Pikes Peak, Cripple Creek and the Royal Gorge
Drive or ride the cog railway to the top of Pikes Peak, see fossil redwoods and a gold camp, then look down into the Royal Gorge.
- Distance
- approx. 126 km (78 mi)
- Driving
- 1 h 24 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 7
- States
- CO
- Best time to go
- May and September–October
- Tolls and vignettes
- None expected
- Updated
- July 7, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 126 km (78 mi) with 7 stops, from Colorado Springs to Cañon City. About 1 h 24 min of driving in total. Best time to go: May and September–October. No toll roads expected for a car.
More road trips in Colorado · More road trips from Colorado Springs
Photos along the route
Route description
Manitou Springs, a Victorian spa town at the foot of Pikes Peak, is 10 km west of Colorado Springs on US-24. Try the free mineral springs around town. The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway leaves from here for the summit, a 3 hour return trip that should be booked in advance. If you prefer to drive, the Pikes Peak Highway starts about 10 km further west at Cascade.
The Pikes Peak Highway is a 30 km toll road that climbs to the 4,302 m summit, with a new visitor center at the top. From late May to September, a timed-entry permit is needed to drive beyond mile 7, and rangers may check brake temperatures on the way down, so use low gear. Large motorhomes can make the drive, but it is tiring; weather at the top can turn to snow in any month.
Continue west on US-24 to Florissant and turn south on Teller County Road 1 for Florissant Fossil Beds, where giant petrified redwood stumps stand in a meadow. The same road runs on to Cripple Creek, a former gold camp that now has casinos, and nearby Victor, with mine overlook trails. Both towns sit at about 2,900 m.
From Cripple Creek, two unpaved Gold Belt roads descend to Cañon City: Phantom Canyon, narrow with old tunnels, and the Shelf Road, with steep drop-offs. Neither is suitable for RVs. With a large vehicle, go back via US-24 west to Hartsel and CO-9 south through Guffey to US-50. The Royal Gorge Bridge is just off US-50, west of Cañon City, which is home to the Museum of Colorado Prisons.
Which stops are on the route from Colorado Springs to Cañon City?
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Colorado Springs
CO - 211 km
Manitou Springs
CO - 313 km
Pikes Peak Summit
ViewsCascade, COThe 4,302 m summit reached by the toll Pikes Peak Highway or the cog railway from Manitou Springs. A timed-entry permit is required from late May to September, and brakes may be checked on the way down.
- 427 km
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
NatureFlorissant, COGiant petrified redwood stumps and fine fossil insects in a mountain meadow west of Pikes Peak. Short trails from the visitor center on Teller County 1.
- 525 km
Cripple Creek
CO - 641 km
Royal Gorge Bridge
ViewsCañon City, COA suspension bridge 291 m above the Arkansas River, owned by Cañon City. Admission covers the bridge, gondola and park; the gorge can also be seen from the Royal Gorge Route train.
- 79 km
Cañon City
CO
How do you drive the route from Colorado Springs to Cañon City in 3 days?
3 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Colorado Springs → Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument · 32 mi · 0 h 34 minOn the way: Manitou Springs, Pikes Peak Summit.Overnight nearby, for example: Grouse Mountain Campground (6 mi); Revenuer's Ridge Campground (6 mi).
- Day 2: Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument → Cripple Creek · 16 mi · 0 h 17 minOvernight nearby, for example: Banks Campground (9 mi); Sand Gulch Campground (9 mi).
- Day 3: Cripple Creek → Cañon City · 31 mi · 0 h 33 minOn the way: Royal Gorge Bridge.Overnight nearby, for example: Love's RV Stop (5 mi); Echo Canyon Campground (6 mi).
When is the best time for the route from Colorado Springs to Cañon City?
The most pleasant months are usually May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April, June and August. Cold, short days in January–February. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
More routes for the best months
Practical guides for this route
Photo by Malivez on UnsplashDriving in the US: The Rules European Visitors Most Often Get Wrong at the Wheel
Photo by Aleksandr Dalakian on UnsplashFuel, Tolls and Distances: Practical US Driving Math for Motorhome and Camper Travelers
Photo by Tracy Zhang on UnsplashUS national parks: entry fees, passes and reservations in plain terms
Themes
Plan this route for your vehicle
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FAQs
How long is Pikes Peak, Cripple Creek and the Royal Gorge?
3-day road trip of about 126 km (78 mi) with 7 stops, from Colorado Springs to Cañon City. About 1 h 24 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Pikes Peak, Cripple Creek and the Royal Gorge?
We suggest 3 days: about 1 h 24 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Pikes Peak, Cripple Creek and the Royal Gorge start and end?
It starts in Colorado Springs and ends in Cañon City.
Which states does Pikes Peak, Cripple Creek and the Royal Gorge pass through?
Colorado.
Where can you camp along Pikes Peak, Cripple Creek and the Royal Gorge?
OpenStreetMap lists 91 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 19 mi of the stops on this route. For example: Foot of the Rockies RV Resort, Garden of the Gods RV Resort and Love's RV Stop.
