10 Things To Know Before Driving the Pikes Peak Highway

The Pikes Peak Highway is the 2nd highest road in America and takes visitors to over 14,000 ft elevation for some really impressive views. Plus, you get a little adrenaline rush as you maneuver your vehicle around the tight turns with steep drop-offs on the side.

Pikes Peak Highway is a two-way road that is open year-round (weather permitting) and can be driven in a regular vehicle. Visitors should plan on 3 hours to half a day to do the 19-mile drive, explore the visitor center, and drive back down. Timed-entry reservations are required, as well as an entry fee. The drive is scenic and intimidating, and not everyone feels comfortable navigating this road. The cog railway and shuttle are great alternatives to summit the mountain.

I’m Cheryl, and my husband and I love Colorado and scenic drives! We’ve spent about a month exploring Colorado, doing every scenic drive and activity we could fit in. We have been writing travel guides to the West since 2020, and I can’t wait to share with you 10 things you NEED TO KNOW before driving the Pikes Peak Highway.

1. Understanding the Pikes Peak Area

The drive up the Pikes Peak Highway begins in the town of Cascade, just west of Manitou Springs, CO. The road is a two-way road and you will drive back the same way you came. It’s 19 miles and the speed limit ranges from 25-40 mph. It will most likely take you about an hour to reach the summit. There are a few great stops along the route that may take additional time. We enjoyed the Crystal Reservoir Visitor Center, where we could walk to the pretty lake and check out the gift shop and Devil’s Playground, where we took a short (and somewhat challenging) hike to an overlook that had insane views of the valley and zig-zagging road.

FUN FACT: On the last Sunday of every June, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, or Race to the Clouds, happens where cars race 12.42 miles to the top of Pikes Peak. It has 156 turns and reaches a summit of 14,115 feet. The fastest it has ever been driven is 7:57 minutes by Romain Dumas. The race began in 1916 and has had seven fatalities. Wild stuff!

2. Best Time of Year to Visit

Pikes Peak is open year-round. The road closes occasionally for extreme weather and snow removal, but there are no scheduled closure times throughout the year, so you can pretty much visit anytime.

However, there are times of the year that I think are better than others. I’m going to assume you are going to do more in Colorado besides Pikes Peak in answering this question.

My favorite time to visit is in mid to late September when the leaves are turning. Colorado is ABSOLUTELY STUNNING this time of year because the leaves on the aspen trees turn an amazing golden color and the mountains are covered in them. The air is a little brisk, but it’s comfortable and most of the touristy things to do are still open.

Summer is also nice. The temperatures in Colorado tend to be a bit cooler than the rest of the country (10 degrees cooler than Utah, my home state), and it’s a nice little escape from the heat. There are often pretty wild flowers and all the scenic drives are open.

BEWARE: Summer starts later in Colorado than you would think. Some roads and attractions don’t open until early July because it takes so long for the snow to melt. We once missed riding the free gondola in Breckenridge and almost missed driving the Old Fall River Road in Rocky Mountain National Park one year when we visited in late June/early July. Plus, hiking trails can also be wet and muddy.

3. You Need a Reservation AND Will Pay an Entry Fee

Because the Pikes Peak Highway is so popular, I timed entry permit is required May through September. It costs ~$2 per vehicle and you can reserve yours at coloradosprings.gov/drivepikespeak. 

You will also need to purchase a day pass. Adults (16+): ~$18; Children (6–15): ~$8; Children under 6: Free; Carload (up to 5 passengers): ~$65

When you arrive, you will check in at the toll booth in Cascade, where rangers will verify your passes and give you a free map of the route.

GOOD TO KNOW: Pikes Peak has daily operating hours. You can view them here, but in general, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, the gates open at 7:30 am and close at 6:00 pm

How to Visit Pikes Peak, Colorado: The Ultimate Guide!

4. Traffic and Crowds

You most likely won’t be driving this road alone if you visit from May through September during the day. In our experience, we could always see another car, but we didn’t feel like we were ever waiting in traffic either. I think the reservation system has really helped with this.

When we reached the top, it did feel crowded. We parked our car in the big parking lot and had no problem finding a parking place. The outdoor observation area had plenty of happy tourists enjoying the views and snapping pictures. I was glad that we had made the stop at Devil’s Playground on the way up so we could enjoy the views in a more peaceful setting.

