U.S. 24

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Beginning at Interstate 70 and U.S. 6 near the town of Minturn, U.S. 24 heads south through the Eagle River valley, between the Sawatch and Gore Ranges, to Leadville. The route continues south from Leadville along the Arkansas River and west of Mosquito Range, to combine with U.S. 285 at Johnson Village. The two routes turns east across mountains of San Isabel National Forest and Kaufman Range to Antero Junction. U.S. 285 continues north from there to Fairplay while U.S. 24 shifts east to Hartsel, the Puma Hills and Ute Pass.

East from SH 67 and the community of Divide, U.S. 24 expands to four lanes to Woodland Park, Cascade and the west side of Colorado Springs. Following the Midland Expressway, U.S. 24 angles southeast to merge with Interstate 25 around Downtown Colorado Springs. A short freeway segment extends the route east from I-25 at Exit 139 to Chelton Road, with Fountain Road continuing the highway as a controlled access arterial to Colorado 21 (Powers Boulevard).

Powers Boulevard constitutes a bypass with expressway sections through east Colorado Springs and by Colorado Springs Airport (COS). U.S. 24 utilizes Powers Boulevard (SH 21) north 2.4 miles to Platte Avenue, which leads the route out of the eastern Colorado Springs suburbs toward Falcon.

The remainder of U.S. 24 in eastern Colorado travels through rural areas. Passing through Calhan, Ramah and Simla, U.S. 24 gradually increases in latitude to Limon, where it joins Interstate 70 along an unsigned overlap east to Flagler. The US route emerges from the freeway as a local route through Siebert, Vona, Stratton, Bethune and Burlington. Exiting the state, U.S. 24 again overlaps with I-70 to Kanorado, Kansas.

Mile 0.0 for the Gore Valley Trail lies adjacent to U.S. 24's west end. Gore Creek flows into the Eagle River at Dowds Junction and the exchange linking I-70, U.S. 6 and U.S. 24. A Union Pacific Railroad line runs along the north banks of the Eagle River southeast to Minturn and northwest to Avon. Interstate 70 spans U.S. 24, the river and railroad adjacent to the Forest Service Park & Ride lot. 08/11/16

U.S. 24 historically ran west alongside U.S. 6 from Dowd to U.S. 50 at Grand Junction. The long concurrency was eliminated with approval by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) on November 15, 1975. This action also dropped U.S. 24 Bypass from Grand Junction.

U.S. 24 East

U.S. 24 begins east from U.S. 6 and a folded diamond interchange (Exit 171) along I-70 at Dowds Junction.
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U.S. 24 travels 160.44 miles east from I-70/U.S. 6 to Interstate 25 in Colorado Springs. I-70/U.S. 6 traverse the Rocky Mountains to the north to Frisco, Silverthorne and Idaho Springs.
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The town limits of Minturn extend northwest along U.S. 24 and the Eagle River to the exchange with I-70/U.S. 6.
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U.S. 24 navigates through an S-curve alongside the Eagle River to the Minturn business district.
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U.S. 24 (Main Street) at Toledo Avenue in Minturn.
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Mile marker 146 appears just south of Cemetery Road along Main Street in Minturn.
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U.S. 24 transitions to Cimarron Street east of 8th Street, and ahead of Interstate 25. A parclo interchange originally joined the two routes just west of Monument Creek.
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The Colorado Springs Metropolitan Expansion Project underway through December 2017 rebuilt the exchange joining U.S. 24 and I-25 into a SPUI.
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U.S. 24 combines with I-25 south from Cimmaron Street 2.3 miles to an expressway leading to Fountain Boulevard.
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Interstate 25 heads north from U.S. 24 and Downtown Colorado Springs to the United States Air Force Academy, Monument and Castle Rock.
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U.S. 24 West

U.S. 24 (Main Street) west at Mann Street in the town of Minturn.
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U.S. 24 (Main Street) west at Bayer Avenue in the Minturn business district.
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North from the Minturn business district, U.S. 24 turns off N Main Street to run along the west bank of the Eagle River.
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The Top of The Rockies Scenic Byway concludes along U.S. 24 west leading into the exchange with I-70/U.S. 6.
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U.S. 24 converges with Interstate 70 and U.S. 6 at Dowds Junction.
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A loop ramp takes U.S. 6 back onto Interstate 70 east to Vail from U.S. 24.
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Milepost 143 for U.S. 24 at Dowds Junction marks the transition into U.S. 6 (Route 006E) west. U.S. 6/24 previously overlapped west to Grand Junction.
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An end shield for U.S. 24 west stands next to mile 0.0 for Gore Valley Trail.
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I-70 and U.S. 6 parallel the Eagle River west from U.S> 24 into the unincorporated community of Eagle-Vail.
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Interstate 70 travels 140 miles from the west end of U.S. 24 to Grand Junction.
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U.S. 24 Side Trip - Garden of the Gods

U.S. 24 passes to the south of the Garden of the Gods through west Colorado Springs.
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The Garden of the Gods Park located off 30th Street.
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The Garden of the Gods Park located off 30th Street.
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The red rock formations within Garden of the Gods park are similar to those found in Red Rocks Amphitheater west of Denver.
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The red rock formations within Garden of the Gods park are similar to those found in Red Rocks Amphitheater west of Denver.
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Photo Credits:

11/11/03, 11/13/03, 08/11/16 by AARoads

Connect with:
Interstate 25
Interstate 70
Business Loop I-70 - Limon
Business Loop I-70 - Burlington
U.S. 6
U.S. 40
U.S. 287
U.S. 385

Page Updated 02-01-2022.

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