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How long are typical commutes in Colorado Springs, and which areas work best for different job locations?

ByWeldon HobbsTeam Hobbs RealtyPublished Last reviewed

Short answer: The average commute in Colorado Springs is about 23 minutes, shorter than the Colorado and U.S. averages. But the metro area is spread out, so your commute depends much more on your route than on the average. Most longer commutes run north–south on I-25 or Powers Boulevard, and they're heaviest from about 7:30 to 9 a.m. and again in the late afternoon. The areas that work best are usually the ones with an easy route to where you work, which is why testing the drive at rush hour before you buy matters more than any map estimate.

Typical commute times

According to U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey data, the average one-way commute is about 23 minutes for people living in Colorado Springs and about 25 minutes across the metro area. That compares with about 26 minutes statewide and about 27 minutes nationally.

Those averages are useful context, but they hide a lot of variation. A short commute within one side of town and a long cross-town drive both get averaged into the same number. What matters for you is the specific trip between a specific home and your specific job.

The routes that shape most commutes

Colorado Springs runs long from north to south, and a few corridors carry much of the commuting traffic.

I-25 is the north–south spine through the western half of the city, past downtown, and the main route north toward Monument and Denver. If your work is along I-25, or north of the city, easy access to the interstate can make a big difference.

Powers Boulevard is the main north–south route on the east side, closer to Peterson Space Force Base and the airport. Parts of it have a lot of stoplights, and everybody is using it at the same time, so it can mean a lot of traffic. You have to hit the lights right.

Here's how that plays out in practice. If a particular school district is one of your priorities and you work at Peterson, you're usually either going down Powers, with its stoplights and traffic, or taking I-25, in which case you want easy access to I-25 from home. Neither route is right for everyone, but it's worth knowing which one you'd be driving every day before you choose a home.

When traffic is heaviest

Like most cities, Colorado Springs has a morning and an afternoon rush. In my experience, the morning peak runs from about 7 to 9, and more often from about 7:30 to 9. The evening commute is heaviest in the late afternoon, much like anywhere else.

Weather matters too. Snow or any kind of bad weather will slow things down. In my opinion, the city does a great job of clearing the roads, but a commute that takes 20 minutes on a dry day can take noticeably longer after a storm.

Commuting north toward Denver

Most of the clients I work with are military, so a daily commute to Denver isn't common in my practice. But I have seen how much access to I-25 matters for people who head north.

With our own rental properties, we always bought close to I-25 so that option was there. About half the time, the tenant was a civilian rather than a military member, and they liked having that route north. One of our rentals in Monument had easy access to I-25, which made the drive north easy for the people who lived there.

The drive between Monument and Castle Rock used to be a well-known bottleneck. CDOT finished widening that 18-mile stretch of I-25, known as "the Gap," in November 2022. It added an express lane in each direction. Drivers with one or two people in the car pay a toll to use it, and carpools of three or more ride free.

Road projects that are changing commutes

Status as of September 2026.

Several projects are changing how people get around, especially on the east and north sides:

  • Powers Boulevard extension. The City of Colorado Springs is extending Powers north toward I-25 as an expressway, with bridge construction that began in early 2026. When it's finished, it will connect the northeast side more directly to I-25.
  • Powers and Airport Road. A new interchange at Airport Road was scheduled for completion by July 2026, removing the stoplight there for drivers on Powers.
  • South Academy Boulevard. Widening to three lanes in each direction between I-25 and Milton E. Proby Parkway, part of a project to improve military access and safety, was substantially complete by June 2026.

A commute you test today may change as these projects finish, so check current road projects when you compare homes.

Which areas work best for different job locations

The areas that work best are almost always the ones with a simple, direct route to where you work. A few general patterns help:

  • Working on the east side, including Peterson and Schriever Space Force Bases, generally means shorter drives from homes on the east side of the city. The city has been growing east, closer to those bases.
  • Working north of the city, or commuting toward Denver, makes quick access to I-25 especially valuable.
  • Working on the west side or downtown generally favors homes with an easy route to I-25 or the central east–west roads. The west side is bordered by the mountains, so there's less room to spread out there.

Beyond that, the right area depends on your other priorities: your budget, the full monthly cost of the home, and school options if they matter to you. That's why it helps to weigh commute alongside everything else. See what to prioritize when choosing where to live.

How much commute is right for you

There's no universally right commute. What matters is choosing it on purpose.

Clients of ours lived up north in the Woodmoor area, and he commuted to Peterson Space Force Base every day. He made that choice because so much of his household's life was centered in that area. It was a sacrifice, but he knew it going in, and they were happier there because they knew what they wanted. Someone else wouldn't like that commute one bit. Both are reasonable choices, as long as you know the trade-off before you buy.

How to test a commute before you buy

  • Drive it at rush hour. Try the route on a weekday between about 7:30 and 9 a.m. and again in the late afternoon, not on a weekend.
  • Check more than one route. If you'd have a choice between I-25 and Powers, try both.
  • Map it at the time you'd actually leave. If you can't be here, use a map app's departure-time setting for a weekday morning. I also get on phone calls with clients and look at maps together while we talk through their daily routine.
  • Think beyond work. School drop-offs, activities, and errands add up. Map the trips you'll make every week, not just the one to the office.
  • Check upcoming road work. A new interchange or road extension could shorten or lengthen a route in the next few years.

What could change the answer

Your ideal commute may change if you work from home part of the week, if your job location could move, or if you're on military orders and may be reassigned. Road projects, new development, and school schedules can also shift traffic patterns over time.

When to talk with a professional

A real estate professional who knows the area can help you compare homes on commute and routes alongside price and monthly cost. Your employer or unit may also be able to share how coworkers get to work and which gates or entrances are busiest.

If you're trying to figure out which part of Colorado Springs gives you a commute you can live with, let's look at the map together and talk through your routes before you start touring homes.

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About the author

Weldon Hobbs is a Colorado Springs real estate professional and co-founder of Team Hobbs Realty, affiliated with The Platinum Group, REALTORS®. He is a U.S. Air Force Academy graduate and retired Air Force officer who, with his wife, Kristen, has owned rental homes in the Colorado Springs area. He holds an MBA and the PMP, Certified Financial Coach, SRES®, and MRP (Military Relocation Professional) credentials.

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