The visitor center, cafe, and gift shop are especially packed. It’s not uncommon for there to be a big line at the restrooms (flushing toilets-yea!) and to get donuts at the cafe. These lines can fluctuate based on the arrival of shuttle buses and the Pikes Peak Cog Railway.

You can get a little reprieve from the crowds by walking around the Summit Loop Trail and looking at the interpretive signs. It’s a nice little flat, paved walk that I think you’ll enjoy.

Overall, I wouldn’t say that the crowds make the experience miserable, but you should plan on sharing the views with others. I’m sure that if you visit early in the morning or later in the day, you’ll have fewer crowds.

GOOD TO KNOW: The Pikes Peak Summit Visitor Center opened in 2021. It’s a really nice facility. The donuts they serve at the cafe are supposed to be special because cooking them at high altitude makes them really good. My husband really enjoyed his, though some people say they are over-hyped. You should give them a try and see what you think.

5. Elevation

Altitude sickness is the real deal and can happen to anybody, regardless of how fit you are. It’s not uncommon to feel lightheaded, get a headache, or feel nauseous as your body adjusts to over 14,000 ft elevation.

I have been a runner for over 25 years and live in Utah (also a high-altitude state), AND I still got altitude sickness when I visited Mount Blue Sky (Colorado’s other 14,000 ft mountain peak that you can drive to). I found myself struggling to find the words to communicate what I wanted to say and I had a terrible headache. My symptoms went away as we drove down the mountain, but it was pretty uncomfortable.

If this happens to you, get to a lower elevation and give your body a few hours to adjust. You can read more about adjusting to high elevation on our blog post Will I Get Altitude Sickness When I Visit Rocky Mountain National Park?

WARNING: Altitude can also affect cars. If your vehicle is older (like over 20 years old) and you are from a sea-level state, your car may experience some issues. We had a customer tell us that driving their car at that altitude really messed it up. Check with your mechanic if you think that this could be an issue for your car.

One other good thing to know about elevation is that it can be 30-40° F cooler at the top of Pikes Peak than it is at the bottom. Bring something warm to wear up top.

6. No Gas Stations

There are no gas stations along the Pikes Peak Highway or in the town of Cascade, the gateway town. The closest gas station is 5-6 miles from the entrance gate, going west on HWY 24 toward Woodland Park. The closest towns with full services to the Pikes Peak HWY entrance gate are Woodland Park and Manitou Springs which is east on HWY 24.

When we arrived at the check-in gate to drive to Pikes Peak, we realized we only had a quarter of a tank of gas and didn’t want to risk it. We made the detour to a gas station and did this drive with a full tank of gas.

GOOD TO KNOW: The closest auto service shop is in Colorado Springs, a little over 30 minutes away from the Pikes Peak entrance.

7. Spotty Cell Coverage

Of course, this depends on your provider and there are always new cell towers being built, but overall, I would not rely on having cell coverage on your drive on the Pikes Peak Highway or at the visitor center at the top.

Remember that this is a popular road, so if you have problems, it’s very likely that you will be able to flag someone down for help.

This is also not a hard area to navigate. It is just a two-way road with no turn-offs. You should have cell service by the time you get to the bottom and you will need your navigation system working.

8. RVs Are Sort of Allowed to Drive the Pikes Peak Highway

RVs are allowed on the Pikes Peak Highway, with a few exceptions.

For the 2025 season, Pikes Peak has implemented new restrictions. Pull-behind trailers and campers, regardless of size, are not permitted on the highway. Additionally, there are length restrictions for RVs, with a maximum length of 26 feet for motorhomes and 5th wheels/trailers, not including the tow vehicle or tongue/bumper

9. There Are No EV Charging Stations

There are no electric vehicle (EV) charging stations along the Pikes Peak Highway or at the summit visitor center. The closest place to charge your car is Colorado Springs, a little more than 30 minutes away.

10. You Don’t Have to Drive the Pikes Peak Highway to Reach the Summit

Fortunately, if your nerves aren’t up for this type of adventure, you have a few options, including riding the shuttle or taking the Pikes Peak Cog Railway. Here’s a little info about each

Time to be really honest… driving the Pikes Peak Highway is pretty scary. I experienced this amazing road as a passenger because I was too scared to drive it (my husband loves to be the driver on these scary drives). There were plenty of sections on the road where there was no barrier and the drop-offs were steep. The passenger side is the scariest side on the way up because you see plenty of these drop-offs.

