How far is Colorado Springs, CO from Cortez, CO?
The driving distance from Colorado Springs, CO to Cortez, CO is about 357.2 miles (574.9 km), with a travel time of about 07h 39m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 229 miles (368.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 15h 18m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 07h 39m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Home rule municipality in Colorado
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Colorado Springs and Cortez.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colorado Springs and Cortez.
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1
Start on East Pikes Peak Avenue
20 m · 4 sec · East Pikes Peak Avenue
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2
Turn left onto South Nevada Avenue
1.3 mi · 3 min · South Nevada Avenue
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3
Take the ramp slight left
2615 ft · 1 min
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4
Continue on Ronald Reagan Highway
915 ft · 12 sec · Ronald Reagan Highway
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5
Keep slight left to continue on Ronald Reagan Highway
22.7 mi · 23 min · Ronald Reagan Highway
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6
Continue on John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
12.9 mi · 13 min · John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
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7
Continue on North Freeway
2.6 mi · 3 min · North Freeway
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8
Take the exit slight right toward 29th Street
2351 ft · 33 sec
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9
Merge slight left onto North Freeway
1 mi · 1 min · North Freeway
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10
Take the exit slight right toward 13th Street
792 ft · 12 sec
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11
Continue straight
1189 ft · 18 sec
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12
Merge slight left onto North Freeway
6.1 mi · 8 min · North Freeway
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13
Continue on John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
40.5 mi · 41 min · John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
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14
Take the exit slight right toward South I 25 Business, US 160 West: Walsenburg, Alamosa
2.8 mi · 5 min
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15
Turn right onto West 7th Street
71.4 mi · 1 hr 27 min · West 7th Street
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16
Continue on Broadway Avenue
1420 ft · 39 sec · Broadway Avenue
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17
Continue on Denver Avenue
159 m · 18 sec · Denver Avenue
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18
Turn right onto Fourth Street
1.1 km · 2 min · Fourth Street
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19
Turn left onto West Avenue
123 m · 15 sec · West Avenue
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20
Turn right onto Main Street
16.6 mi · 28 min · Main Street
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21
Continue on Park Avenue
1343 ft · 46 sec · Park Avenue
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22
Continue on 1st Avenue
1.3 km · 2 min · 1st Avenue
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23
Continue on West U.S. Highway 160
12.6 mi · 15 min · West U.S. Highway 160
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24
Continue on Grand Avenue
1.1 mi · 3 min · Grand Avenue
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25
Continue on West U.S. Highway 160
57.8 mi · 1 hr 21 min · West U.S. Highway 160
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26
Continue on San Juan Street
2.6 mi · 5 min · San Juan Street
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27
Continue on US 160
10.5 mi · 14 min · US 160
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28
Continue straight
46.1 mi · 1 hr
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29
Take the exit slight left
588 ft · 25 sec
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30
At the end of the road, turn left
44.9 mi · 1 hr 1 min
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31
Turn right onto North Market Street
59 m · 11 sec · North Market Street
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32
Turn left
65 m · 16 sec
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33
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Colorado Springs and Cortez.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
West 7th Street
Turn right onto West 7th Street
71.4 mi · 01h 27m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Sunny leaving Colorado Springs and Mostly Sunny near Cortez.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Colorado Springs to Cortez?
The road trip is about 357.2 miles (574.9 km) and usually takes 07h 39m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Monte Vista is a useful midpoint, sitting about 178.5 miles from Colorado Springs and 178.7 miles from Cortez.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 229 miles (368.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 128.2 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $46.59 one way or $93.19 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 112 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Colorado Springs and Mostly Sunny near Cortez.
Stop Ideas Near Monte Vista
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Monte Vista.
Alamosa, CO
Poncha Springs, CO
Salida, CO
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Colorado Springs and Cortez. Straight-line distance: 228.96 mi (368.47 km).
#1 Colorado Springs
The second most populous city in Colorado and the center of the Colorado Springs metropolitan area.
| Population | 482,131 |
| Coordinates | 38.8338800, -104.8213600 |
| Altitude | 1832 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Cortez
Town in and county seat of Montezuma County, Colorado, United States
| Population | 8,734 |
| Coordinates | 37.3488800, -108.5859300 |
| Altitude | 1887 |
| Country | United States |
End: Cortez (-108.58593, 37.34888)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 575 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 11h 54m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 55m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 07h 08m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 57m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 06m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 27m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.70 | $46.59 | $93.19 |
| Mid-grade | $4.08 | $51.46 | $102.92 |
| Premium | $4.39 | $55.33 | $110.65 |
| Diesel | $4.74 | $59.69 | $119.37 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in Colorado · Apr 19, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.