How far is Castle Rock, CO from Rifle, CO?

The driving distance from Castle Rock, CO to Rifle, CO is about 209.5 miles (337.1 km), with a travel time of about 04h 01m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 156.5 miles (251.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 03m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
209.48 mi
04h 01m
Flight
156.55 mi
251.95 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Castle Rock.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
156.55 mi
Kilometers
251.95 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
209.48 mi
Kilometers
337.12 km
Drive Time
04h 01m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 04h 01m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Rifle
Thu, Apr 23, 5:37 AM MDT
Return by in Castle Rock
Thu, Apr 23, 9:38 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Castle Rock
2026-04-23T01:35
Arrive Rifle
Thu, Apr 23, 5:37 AM MDT
Route Timing
04h 01m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:02 AM to 12:02 PM MDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:56 AM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Castle Rock
9:00 PM MDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Frisco
CO

Town in Summit County, Colorado, United States of America

From Castle Rock
104.6 mi
02h 00m
To Rifle
104.8 mi
02h 00m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
63°F
Thursday

Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
10 to 18 mph WNW
Destination
60°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
5 to 25 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Castle Rock and Rifle.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Castle Rock and Rifle.

  1. 1

    Start on North Cantril Street

    27 m · 8 sec · North Cantril Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto 3rd Street

    641 ft · 23 sec · 3rd Street

  3. 3

    Exit the roundabout onto 3rd Street

    135 m · 18 sec · 3rd Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto North Wilcox Street

    2807 ft · 2 min · North Wilcox Street

  5. 5

    Take the ramp straight toward I 25 North

    1715 ft · 42 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    26.6 mi · 30 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward US 6 West: 6th Avenue

    945 ft · 23 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on US 6 West: 6th Avenue, Lakewood

    2200 ft · 54 sec

  9. 9

    Continue on Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway

    1.5 km · 2 min · Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on US 6

    609 ft · 11 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto West 6th Avenue Freeway

    7.6 mi · 9 min · West 6th Avenue Freeway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward I 70 West: Grand Junction

    1.1 km · 56 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    170.8 mi · 3 hr 13 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward CO 13 North: Rifle, Meeker

    1067 ft · 27 sec

  15. 15

    Turn right

    2556 ft · 1 min

  16. 16

    Continue on Railroad Avenue

    1824 ft · 48 sec · Railroad Avenue

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Railroad Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Castle Rock and Rifle.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
17 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 70 West
171 mi · 82%
I 25 North
27 mi · 13%
West 6th Avenue Freeway
7.62 mi · 4%
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
0.93 mi
US 6 West
0.6 mi
North Wilcox Street
0.53 mi
Longest Stretch

I 70 West

Merge slight left

171 mi · 03h 13m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 01m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+53 mi
156.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Frisco
02h 00m from Castle Rock
Leave By
8:56 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers leaving Castle Rock and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers near Rifle.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Castle Rock to Rifle?

The road trip is about 209.5 miles (337.1 km) and usually takes 04h 01m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Frisco is a useful midpoint, sitting about 104.6 miles from Castle Rock and 104.8 miles from Rifle.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 156.5 miles (251.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 53 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:56 AM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $27.33 one way or $54.66 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 65.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers around Castle Rock and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers near Rifle.

Stop Ideas Near Frisco

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Frisco, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Frisco.

BUS

Frisco, Colorado

1 mi away
1010 Meadow Drive
BUS

Vail, Colorado

22 mi away
241 South Frontage Road East
BUS

Fairplay, CO

40 mi away
620 US Highway 285
RAIL

Fraser – Winter Park

48 mi away
205 Fraser Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Castle Rock and Rifle. Straight-line distance: 156.55 mi (251.95 km).

Castle Rock

#1 Castle Rock

The most populous city in Douglas County, Colorado.

Population70,567
Coordinates39.3722100, -104.8560900
Altitude1897
CountryUnited States
Rifle

#2 Rifle

City in Colorado

Population9,775
Coordinates39.5347000, -107.7831200
Altitude1630
CountryUnited States
Start: Castle Rock (-104.85609, 39.37221)
End: Rifle (-107.78312, 39.5347)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 337 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 58m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 14m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 11m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 29m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 59m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 36m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.39 gal
27.98 L · about $27.33
Round trip
$54.66
14.78 gal · 55.96 L
Estimated CO2
65.7 kg one way
Round trip: 131.3 kg / 289 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.70 $27.33 $54.66
Mid-grade $4.08 $30.18 $60.36
Premium $4.39 $32.45 $64.90
Diesel $4.74 $35.01 $70.01

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Colorado · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Castle Rock and Rifle. The current time is 01:35:36.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.