Shuttle

• How It Works. The shuttle operates from Mile 7 to the summit of Pikes Peak. Shuttles run every 30 minutes and make 5 stops on the way up. Shuttle season runs Memorial Day weekend through mid-August. Trip duration: 40 minutes up, 1+ hour at the summit, and 40 minutes back down. Plan for at least 3 hours round trip—though you can stay at the top as long as you like.
• Cost and Booking. ~$35 for adults, ~$10 for children. Includes the required Day Pass fee (ya!). No refunds for shuttle tickets. Reservations required at coloradosprings.gov/drivepikespeak. When booking, select a 30-minute departure time slot (first at 9:30 am, last at 3:30 pm). Arrive at the Pikes Peak Highway entrance at least 30 minutes before your departure time—this gives you time to drive the non-scary stretch to the Mile 7 parking lot, where the shuttle starts.
• Important Rules. No pets (except trained service animals). No child seats allowed.

Cog Railway

• The Experience. The train departs from Manitou Springs, just west of Colorado Springs. It climbs nearly 9 miles to the summit, with wonderful scenery and fun narration. The entire round trip takes about  3 hours: 1 hour up, 40 minutes at the top, and 1 hour back down.
• Tickets & Reservations. Tickets are required and must be booked in advance at cograilway.com. Pricing varies by season, time of day, and seating class. Expect ~$67–$96 for adults, and ~$57–$86 for children (ages 3–12). Children under 3 ride free on a lap. Parking at the depot is ~$20. We recommend this, as the nearest parking lots in Manitou Springs are far away and also cost money. The depot has a gift shop and café, and the entire boarding area has been recently remodeled. Note: You don’t need to purchase the Pikes Peak Day Pass if you’re riding the train. 
• Things to Know. No pets allowed (except service animals). Arrive at least 30 minutes early. Trains operate year-round, but delays can occur due to weather. You must stick to your scheduled return train—this is not a hop-on/hop-off experience. Complaints include the fact that the seats face each other (awkward and close if you’re looking across at strangers; consider booking tickets across from each other), and that the 30-40 minutes they allow at the peak isn’t enough (however, we felt it was enough time; see tips for maximizing your time). Though it isn’t common, sometimes the train will have mechanical issues and cancel the ride.

You can also hike or bike to the top of Pikes Peak, but I’m going to be honest and say that I know nothing about doing that.

What Else is There To Do in the Area?

Visiting the summit of Pikes Peak is just one of the many great things to do in the area. Manitou Springs, just an hour away, has lots of fun things to do. Below is a list of my favorites.

• Garden of the Gods– This is some red rock among the mountains. It has some tall sandstone walls that can be enjoyed via a scenic drive and short walks. There are also long hikes, a trolley, biking, and jeep tours. The land was deeded to the city of Colorado Springs in 1909 with one condition: it would remain free and open to the public forever. There are lots of rock climbers here and plenty of people going on short walks, enjoying the sights. We visited in the early evening it was really pleasant.
• Manitou Incline– This is one of the most famous and one of the toughest hikes in all of Colorado! It’s all stairs (2,768), and all uphill. Popular with locals and athletes; NOT for casual hikers. I haven’t done this yet, but I want to! The signage says it takes the average hiker 2-3 hours, but I talked to people who told me it took them 6 hours. I’ll need to do some training before I take this on.
• North Pole- Santa’s Workshop– This Christmas-themed, vintage-style amusement park features more than two dozen rides, a petting zoo, magic shows, and, of course, a chance to meet Santa—even in summer. It’s geared toward families with young children. It’s a little old but so cute.

More To Do in Colorado

Colorado is an incredible state filled with beautiful mountains and rivers, lakes, scenic drives, gondolas, mine tours, ziplines, theaters, hikes, charming mountain towns, four national parks, and more. Because Colorado is so big and there is so much to do, planning a trip there can be tricky.

We have written five guides to help you see the best of Colorado, including the Grand Tour that will take you around the entire state in 7-14 days!

Each guide includes

• Step by Step Itinerary including maps, charts, and images to keep you on course
• Most Efficient Driving Routes and Top Sites to Prioritize
• Lodging and Dinner Recommendations by area to minimize driving and suit any budget
• Must know booking timelines and checkboxes to help you secure reservations and stay ahead in your trip planning