Colorado Springs to Denver Moving Guide: Everything You Need to Know

The Colorado Springs to Denver move is far and away the most common long-distance route we handle. It makes sense—Denver is just 60-70 miles up I-25, and the two cities share a job market, a sports fandom, and a love for the Front Range lifestyle.

But “it’s just up I-25” can be misleading. This move has its own quirks: I-25 construction that never seems to end, the Monument Hill bottleneck, Denver’s wildly different neighborhoods, and a cost of living jump that catches some people off guard.

After 17+ years of moving families between these two cities, here’s everything you need to know.

The Route: 60-70 Miles of I-25

The Colorado Springs to Denver corridor is straightforward: get on I-25 North and drive. There’s no alternative route that’s meaningfully faster for a moving truck, so understanding this highway is key to planning your move.

The Drive in Sections

Colorado Springs to Monument (15-20 miles): Climbing through the North Gate area and into the hills. This stretch is manageable even in traffic.

Monument Hill (mile marker 160-165): The high point of the drive at roughly 7,300 feet. In winter, this section gets icy and can slow traffic to a crawl. Moving trucks loaded with your belongings add weight that actually helps with traction, but our drivers know to take this section carefully.

Castle Rock (mile marker 180-185): The first major chokepoint. Castle Rock has exploded in population, and the interchange area creates regular congestion. An outlet mall right off the highway doesn’t help.

Lone Tree to Denver (mile marker 195-210): The southern Denver metro. This is where traffic gets real. The C-470/I-25 interchange, the I-25/I-225 split, and merging suburban traffic create daily backups during rush hours.

I-25 Construction: The Permanent Reality

If you’ve driven I-25 between the Springs and Denver anytime in the last decade, you’ve hit construction. The corridor has been undergoing a seemingly endless series of widening projects, interchange rebuilds, and express lane additions.

As of 2026, construction zones still narrow lanes and reduce speeds in several stretches. Our drivers know exactly where the current zones are and factor them into transit timing. For your move, this means:

• Add 30-45 minutes to normal transit time
• Weekday moves should plan transit between 9:30 AM and 2:30 PM to avoid rush hour + construction
• Weekend moves have significantly easier I-25 traffic

What Does This Move Cost?

The Colorado Springs to Denver move falls into an interesting pricing zone—it’s too far for simple local hourly rates but too short for traditional long-distance pricing models. Here’s what to expect:

Typical Cost Ranges

These estimates include loading, transit, unloading, and basic equipment (blankets, dollies, straps). Packing services and specialty items add to the total.

What Drives the Cost

• Home size and amount of stuff: The biggest factor, as always
• Packing needs: Full-service packing adds $500-$1,500 depending on home size
• Stairs and access: Walk-up apartments on either end add time
• Specialty items: Piano, safe, hot tub, etc.
• Day of week: Weekday moves save $10-20/hr over weekends
• Time of year: Summer peak season means higher demand

Getting an Accurate Quote

For this route, we strongly recommend an in-home or video estimate rather than a phone quote. The 60-70 mile distance means transit time is a significant portion of the total, and accurately assessing loading/unloading time requires seeing your actual belongings.

Request your free estimate or call (719) 357-5865.

Popular Denver Areas and What to Expect

If you’re still deciding where in Denver to land, here’s a neighborhood overview from the perspective of someone moving from Colorado Springs:

Downtown/LoDo/RiNo

Urban living at its most Denver. Lofts, condos, walkability, breweries on every corner. Parking is scarce and expensive. If you’re coming from a house in the Springs, apartment life downtown will feel very different. Great for young professionals and couples without kids.

Highlands/LoHi

Northwest Denver’s trendiest neighborhoods. Beautiful Victorian homes alongside modern builds. Walkable to restaurants and shops. Expensive but desirable. Family-friendly with parks and good schools.

Park Hill/Stapleton (Central Park)

The family neighborhood of choice for many Colorado Springs transplants. Central Park (formerly Stapleton) is a master-planned community with new construction, parks, trails, and excellent schools. It feels more suburban while technically being in Denver.

