Trip from Boulder, CO to Clifton, CO

Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology

Drive Time

4h 49m

Distance

249.3 mi

401 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$38

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min

4 AM

4h 36m ★

6 AM

4h 50m

8 AM

5h 17m

10 AM

4h 59m

12 PM

4h 56m

3 PM

5h 1m

5 PM

5h 15m

8 PM

4h 42m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Boulder, CO

Wikimedia Commons

census-designated place in Mesa County, Colorado, United States

Clifton, CO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Boulder, CO to Clifton, CO covers 249.3 miles and takes about 4h 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 70, South Foothills Highway, CO 93 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 223.4 miles on I 70. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.56 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

124.6 miles from Boulder, CO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 30m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 49m. Total distance: 249.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 4h 49m highway drive covering 249.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 70 and South Foothills Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 223.4 miles on I 70.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 19 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 223.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and South Foothills Highway. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Arapahoe Avenue.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 249.3 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Arapahoe Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.9 miles (CO 93 / Broadway): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Arapahoe Avenue

Turn left onto Arapahoe Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight / right lanes.

1.6 mi into trip | ~3m in

Keep slight left at fork toward Baseline Road, Broadway South

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Toward Baseline Road, Broadway South

1.9 mi into trip | ~4m in | CO 93 / Broadway

At end of road, turn left onto CO 93 / Broadway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

23.4 mi into trip | ~37m in

Take the exit toward I 70 West: Grand Junction

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 1 Toward I 70 West: Grand Junction

247.6 mi into trip | ~4h 46m 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...

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 70	223.4 mi	4h 7m
South Foothills Highway	8.3 mi	12m
CO 93	7.5 mi	11m
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway	2.9 mi	4m
Broadway	2.2 mi	4m
I 70 BUS	1.4 mi	2m
28th Street	0.8 mi	1m
Arapahoe Avenue	0.6 mi	1m

Longest stretch: I 70 — 223.4 mi, about 4h 7m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Boulder, CO and Clifton, CO.

Start on this road

87 ft · 6 sec · this road

Turn right onto 19th Street

143 ft · 13 sec · 19th Street

Turn left onto Arapahoe Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · Arapahoe Avenue

Use the left / straight / right lanes.

Turn right onto US 36

0.8 mi · 1 min · 28th Street

Turn straight

0.2 mi · 18 sec

Toward Baseline Road

Keep slight left at fork

381 ft · 15 sec

Toward Baseline Road, Broadway South Use the left lane.

Continue on 27th Way

0.3 mi · 45 sec · 27th Way

Use the left / straight lanes.

At end of road, turn left onto CO 93

2.2 mi · 4 min · Broadway

Use the left lane.

Continue on CO 93

8.3 mi · 12 min · South Foothills Highway

Use the straight / right lanes.

Continue on CO 93

7.5 mi · 11 min · CO 93

Use the left / straight lanes.

Continue on US 6

2.9 mi · 4 min · Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway

Use the straight lane.

Turn right onto CO 470

0.6 mi · 53 sec · CO 470

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 58 sec

Exit 1 Toward I 70 West: Grand Junction Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 70

223 mi · 4 hr 7 min · I 70

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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

Turn sharp left onto US 6

0.2 mi · 33 sec · F Road

Use the left lane.

Enter roundabout onto US 6

76 ft · 1 sec · F Road

Continue on US 6

361 ft · 10 sec · F Road

Arrive at destination

US 6

Trip Plan

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 124.6 miles from Boulder, CO, or about 2h 30m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 223.4 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 55 miles or 1h 13m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 124.6 miles or 2h 30m 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 58m

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 Boulder, 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 Boulder, CO

This is one driving day of about 249.3 miles and 4h 49m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Boulder, 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 223.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 124.6 mi from Boulder, CO · 2h 30m into the drive

city in and county seat of Pitkin County, Colorado, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Aspen, CO

125 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

Applewood, CO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 55 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Aspen, CO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 124.6 miles from Boulder, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 70 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 223.4 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Colorado National Monument

National Monument

Colorado National Monument preserves one of the grand landscapes of the American West. But this treasure is much more than a monument. Towering monoliths exist within a vast plateau and canyon panoram...

13 mi from route ~33 min detour $25 near mile 249.3

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$37.56 one way

$75.12 round trip

$3.83/gal 25.4 MPG avg 87 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.05	$39.77	$79.54
premium	$4.39	$43.13	$86.25
diesel	$5.61	$55.04	$110.08

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$38

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$63–$88

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 87.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	74.8	0	$26.18	$11.97
Efficient EV	62.3	0	$21.81	$9.97
EV Truck/SUV	99.7	1	$34.90	$15.96

Gas CO2

87 kg

EV CO2

29 kg (67% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Boulder, CO

Late night in Boulder on Friday

Local time

12:45 AM

MDT

Current temp

72°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Clifton, CO

Late night in Clifton on Friday

Local time

12:45 AM

MDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

1 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

4h 49m 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 Boulder, CO to Clifton, CO covers 249.3 miles and takes about 4h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 70, South Foothills Highway, CO 93. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 124.6 miles from Boulder, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $37.56 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.