Driving the Pikes Peak Highway in 2024

Visitors to Colorado often ask "Where is Pikes Peak?"

Pikes Peak is the highest summit of the southern Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, in North America. The ultra-prominent 14,115-foot fourteener is located in Pike National Forest, 12 miles west of downtown Colorado Springs, Colorado. The mountain is named in honor of American explorer Zebulon Montgomery Pike.

The peak is commonly called "America's Mountain".

How many tall mountains are there in Colorado?

Colorado has 58 mountain peaks exceeding 14,000 feet (known as "Fourteeners"), the most of any state. Outdoor enthusiasts of all skill levels will find peaks ranging from easy to very difficult, with hiking trails for exploring the state's scenery, wildlife and rugged beauty. Pikes Peak is one of those "Fourteeners".

Can I drive my car to the top of Pikes Peak?

The 19-mile Pikes Peak Highway is a 2-lane road ascending more than 6,000 feet in elevation to 14,115 feet. The highway has a series of switchbacks, treacherous at high speed, called "The W's" for their shape on the northwest side of the mountain. The road is maintained by the city of Colorado Springs as a toll road. A project to pave the remainder of the road was completed in October of 2011.

What can you see from the top of Pikes Peak?

View to the distance from Pikes Peak

From the summit, alpine views stretch out in all directions to encompass reservoirs, summits of shorter peaks, clouds, the Continental Divide, Garden of the Gods, plus the cities of Woodland Park, Manitou Springs and Colorado Springs.

On a very clear day, you might even glimpse Denver’s skyscrapers, the Great Plains stretching to Kansas and the Sangre de Cristo mountain range stretching toward New Mexico.

More About Pikes Peak

First staged in 1916, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is the second oldest race in America. The invitation-only event, often referred to as The Race to the Clouds, is held annually on the last Sunday of June

Summit Visitor Center

The new Pikes Peak Summit Visitor Center is a popular stop at the peak. The facility provides improved accessibility throughout the entire summit, engaging interpretive exhibits that share the history of the mountain, a revamped gift shop, and indoor and outdoor dining areas where visitors can enjoy a world-famous Pikes Peak donut and other delicious treats while taking in the expansive views.

The building and outdoor walkways were designed to create a seamless, immersive experience. From arrival at the summit and through all steps, visitors are enveloped in the natural forms of America’s Mountain.

Map of the Pikes Peak Highway Shown to the right is a map of the Pikes Peak Highway. click the image to view a full size map at the City of Colorado Springs website

 

Driving the Pikes Peak Highway

Entrance area to the Pikes Peak Highway

The Pikes Peak Highway entrance is conveniently located just 15 minutes west of Colorado Springs on Highway 24. Plan for your roundtrip journey to the summit to take 2-3 hours and have at least a half of tank of gas as there are no service stations on the highway.

It is recommended that visitors first drive up to the summit and save picture stops and points of interest for the drive down, as this will be easier on your vehicle. Speed Limit is 30mph unless otherwise posted.

Drive the first two miles past the tollgate in low gear or the low range to allow your vehicle to operate properly. Drive easy grades and short level stretches in intermediate gears to keep your vehicle from overheating. Upon reaching the summit, run your engine at a fast idle for a few minutes to reduce overheating.

Tolls for the highway range from depending on the season and number of passengers in the vehicle. Round trip is a roughly three-hour excursion.

America's Mountain is open year round, weather permitting. Conditions change frequently, it is recommended to call the pre-recorded information line. The staff updates the info approximately 15 minutes prior to opening and then as conditions change throughout the day. Call 719-385-7325 and select option 1 for current road conditions

Read more about the highway, tickets, FAQs, alerts, construction, and current conditions ... Pikes Peak at the City of Colorado Springs website

Tickets for the highway can be purchased in advance ... Buy Pikes Peak Highway Tickets Online

3/10 mile to the Gateway Entrance

Toll booth on the Pikes Peak Highway

 

Scenes Along the Pikes Peak Highway

Pikes Peak Highway Switchbacks in Summer

Pikes Peak ... America's Mountain

Quiet day on the Pikes Peak Highway

Winter snow on the Pikes Peak Highway

Pikes Peak Highway Switchbacks in the Spring

Climbing the Highway on a Blue Sky Day

Downhill on the Pikes Peak Highway

 

You've Reached the Summit!

The Summit of Pikes Peak ... 14,115 feet above sea level, in the Pike National Forest

Welcome to the Summit of Pikes Peak

World famous high-altitude donuts

 

Zebulon Montgomery Pike Zebulon Montgomery Pike was an American brigadier general and explorer for whom Pikes Peak was named. As he approached the Colorado foothills of the Rocky Mountains during his second exploratory expedition on November 15, 1806, Lieutenant Zebulon Pike spotted a distant mountain peak that looked to him as “a small blue cloud.” The mountain was later named Pike’s Peak in his honor.

USGS Pikes Peak Location Marker Shown here is a Pikes Peak benchmark location marker placed by the U.S. Geological Survey

Warning: Area of Extreme Danger Lightning, high winds, snow and thin air can greet visitors to the summit of Pikes Peak! Be prepared!

The Other Way to the Top of Pikes Peak

If you're not up to driving your vehicle up Pikes Peak, The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway offers a great alternative to reach the summit. It is sometimes referred to as "The Cog" or the "Pikes Peak Railway".

The Cog has been climbing Pikes Peak since 1891, and offers one of the most unique adventures in the country. As the world’s highest cog railroad, the Railway is an important part of the heritage of the Western United States.

It has reopened in 2021 after a three year project to upgrade the depot in Manitou, the tracks, the cars and the visitor center at the summit.

Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway near the summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado

Classic red cars of the cog railway

The cogs on the railway

 

 

Lodging Near Pikes Peak

Driving the Pikes Peak Highway and staying in Colorado Springs? Colorado Springs Visitor Guide at TripAdvisor Things to do in Colorado Springs Lodging in Colorado Springs Lodging in Manitou Springs

The Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs

 

Interactive Map of the Pikes Peak Highway Area

More Popular Travel Destinations & Vacations in Colorado

 

More Information About Pikes Peak, Manitou and Colorado Springs

Buy Pikes Peak Highway Tickets Online

Pikes Peak on Facebook

 

The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway

 

The Broadmoor Hotel

 

Visit Colorado Springs

 

City of Colorado Springs

 

City of Manitou Springs

 

Manitou Incline

 

Pikes Peak at Colorado.com

 

Colorado Springs Visitor Guide at TripAdvisor

 

Pikes Peak Visitor Guide at TripAdvisor