Origin
Arvada, CO
Morning in Arvada on Friday
Local time
10:24 AM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Arvada, CO to Clifton, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 25m
Distance
235.5 mi
379 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 12m
★
6 AM
4h 26m
8 AM
4h 52m
10 AM
4h 35m
12 PM
4h 32m
3 PM
4h 36m
5 PM
4h 51m
8 PM
4h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arvada, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Clifton, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 235.5-mile drive from Arvada, Colorado, to Clifton, Colorado, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 4 hours and 25 minutes. You'll spend most of your time on I-70, with only a small portion on local roads like Kipling Parkway. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $35. Given that both the origin and destination are within the Mountain West region, you'll experience consistent scenery. It's a straightforward, highway-focused route perfect for those looking to cover ground efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
117.8 miles from Arvada, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 13m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 25m. Total distance: 235.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway experience, with 99% of your travel on major interstates and parkways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a substantial 230.9 miles on I-70, meaning you can settle in for a long, consistent drive. This route is characterized by its efficiency and speed, allowing you to maintain a steady pace for the majority of the journey. While there's minimal deviation from the main thoroughfares, the landscape of the Mountain West will provide a continuous backdrop.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 70 is the longest continuous segment at about 230.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and I 70 BUS. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Ammons Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 25m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Ammons Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.9 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 233.8 miles (I 70 BUS): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Ammons Street
Turn right onto Ammons Street
Navigation decision point
5
2.9 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 70
Merge onto I 70
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
233.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 22m in
|
I 70 BUS
Take the exit onto I 70 BUS toward I 70 Business, US 6, US 50: Clifton, Grand Junction, Delta
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 37
Toward I 70 Business, US 6, US 50: Clifton, Gra...
5
235.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 24m in
|
US 6 / F Road
Turn sharp left onto US 6 / F Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
235.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 25m in
|
US 6 / F Road
Enter roundabout onto US 6 / F Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 70 | 230.9 mi | 4h 16m |
| I 70 BUS | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Kipling Parkway | 1 mi | 1m |
| West 58th Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Ralston Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| F Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Kipling Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Ammons Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 230.9 mi, about 4h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arvada, CO and Clifton, CO.
1
Start on this road
41 ft
·
5 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Ammons Street
227 ft
·
9 sec
·
Ammons Street
3
Turn right onto Ralston Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Ralston Road
4
Continue on West 58th Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West 58th Avenue
5
Turn left onto Kipling Parkway
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Kipling Parkway
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on CO 391
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Kipling Street
Use the left lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I 70 West
8
Merge onto I 70
231 mi
·
4 hr 16 min
·
I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto I 70 BUS
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
I 70 BUS
Exit 37
Toward I 70 Business, US 6, US 50: Clifton, Grand Junction, Delta
10
Turn sharp left onto US 6
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
F Road
Use the left lane.
11
Enter roundabout onto US 6
76 ft
·
1 sec
·
F Road
12
Continue on US 6
361 ft
·
10 sec
·
F Road
13
Arrive at destination
US 6
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour, 25-minute drive, departing in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight and allow for flexibility. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of over 230 miles, plan your breaks strategically, perhaps around the midpoint of your journey. The fuel cost is estimated at $35, so ensure your tank is full before you leave Arvada. Keep an eye on I-70 for any potential traffic or construction, especially as you approach the Denver metro area or the Grand Junction vicinity.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 117.8 miles from Arvada, CO, or about 2h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 230.9 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 52 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 117.8 miles or 2h 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clifton, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Arvada, CO so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Arvada, CO
This is one driving day of about 235.5 miles and 4h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Arvada, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 70 for about 230.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 117.8 mi from Arvada, CO · 2h 13m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
118 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 52 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 117.8 miles from Arvada, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 70 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 230.9 miles.
Arriving in Clifton, CO
The final approach into Clifton, CO usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Clifton, CO.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.48 one way
$70.97 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
82 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $37.57 | $75.14 |
| premium | $4.39 | $40.74 | $81.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $52.00 | $103.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 82.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 70.6 | 0 | $24.73 | $11.30 |
| Efficient EV | 58.9 | 0 | $20.61 | $9.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 94.2 | 1 | $32.97 | $15.07 |
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Clifton, CO
Morning in Clifton on Friday
Local time
10:24 AM
MDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
51°F
Vail, CO
118 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
25 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 25m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Arvada, CO to Clifton, CO covers 235.5 miles and takes about 4h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 70, I 70 BUS, Kipling Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 117.8 miles from Arvada, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $35.48 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 25m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Ammons Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.9 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 233.8 miles (I 70 BUS): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Arvada, CO to Clifton, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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