Littleton/Highlands Ranch

South Denver suburbs that feel familiar to Colorado Springs residents. Good schools, family-oriented, and a shorter I-25 commute back to the Springs for those who still have ties. Highlands Ranch is one of the largest master-planned communities in the country.

Aurora

Denver’s most diverse suburb with a wide range of housing options. More affordable than many Denver neighborhoods. Anschutz Medical Campus (UCHealth) is a major employer here. Newer developments in Southlands and Murphy Creek offer suburban living at lower price points.

Lakewood/Golden

West side communities with mountain access. Golden sits at the base of the foothills and has a charming downtown (and Coors Brewery). Lakewood offers diverse housing from vintage homes to new builds. Great for outdoor enthusiasts who want quick access to I-70 and the mountains.

Castle Rock/Parker

Technically not Denver, but many Colorado Springs transplants land here as a compromise—close enough to Denver for work, close enough to the Springs to visit easily. Rapidly growing with new construction, good schools, and a small-town feel.

Why People Make This Move

In our experience, here are the most common reasons families move from Colorado Springs to Denver:

Career Opportunities

Denver’s job market is larger and more diverse than Colorado Springs, particularly in tech, finance, healthcare, and cannabis industry. Many companies headquartered in Denver offer opportunities that simply don’t exist 60 miles south.

Lifestyle Change

Downtown Denver living is a fundamentally different experience from Colorado Springs. Walkability, public transit (RTD light rail), professional sports, concerts, and a nightlife scene draw people looking for more urban energy.

Higher Education

CU Denver, MSU Denver, DU, and Regis offer programs not available in Colorado Springs. Graduate students and young professionals often make this move for educational opportunities.

Proximity to DIA

Denver International Airport is a major hub. For professionals who travel frequently, living closer to DIA eliminates the 1.5+ hour drive from the Springs.

Relationship and Family Changes

New relationships, aging parents, or custody arrangements often drive the move when someone’s network is Denver-based.

What You’ll Miss About Colorado Springs

Real talk from movers who’ve heard thousands of families reflect on this move:

• Pikes Peak views. Denver has mountain views, but they’re distant. The Springs has Pikes Peak right there.
• Traffic (or lack of it). Colorado Springs traffic, even at its worst, is nothing compared to Denver rush hour.
• Cost of living. Denver is 15-25% more expensive depending on the neighborhood. Housing is the biggest difference.
• Community feel. Colorado Springs has a smaller-city feel that many people don’t appreciate until they’re in Denver’s sprawl.
• Military community. If you’re connected to the military community through Fort Carson or the bases, that support network doesn’t transfer to Denver.

That said, most families who make this move are happy they did. The key is going in with realistic expectations about traffic, cost, and the adjustment period.

Planning Your Move: Step by Step

6-8 Weeks Out

• Decide on your Denver neighborhood
• Start getting moving estimates
• Research Denver parking permits if moving to a dense urban area

4-6 Weeks Out

• Book your movers
• Start packing non-essentials
• Transfer utilities and update your address
• Register kids for new schools

2 Weeks Out

• Finish packing (or schedule packing services)
• Confirm your moving date and timeline
• If moving to an apartment, reserve the elevator and get loading dock access
• Plan your I-25 timing (avoid rush hours)

Moving Day

• Review our what to expect on moving day guide
• Have your essentials box packed in your car
• Communicate parking and access details to your crew
• Enjoy the start of your Denver adventure

Related Routes

Moving somewhere other than Denver? We handle long-distance moves across the region:

• Denver Metro Movers — service across the metro
• Colorado Springs to Phoenix — 600 miles to the Southwest
• Colorado Springs to Dallas — 650 miles to Texas
• Colorado Springs to Kansas City — 600 miles east on I-70

Ready to Make the Move?

iHaul iMove has been handling the Colorado Springs to Denver corridor for over 17 years. We know I-25 like the back of our hand, we understand Denver’s parking and access challenges, and we’ll get your belongings there safely and on time.

Get your free estimate or call (719) 357-5865. We’ll walk you through the logistics, give you an honest price, and make your move to Denver as smooth as possible.

iHaul iMove is Colorado Springs’ trusted moving company with 700+ 5-star reviews, 17+ years of experience, and service across 71+ communities. Licensed and insured.