How far is Clifton, CO from Denver, CO?

The driving distance from Clifton, CO to Denver, CO is about 237.7 miles (382.6 km), with a travel time of about 03h 49m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 190.3 miles (306.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 39m 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
237.74 mi
03h 49m
Flight
190.23 mi
306.15 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
190.23 mi
Kilometers
306.15 km
Flight Time
00h 22m

Driving Distance

Road route
237.74 mi
Kilometers
382.61 km
Drive Time
03h 49m

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 49m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Denver
Wed, Apr 15, 6:56 AM MDT
Return by in Clifton
Wed, Apr 15, 10:45 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Clifton
2026-04-15T03:06
Arrive Denver
Wed, Apr 15, 6:56 AM MDT
Route Timing
03h 49m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:50 AM to 11:50 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
9:20 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
Eagle
CO

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

From Clifton
118.7 mi
01h 54m
To Denver
119 mi
01h 54m

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
69°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
6 to 12 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    10.1 mi · 14 min · West 6th Avenue Freeway

  8. 8

    Turn left onto North Lincoln Street

    1.4 km · 3 min · North Lincoln Street

  9. 9

    Turn right onto East 14th Avenue

    108 m · 17 sec · East 14th Avenue

  10. 10

    Turn left

    109 m · 28 sec

  11. 11

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
11 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
4.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 70 East
225 mi · 95%
West 6th Avenue Freeway
10.1 mi · 4%
North Lincoln Street
0.88 mi
US 6 East
0.34 mi
F Road
0.2 mi
East 14th Avenue
0.07 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
03h 49m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+47.4 mi
190.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Eagle
01h 54m from Clifton
Leave By
9:20 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Clifton and Sunny near Denver.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 237.7 miles (382.6 km) and usually takes 03h 49m 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?

Eagle is a useful midpoint, sitting about 118.7 miles from Clifton and 119 miles from Denver.

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

The direct path is about 190.3 miles (306.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 47.4 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 9:20 AM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $31.03 one way or $62.05 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 74.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Eagle

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

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

BUS

Vail, Colorado

41 mi away
241 South Frontage Road East
RAIL

Glenwood Springs

44 mi away
413 7th Street
BUS

Frisco, Colorado

63 mi away
1010 Meadow Drive
BUS

Fairplay, CO

86 mi away
620 US Highway 285

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Clifton and Denver. Straight-line distance: 190.23 mi (306.15 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Clifton

Clifton is a place in Colorado, United States.

Population0
Coordinates39.0919300, -108.4489800
Altitude1440
CountryUnited States
Denver

#2 Denver

The twentieth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Denver metropolitan area.

Population735,538
Coordinates39.7391500, -104.9847000
Altitude1609
CountryUnited States
Start: F Road (-108.44898, 39.09178)
End: (-104.984198, 39.739139)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 383 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 55m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 56m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 45m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 57m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 23m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 57m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.39 gal
31.76 L · about $31.03
Round trip
$62.05
16.78 gal · 63.52 L
Estimated CO2
74.6 kg one way
Round trip: 149.1 kg / 329 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.70 $31.03 $62.05
Mid-grade $4.08 $34.26 $68.53
Premium $4.39 $36.84 $73.68
Diesel $4.74 $39.74 $79.49

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 Denver. The current time is 03:06:17.

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.