Phoenix to Colorado Springs drive: Distance, time & best stops
The distance from Phoenix to Colorado Springs by car is 795 miles, with an 11h44m driving time. The best road trip stops on the Phoenix to Colorado Springs drive are Petrified Forest National Park, Albuquerque and Santa Fe.
Planning a Phoenix to Colorado Springs road trip itinerary
The Phoenix to Colorado Springs drive connects the capital of Arizona to the Rocky Mountains in Colorado.
A stay in Phoenix is at its best when you explore the surrounding Sonoran Desert. That might be in a hot air balloon flight, on an ATV tour or on a guided sunset hiking adventure. You can also do day tours along the Apache Trail.
For other Phoenix experiences, try a downtown food tour, a street art tour or a spooky nighttime ghost walk.
Attractions that you might wish to buy advance include cell phone-friendly tickets for include Phoenix Zoo, the Sea Life aquarium or a drunk Shakespeare performance.
For Phoenix accommodation options with a bit of character, try the art-splashed Foundre or the resort-like Raintree at Phoenix South Mountain Preserve.
Colorado Springs is at the foot of the Rockies – most notably the 14,114ft-high Pikes Peak. You can take a Jeep tour to the top, or go via the cog railway. The other natural highlight is the Garden of the Gods, a park with giant red sandstone formations jutting out towards the sky. Ways of exploring include Jeep tours, ebike adventures and Segway tours.
Other interesting Colorado Springs experiences include falconry classes, food tours, hot air balloon flights and ziplining.
For memorable Colorado Springs accommodation with character, go for the Great Wolf Lodge or the Mining Exchange.
Phoenix to Colorado Springs distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Phoenix to Colorado Springs is 795 miles. That makes for a driving time of around 11 hours and 44 minutes. The stops to add to a Phoenix to Colorado Springs road trip itinerary are Petrified Forest National Park, Albuquerque and Santa Fe.
For more suggestions, read the guides to individual legs of the journey.
Phoenix to Colorado Springs drive: Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park in eastern Arizona gets its name from the vast fossil deposits of petrified wood. Most come from the Late Triassic period, and the short walk to the Giant Logs is arguably the best place to see what it’s all about.
But this national park has much more to it than the petrified wood. It is part of the Painted Desert, and several walking trails show off the multi-coloured Badlands. Try the one mile Blue Mesa Loop or 1.2-mile Tawa Trail from Tawa Point to the Painted Desert Visitor Center for particularly impressive, yet accessible, scenery.
Best stops between Phoenix and Colorado Springs: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Fabulous Albuquerque experiences include a sunrise hot air balloon flight, old town ghost walks, nature tours by bike and guided hops between craft breweries . You can also pay a visit to the castle-like Turquoise Museum and old town food tours focusing on New Mexican flavours.
Great Albuquerque accommodation choices include the historic, adobe-style Casas de Suenos and the old town’s art-filled Hotel Chaco.
Phoenix to Colorado Springs road trip attractions: Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is one of the oldest cities in the US, and has a huge arts scene. The glut of adobe architecture makes the New Mexico capital highly photogenic. These buildings are best seen on an architecture walking tour.
Fab Santa Fe experiences include history walks covering the city’s past, on-the-move photography classes and New Mexican food tours through the evocative Santa Fe Plaza.
For other options, try small group e-bike tours through lesser-known areas of the city and ghost story tours.
If you want memorable Santa Fe accommodation, try the Hacienda in the Railyard Arts District or the adobe-style La Fonda on the Plaza.
Top tip for Santa Fe
The Canyon Road Arts District plays a huge part in Santa Fe’s distinctive character. But with 80-plus galleries, it’s difficult to know where to start looking. Taking a Canyon Road Arts District tour with an art historian guide helps you zero in on the most interesting works. You’ll also get to chat to the artists and gallery curators. Find out more here.
David Whitley, editor of Best3Stops.
More Phoenix road trips
Albuquerque to Phoenix | Dallas to Phoenix | Denver to Phoenix | El Paso to Phoenix | Phoenix to Flagstaff | Phoenix to Grand Canyon (South Rim) | Houston to Phoenix | Phoenix to Kingman | Las Cruces to Phoenix | Phoenix to Prescott | Omaha to Phoenix | Phoenix to San Antonio | Phoenix to Santa Fe | Phoenix to Sedona | Phoenix to Tombstone | Phoenix to Tucson | Phoenix to Williams AZ | Winslow to Phoenix | Phoenix to Yuma.
More Colorado Springs road trips
Colorado Springs to Albuquerque | Amarillo to Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs to Aspen | Boulder to Colorado Springs | Castle Rock to Colorado Springs | Chicago to Colorado Springs | Dallas to Colorado Springs | Denver to Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs to Estes Park | Fort Collins to Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs to Glenwood Springs | Grand Junction to Colorado Springs | Houston to Colorado Springs | Kansas City to Colorado Springs | Omaha to Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs to Salt Lake City | Colorado Springs to San Antonio | Tucson to Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs to Vail.