Origin
Centennial, CO
Late night in Centennial on Friday
Local time
12:09 AM
MDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Centennial, CO to Ellicott, CO
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
1h 30m
Distance
76 mi
122 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 23m
★
6 AM
1h 30m
8 AM
1h 44m
10 AM
1h 35m
12 PM
1h 34m
3 PM
1h 36m
5 PM
1h 43m
8 PM
1h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Centennial, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Ellicott, CO
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
The drive from Centennial, CO to Ellicott, CO covers 76 miles and takes about 1h 30m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Valley Highway, Highway 94, North Powers Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 42.6 miles on South Valley Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.45 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38 miles from Centennial, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 40m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 30m. Total distance: 76 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (24%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 30m drive with frequent turns across 76 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Valley Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 42.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 30m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East Panorama Circle): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (I 25 / South Valley Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Panorama Circle
Turn right onto East Panorama Circle
Navigation decision point
5
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 25 / South Valley Highway
Merge onto I 25 / South Valley Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
43.3 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the exit toward Interquest Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 153
Toward Interquest Parkway
4
45.9 mi into trip
|
~51m in
|
CO 21 / North Powers Boulevard
Turn right onto CO 21 / North Powers Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Valley Highway | 42.6 mi | 43m |
| Highway 94 | 16.1 mi | 19m |
| North Powers Boulevard | 10.1 mi | 13m |
| Constitution Avenue | 2 mi | 3m |
| Interquest Parkway | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Marksheffel Road | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| East Dry Creek Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Panorama Circle | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
South Valley Highway
— 42.6 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Centennial, CO and Ellicott, CO.
1
Start on this road
495 ft
·
41 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left
118 ft
·
10 sec
3
Turn right onto East Panorama Circle
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
East Panorama Circle
4
Turn right onto South Chester Street
384 ft
·
14 sec
·
South Chester Street
5
Turn right onto CR 46
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
East Dry Creek Road
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward I 25 South
7
Merge onto I 25
43 mi
·
43 min
·
South Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 153
Toward Interquest Parkway
Use the right lane.
9
Continue on Interquest Parkway
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Interquest Parkway
Use the left lane.
10
Turn right onto CO 21
10 mi
·
13 min
·
North Powers Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto Constitution Avenue
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Constitution Avenue
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto Marksheffel Road
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Marksheffel Road
13
Turn left onto CO 94
16 mi
·
19 min
·
Highway 94
14
Arrive at destination
CO 94
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 38 miles from Centennial, CO, or about 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.6 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 17 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38 miles or 40m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ellicott, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Centennial, CO so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Centennial, CO
This is one driving day of about 76 miles and 1h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Centennial, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on South Valley Highway for about 42.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 38 mi from Centennial, CO · 40m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
38 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 38 miles from Centennial, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Ellicott, CO
The final approach into Ellicott, CO usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.45 one way
$22.90 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $12.12 | $24.25 |
| premium | $4.39 | $13.15 | $26.29 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.78 | $33.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.8 | 0 | $7.98 | $3.65 |
| Efficient EV | 19 | 0 | $6.65 | $3.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.4 | 0 | $10.64 | $4.86 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Ellicott, CO
Late night in Ellicott on Friday
Local time
12:09 AM
MDT
Current temp
74°F
Sunny
SW 5 to 20 mph
1% chance
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
3 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
1h 30m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Centennial, CO to Ellicott, CO covers 76 miles and takes about 1h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Valley Highway, Highway 94, North Powers Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 38 miles from Centennial, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.45 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 1h 30m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East Panorama Circle): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (I 25 / South Valley Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Centennial, CO to Ellicott, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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