How far is Centennial, CO from Clifton, CO?

The driving distance from Centennial, CO to Clifton, CO is about 249.5 miles (401.6 km), with a travel time of about 04h 43m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 193.8 miles (311.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 26m 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
249.56 mi
04h 43m
Flight
193.82 mi
311.93 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Centennial.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
193.82 mi
Kilometers
311.93 km
Flight Time
00h 23m

Driving Distance

Road route
249.56 mi
Kilometers
401.62 km
Drive Time
04h 43m

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 43m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Clifton
Wed, Apr 15, 9:35 AM MDT
Return by in Centennial
Wed, Apr 15, 2:18 PM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Centennial
2026-04-15T04:52
Arrive Clifton
Wed, Apr 15, 9:35 AM MDT
Route Timing
04h 43m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:43 AM to 12:43 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
7:34 AM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Centennial
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
Edwards
CO

Location in Colorado, USA

From Centennial
124.6 mi
02h 21m
To Clifton
124.9 mi
02h 21m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
67°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
7 to 10 mph WSW
Destination
68°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Centennial and Clifton.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Centennial and Clifton.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    151 m · 41 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left

    36 m · 11 sec

  3. 3

    Turn right onto East Panorama Circle

    536 ft · 23 sec · East Panorama Circle

  4. 4

    Turn right onto South Chester Street

    117 m · 15 sec · South Chester Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto East Dry Creek Road

    1583 ft · 46 sec · East Dry Creek Road

  6. 6

    Turn left onto I 25 North

    1335 ft · 35 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto South Valley Highway

    12.5 mi · 15 min · South Valley Highway

  8. 8

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

    945 ft · 23 sec

  9. 9

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

    2200 ft · 54 sec

  10. 10

    Continue on Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway

    1.5 km · 2 min · Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on US 6

    609 ft · 11 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto West 6th Avenue Freeway

    7.6 mi · 9 min · West 6th Avenue Freeway

  13. 13

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

    1.1 km · 56 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    224.5 mi · 4 hr 9 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward I 70 Business, US 6, US 50: Clifton, Grand Junction, Delta

    1.4 mi · 3 min

  16. 16

    Turn sharp left onto F Road

    952 ft · 34 sec · F Road

  17. 17

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward F Road

    23 m · 1 sec · F Road

  18. 18

    Exit the roundabout onto F Road

    110 m · 10 sec · F Road

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · F Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Centennial and Clifton.

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
19 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 70 West
225 mi · 90%
South Valley Highway
12.5 mi · 5%
West 6th Avenue Freeway
7.62 mi · 3%
I 70 Business
1.44 mi · 1%
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
0.93 mi
US 6 West
0.6 mi
Longest Stretch

I 70 West

Merge slight left

225 mi · 04h 09m

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 43m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+55.7 mi
193.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Edwards
02h 21m from Centennial
Leave By
7:34 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Centennial and Sunny near Clifton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Centennial to Clifton?

The road trip is about 249.5 miles (401.6 km) and usually takes 04h 43m 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?

Edwards is a useful midpoint, sitting about 124.6 miles from Centennial and 124.9 miles from Clifton.

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

The direct path is about 193.8 miles (311.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 55.7 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 7:34 AM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $32.54 one way or $65.08 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 78.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Centennial and Sunny near Clifton.

Stop Ideas Near Edwards

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Edwards, 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 Edwards.

BUS

Vail, Colorado

21 mi away
241 South Frontage Road East
BUS

Frisco, Colorado

43 mi away
1010 Meadow Drive
RAIL

Glenwood Springs

63 mi away
413 7th Street
BUS

Fairplay, CO

70 mi away
620 US Highway 285

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Centennial and Clifton. Straight-line distance: 193.82 mi (311.93 km).

Centennial

#1 Centennial

The second most populous city in Arapahoe County, Colorado.

Population110,156
Coordinates39.5791600, -104.8769200
Altitude1777
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Clifton

Clifton is a place in Colorado, United States.

Population0
Coordinates39.0919300, -108.4489800
Altitude1440
CountryUnited States
Start: Centennial (-104.87692, 39.57916)
End: Clifton (-108.44898, 39.09193)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 402 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 18m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 14m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 59m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 09m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 33m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 06m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.8 gal
33.33 L · about $32.54
Round trip
$65.08
17.6 gal · 66.66 L
Estimated CO2
78.2 kg one way
Round trip: 156.4 kg / 345 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.70 $32.54 $65.08
Mid-grade $4.08 $35.94 $71.88
Premium $4.39 $38.64 $77.28
Diesel $4.74 $41.69 $83.37

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 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Centennial and Clifton. The current time is 04:52:23.

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.