Drive or Fly: Centennial, CO to Idaho Springs, CO?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for DEN–BJC. At 44 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

58m

Distance

44.5 mi

Total Cost

$45

CO2

18 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$10

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 13m

4m in the air

Air Distance

36 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

9 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Centennial, CO → DEN 33m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 4m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BJC → Idaho Springs, CO 36m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Centennial, CO DEN — Denver International Airport 22 mi, ~33m drive

Idaho Springs, CO BJC — Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport 24 mi, ~36m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DEN and BJC. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

1h 50m

54m on road

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Greyhound US1200

Door-to-Door Timeline

Centennial, CO → Denver Union Station Bus Concourse (DEN6) 21m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 54m

Arrival 10m

Idaho Springs Bus Stop (IHP6) → Idaho Springs, CO 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $3) $3

Estimated based on distance. Check flixbus.com for current prices.

Stations

From DEN6 — Denver Union Station Bus Concourse 14 mi, ~21m drive

To IHP6 — Idaho Springs Bus Stop 0 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	58m	3h 13m	1h 50m
Total cost (1 person)	$45	$121	$3
Carbon footprint	18 kg CO₂	9 kg CO₂	2 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: FlixBus GTFS — fares estimated

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

44.5 mi 57m

via I 70, I 25, US 6

Alternative (+3 min)

49.3 mi 1h 1m

via CO 470, I 70

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Centennial, CO to Idaho Springs, CO with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.