
490 ft
·
17 sec
·
North Weber Street
17
Turn right onto East Pikes Peak Avenue
422 ft
·
14 sec
·
East Pikes Peak Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
East Pikes Peak Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37.5 miles from Wheat Ridge, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before North Valley Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 60.6 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 3.2 and 74 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.2 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
US 6 / West 6th Avenue Freeway
Merge onto US 6 / West 6th Avenue Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
6.1 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
US 6
Take the exit onto US 6 toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs
5
7.3 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
I 25 / North Valley Highway
Merge onto I 25 / North Valley Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
73.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m in
Take the exit toward Bijou Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 142
Toward Bijou Street
8
74 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 25: Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward I 25: Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.29 one way
$22.57 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $11.95 | $23.90 |
| premium | $4.39 | $12.96 | $25.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.54 | $33.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.5 | 0 | $7.86 | $3.60 |
| Efficient EV | 18.7 | 0 | $6.55 | $3.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30 | 0 | $10.49 | $4.79 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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.
Destination
Colorado Springs, CO
Night in Colorado Springs on Saturday
Local time
10:42 PM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1h 28m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip functions as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate haul, as highways account for only 13% of the total distance. You will spend the bulk of your time navigating local roads, which gives the drive a more engaged, hands-on feel behind the wheel. The most significant portion of your travel occurs during the 60.6-mile stretch on the North Valley Highway, which serves as the backbone of your journey. Expect the road conditions to shift as you transition from the local sections onto the freeway segments. By staying attentive to these technical turns, you can maintain a steady pace throughout the hour-and-a-half transit.
Only 13% 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: 60.6 mi on North Valley 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 3.2 miles in near US 6 / West 6th Avenue Freeway.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 74.9 miles you will encounter 13 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 3.2 miles (US 6 / West 6th Avenue Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles (US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.3 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
7,270 ft
5,333 ft
Total Climb
2,139 ft
Total Descent
1,590 ft
Highest Point
7,270 ft
~53.5 mi in
Elevation Range
1,937 ft
Notable High Points
6,374 ft at ~26.8 miles
+202 ft prominence
7,270 ft at ~53.5 miles
+373 ft prominence
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 28m. Total distance: 74.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 60.6 miles on North Valley 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 Colorado Springs, CO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.2 miles (US 6 / West 6th Avenue Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles (US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.3 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Colorado Springs, CO before heading back.
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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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