Origin
Broomfield, CO
Afternoon in Broomfield on Thursday
Local time
12:41 PM
MDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Broomfield, CO to Clifton, CO
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
4h 39m
Distance
246.1 mi
396 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$37
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 26m
★
6 AM
4h 40m
8 AM
5h 7m
10 AM
4h 49m
12 PM
4h 47m
3 PM
4h 51m
5 PM
5h 5m
8 PM
4h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Broomfield, CO
Owen.outdoors
Clifton, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Broomfield, CO to Clifton, CO covers 246.1 miles and takes about 4h 39m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 70, Sheridan Boulevard, Denver–Boulder Turnpike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 232.9 miles on I 70. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.08 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
123 miles from Broomfield, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 21m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 39m. Total distance: 246.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 4h 39m highway drive covering 246.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 70 and Sheridan Boulevard. The longest continuous stretch is about 232.9 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 20 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 232.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and Sheridan Boulevard. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West 3rd Avenue.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 246.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 3rd Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West 3rd Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto West 3rd Avenue
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CO 121 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward CO 121 South
7
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Turn left toward US 36 East: Denver
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward US 36 East: Denver
6
5.2 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the exit toward CO 95 South: Sheridan Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward CO 95 South: Sheridan Boulevard
6
244.4 mi into trip
|
~4h 36m 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 | 232.9 mi | 4h 18m |
| Sheridan Boulevard | 4.3 mi | 7m |
| Denver–Boulder Turnpike | 3.9 mi | 4m |
| I 70 BUS | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Heartland Expressway | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| CO 121 | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| F Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Nickel Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 232.9 mi, about 4h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Broomfield, CO and Clifton, CO.
1
Start on this road
192 ft
·
16 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto West 3rd Avenue
273 ft
·
19 sec
·
West 3rd Avenue
3
Turn left onto Nickel Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Nickel Street
4
Turn right onto US 287
140 ft
·
3 sec
·
US 287
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward CO 121 South
6
Turn straight onto CO 121
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
CO 121
7
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward US 36 East: Denver
Use the left lane.
8
Merge onto US 36
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
0.8 mi
·
53 sec
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward CO 95 South: Sheridan Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn right onto CO 95
4.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Sheridan Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
13
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I 76 West
14
Merge onto I 76
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Heartland Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 70
233 mi
·
4 hr 18 min
·
I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
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
17
Turn sharp left onto US 6
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
F Road
Use the left lane.
18
Enter roundabout onto US 6
76 ft
·
1 sec
·
F Road
19
Continue on US 6
361 ft
·
10 sec
·
F Road
20
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 123 miles from Broomfield, CO, or about 2h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 232.9 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 54 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123 miles or 2h 21m 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 49m
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 Broomfield, 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 Broomfield, CO
This is one driving day of about 246.1 miles and 4h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Broomfield, 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 232.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 123 mi from Broomfield, CO · 2h 21m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
123 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 54 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 123 miles from Broomfield, 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 232.9 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
$37.08 one way
$74.16 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
86 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $39.26 | $78.52 |
| premium | $4.39 | $42.57 | $85.15 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $54.34 | $108.67 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.27
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
(3.9 mi)
$0.27
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 73.8 | 0 | $25.84 | $11.81 |
| Efficient EV | 61.5 | 0 | $21.53 | $9.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 98.4 | 1 | $34.45 | $15.75 |
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 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
Afternoon in Clifton on Thursday
Local time
12:41 PM
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
4 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 39m 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 Broomfield, CO to Clifton, CO covers 246.1 miles and takes about 4h 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 70, Sheridan Boulevard, Denver–Boulder Turnpike. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 123 miles from Broomfield, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $37.08 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 demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 246.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 3rd Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Broomfield, CO to Clifton, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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