Getting Around Pueblo
Pueblo is a car-oriented city, and for most visitors a private vehicle is the simplest and most flexible way to get around. If you are relying on public transport, plan ahead: the bus network is limited, and there is no rail, metro, or tram service for getting around town.
By Car
Cars are the primary form of transportation in Pueblo. There is plenty of parking around the city, and in the downtown area there are city-owned parking lots, so you generally do not need to worry about finding a place to leave your vehicle.
Pueblo sits on Interstate Highway 25, roughly 45 miles south of Colorado Springs, 120 miles south of Denver, and about 100 miles north of the New Mexico border. US Route 50 connects Pueblo to points east and west. These highways make the city easy to reach and to use as a base for exploring the surrounding region.
Rail, Metro, and Tram
There is no rail, metro, or tram network for getting around Pueblo. Visitors should not expect to navigate the city by train or light rail; the practical options are driving, buses, bicycles, taxis, and ride-hailing.
Buses and Public Transport
The City of Pueblo Transit is the city's bus operator. Fares are $1.00 for a one-way trip and $3.00 for a day pass.
Be aware of the service limitations before you plan a bus trip:
- Buses are infrequent, running about once per hour.
- Service generally runs from around 6:00 in the morning to 5:00 in the afternoon on weekdays, and from 8:00 in the morning to 5:00 in the afternoon on Saturdays.
- Buses do not run on Sundays.
- All of the lines really only connect at the center of town, so getting from one part of town to another can take a long time.
Because of these constraints, buses work best for short trips along a single route or for travel to and from the downtown core. If your plans involve multiple stops across town, a car or a taxi will usually save you considerable time.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
The source material does not describe taxi or ride-hailing services in Pueblo in detail. Given that cars are the primary form of transportation and that public transit is limited, taxis and ride-hailing apps are a reasonable fallback for trips that buses cannot easily cover, particularly in the evening or on Sundays when buses are not running. It is wise to arrange these in advance where possible.
Walkability and Bicycling
Walking is practical for exploring compact areas such as the downtown core, but Pueblo is spread out and car-oriented, so walking is not a realistic way to cover the whole city.
Cycling is a good alternative. The city of Pueblo has many bicycle routes throughout the town, along with some bicycle lanes. Some of these lanes are separated from cars and some are shared with traffic. Shared lanes should be signed, so watch for signage to know what to expect on a given route.
Getting There from the Airport
Pueblo Memorial Airport (PUB) is the local airport. It has commuter service from Denver with United Express.
Colorado Springs Airport (COS) is the closest full-service airport, making it a practical alternative for visitors who need a wider choice of flights. From either airport, the most straightforward way into the city is by car, taxi, or ride-hailing, since Pueblo's bus service is limited and does not extend to convenient airport connections.
Practical Tips
- Rent a car if you plan to see much of the city or the surrounding region; parking is generally easy, including city-owned lots downtown.
- If you use the bus, buy a day pass at $3.00 when you expect to make more than a couple of trips, and plan your day around the weekday or Saturday schedule.
- Do not count on buses on Sundays or in the evening.
- Bring or rent a bicycle if you want a flexible, low-cost way to move around; look for signed routes and lanes.
- For airport arrivals, compare Pueblo Memorial Airport with Colorado Springs Airport, the closest full-service option.