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

The driving distance from Colorado Springs, CO to Clifton, CO is about 303.8 miles (488.9 km), with a travel time of about 05h 40m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 195.7 miles (314.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 20m 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
303.76 mi
05h 40m
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 Colorado Springs.

Flight Distance

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

Driving Distance

Road route
303.76 mi
Kilometers
488.86 km
Drive Time
05h 40m

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 05h 40m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Clifton
Wed, Apr 15, 10:45 AM MDT
Return by in Colorado Springs
Wed, Apr 15, 4:26 PM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Colorado Springs
2026-04-15T05:05
Arrive Clifton
Wed, Apr 15, 10:45 AM MDT
Route Timing
05h 40m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:40 AM to 1:40 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
5:40 AM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Colorado Springs
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 Colorado Springs
151.7 mi
02h 50m
To Clifton
152 mi
02h 50m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
66°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NNW
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 Colorado Springs and Clifton.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East Pikes Peak Avenue

    1110 ft · 48 sec · East Pikes Peak Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North Cascade Avenue

    1003 ft · 43 sec · North Cascade Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left onto West Bijou Street

    1242 ft · 27 sec · West Bijou Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 25

    2010 ft · 51 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Monument Valley Freeway

    5.7 mi · 7 min · Monument Valley Freeway

  6. 6

    Continue on Ronald Reagan Highway

    60.9 mi · 1 hr 6 min · Ronald Reagan Highway

  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

    224.5 mi · 4 hr 9 min

  14. 14

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

    1.4 mi · 3 min

  15. 15

    Turn sharp left onto F Road

    952 ft · 34 sec · F Road

  16. 16

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward F Road

    23 m · 1 sec · F Road

  17. 17

    Exit the roundabout onto F Road

    110 m · 10 sec · F Road

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · F Road

Car Route Details

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

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
18 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
3 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 70 West
225 mi · 74%
Ronald Reagan Highway
60.9 mi · 20%
West 6th Avenue Freeway
7.62 mi · 3%
Monument Valley Freeway
5.71 mi · 2%
I 70 Business
1.44 mi
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
0.93 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
05h 40m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+108.1 mi
195.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Red Cliff
02h 50m from Colorado Springs
Leave By
5:40 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Colorado Springs and Sunny near Clifton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 303.8 miles (488.9 km) and usually takes 05h 40m 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 151.7 miles from Colorado Springs and 152 miles from Clifton.

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 108.1 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 5:40 AM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $39.64 one way or $79.29 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 95.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

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

Colorado Springs

#1 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
Photo coming soon

#2 Clifton

Clifton is a place in Colorado, United States.

Population0
Coordinates39.0919300, -108.4489800
Altitude1440
CountryUnited States
Start: Colorado Springs (-104.82136, 38.83388)
End: Clifton (-108.44898, 39.09193)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 489 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 07m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 35m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 04m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 03m
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
10.72 gal
40.58 L · about $39.64
Round trip
$79.29
21.44 gal · 81.16 L
Estimated CO2
95.3 kg one way
Round trip: 190.5 kg / 420 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.70 $39.64 $79.29
Mid-grade $4.08 $43.78 $87.56
Premium $4.39 $47.07 $94.14
Diesel $4.74 $50.78 $101.56

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 Colorado Springs and Clifton. The current time is 05:05:42.

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.