How far is Clifton, CO from Colorado Springs, CO?

The driving distance from Clifton, CO to Colorado Springs, CO is about 304.4 miles (489.9 km), with a travel time of about 04h 51m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 195.7 miles (314.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 43m 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
304.44 mi
04h 51m
Flight
195.69 mi
314.93 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Clifton.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
195.69 mi
Kilometers
314.93 km
Flight Time
00h 23m

Driving Distance

Road route
304.44 mi
Kilometers
489.95 km
Drive Time
04h 51m

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 51m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Colorado Springs
Wed, Apr 15, 7:59 AM MDT
Return by in Clifton
Wed, Apr 15, 12:51 PM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Clifton
2026-04-15T03:07
Arrive Colorado Springs
Wed, Apr 15, 7:59 AM MDT
Route Timing
04h 51m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:52 AM to 12:52 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
7:16 AM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Clifton
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 Clifton
151.6 mi
02h 25m
To Colorado Springs
152.9 mi
02h 25m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
68°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SW
Destination
66°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

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

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Clifton and Colorado Springs.

  1. 1

    Start on F Road

    108 m · 10 sec · F Road

  2. 2

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward F Road

    24 m · 1 sec · F Road

  3. 3

    Exit the roundabout onto F Road

    637 ft · 18 sec · F Road

  4. 4

    Turn sharp right

    1.2 km · 1 min

  5. 5

    Keep slight right to continue on I 70 East: Denver

    225.4 mi · 4 hr 13 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward US 6 East: 6th Avenue, Lakewood

    1795 ft · 44 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto West 6th Avenue Freeway

    7.9 mi · 9 min · West 6th Avenue Freeway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs

    1 km · 59 sec

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 25 South: Colorado Springs

    2680 ft · 1 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto North Valley Highway

    60.6 mi · 1 hr 5 min · North Valley Highway

  11. 11

    Continue on Monument Valley Freeway

    5.9 mi · 7 min · Monument Valley Freeway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward Bijou Street

    1250 ft · 30 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on I 25: Downtown

    151 m · 14 sec

  14. 14

    Turn left onto West Bijou Street

    846 ft · 27 sec · West Bijou Street

  15. 15

    Continue on West Kiowa Street

    972 ft · 35 sec · West Kiowa Street

  16. 16

    Continue on East Kiowa Street

    1600 ft · 1 min · East Kiowa Street

  17. 17

    Turn right onto North Weber Street

    150 m · 18 sec · North Weber Street

  18. 18

    Turn right onto East Pikes Peak Avenue

    129 m · 14 sec · East Pikes Peak Avenue

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Pikes Peak Avenue

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
19 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
2 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 70 East
225 mi · 74%
North Valley Highway
60.6 mi · 20%
West 6th Avenue Freeway
7.89 mi · 3%
Monument Valley Freeway
5.91 mi · 2%
I 25
0.74 mi
I 25 South
0.51 mi
Longest Stretch

I 70 East

Keep slight right to continue on I 70 East: Denver

225 mi · 04h 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 51m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+108.7 mi
195.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Red Cliff
02h 25m from Clifton
Leave By
7:16 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Clifton and Mostly Sunny near Colorado Springs.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Clifton to Colorado Springs?

The road trip is about 304.4 miles (489.9 km) and usually takes 04h 51m 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 151.6 miles from Clifton and 152.9 miles from Colorado Springs.

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

The direct path is about 195.7 miles (314.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 108.7 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 7:16 AM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $39.72 one way or $79.43 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 95.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Clifton and Mostly Sunny near Colorado Springs.

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 Clifton and Colorado Springs. Straight-line distance: 195.69 mi (314.93 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Clifton

Clifton is a place in Colorado, United States.

Population0
Coordinates39.0919300, -108.4489800
Altitude1440
CountryUnited States
Colorado Springs

#2 Colorado Springs

The second most populous city in Colorado and the center of the Colorado Springs metropolitan area.

Population482,131
Coordinates38.8338800, -104.8213600
Altitude1832
CountryUnited States
Start: F Road (-108.44898, 39.09178)
End: East Pikes Peak Avenue (-104.821358, 38.833914)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 490 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 08m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 36m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 05m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 04m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 20m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 47m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.74 gal
40.67 L · about $39.72
Round trip
$79.43
21.48 gal · 81.34 L
Estimated CO2
95.4 kg one way
Round trip: 190.9 kg / 421 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.70 $39.72 $79.43
Mid-grade $4.08 $43.86 $87.72
Premium $4.39 $47.16 $94.32
Diesel $4.74 $50.88 $101.75

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 Clifton and Colorado Springs. The current time is 03:07:59.

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.