How far is Centennial, CO from Rifle, CO?

The driving distance from Centennial, CO to Rifle, CO is about 195.1 miles (314 km), with a travel time of about 03h 46m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 154.8 miles (249.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 32m 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
195.12 mi
03h 46m
Flight
154.84 mi
249.19 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
154.84 mi
Kilometers
249.19 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
195.12 mi
Kilometers
314.02 km
Drive Time
03h 46m

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 03h 46m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Rifle
Thu, Apr 23, 2:00 AM MDT
Return by in Centennial
Thu, Apr 23, 5:46 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Centennial
2026-04-22T22:14
Arrive Rifle
Thu, Apr 23, 2:00 AM MDT
Route Timing
03h 46m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:46 AM to 11:46 AM MDT

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

Leave by
9:28 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
Red Cliff
CO

Human settlement in Eagle County, Colorado, United States of America

From Centennial
97.4 mi
01h 53m
To Rifle
97.7 mi
01h 53m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
9 to 23 mph SW
Destination
68°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
5 to 40 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    170.8 mi · 3 hr 13 min

  15. 15

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

    1067 ft · 27 sec

  16. 16

    Turn right

    2556 ft · 1 min

  17. 17

    Continue on Railroad Avenue

    1824 ft · 48 sec · Railroad Avenue

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Railroad Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Centennial 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
18 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 70 West
171 mi · 88%
South Valley Highway
12.5 mi · 6%
West 6th Avenue Freeway
7.62 mi · 4%
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
0.93 mi
US 6 West
0.6 mi
Railroad Avenue
0.35 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
03h 46m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+40.3 mi
154.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Red Cliff
01h 53m from Centennial
Leave By
9:28 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Centennial and Sunny near Rifle.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 195.1 miles (314 km) and usually takes 03h 46m 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?

Red Cliff is a useful midpoint, sitting about 97.4 miles from Centennial and 97.7 miles from Rifle.

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

The direct path is about 154.8 miles (249.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 40.3 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 9:28 AM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $25.44 one way or $50.88 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 61.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Red Cliff

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

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

BUS

Vail, Colorado

15 mi away
241 South Frontage Road East
BUS

Frisco, Colorado

25 mi away
1010 Meadow Drive
BUS

Fairplay, CO

45 mi away
620 US Highway 285
RAIL

Fraser – Winter Park

68 mi away
205 Fraser Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Centennial and Rifle. Straight-line distance: 154.84 mi (249.19 km).

Centennial

#1 Centennial

The second most populous city in Arapahoe County, Colorado.

Population110,156
Coordinates39.5791600, -104.8769200
Altitude1777
CountryUnited States
Rifle

#2 Rifle

City in Colorado

Population9,775
Coordinates39.5347000, -107.7831200
Altitude1630
CountryUnited States
Start: Centennial (-104.87692, 39.57916)
End: Rifle (-107.78312, 39.5347)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 314 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 30m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 52m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 54m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 15m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 47m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 26m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.88 gal
26.06 L · about $25.44
Round trip
$50.88
13.76 gal · 52.12 L
Estimated CO2
61.1 kg one way
Round trip: 122.3 kg / 270 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.70 $25.44 $50.88
Mid-grade $4.08 $28.10 $56.20
Premium $4.39 $30.21 $60.42
Diesel $4.74 $32.59 $65.18

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 Centennial and Rifle. The current time is 22:14:31.

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.