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Trip from Clifton, CO to Colorado Springs, CO

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 42m

Distance

303.4 mi

488 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$46

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
5h 29m ★
6 AM
5h 42m
8 AM
6h 9m
10 AM
5h 52m
12 PM
5h 49m
3 PM
5h 53m
5 PM
6h 7m
8 PM
5h 34m

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

Clifton, CO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Clifton, CO to Colorado Springs, CO covers 303.4 miles and takes about 5h 42m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 70 BUS, North Valley Highway, West 6th Avenue Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 226.1 miles on I 70 BUS. At current regular gas prices, budget about $45.71 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

151.7 miles from Clifton, CO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 50m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 70 BUS 226.1 mi 4h 14m
North Valley Highway 60.6 mi 1h 5m
West 6th Avenue Freeway 7.9 mi 9m
Monument Valley Freeway 5.9 mi 6m
US 6 0.6 mi <1m
East Kiowa Street 0.3 mi 1m
F Road 0.2 mi <1m
West Kiowa Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 70 BUS — 226.1 mi, about 4h 14m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on US 6

355 ft · 10 sec · F Road
2

Enter roundabout onto US 6

78 ft · 1 sec · F Road
3

Continue on US 6

0.1 mi · 18 sec · F Road
4

Turn sharp right onto I 70 BUS

0.7 mi · 1 min · I 70 BUS
5

Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 BUS

225 mi · 4 hr 12 min · I 70 BUS
Toward I 70 East: Denver Use the slight right lane.
6

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 43 sec
Exit 261 Toward US 6 East: 6th Avenue, Lakewood Use the slight right lane.
7

Merge onto US 6

7.9 mi · 9 min · West 6th Avenue Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit onto US 6

0.6 mi · 59 sec · US 6
Toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward I 25 South: Colorado Springs
10

Merge onto I 25

61 mi · 1 hr 5 min · North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Continue on I 25

5.9 mi · 6 min · Monument Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Exit 142 Toward Bijou Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight left at fork

495 ft · 14 sec
Toward I 25: Downtown Use the straight / left lanes.
14

Turn left onto West Bijou Street

0.2 mi · 26 sec · West Bijou Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
15

Continue on West Kiowa Street

0.2 mi · 35 sec · West Kiowa Street
16

Continue on East Kiowa Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · East Kiowa Street
17

Turn right onto North Weber Street

490 ft · 17 sec · North Weber Street
18

Turn right onto East Pikes Peak Avenue

422 ft · 14 sec · East Pikes Peak Avenue
19

Arrive at destination

East Pikes Peak Avenue

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 151.7 miles from Clifton, CO, or about 2h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 226.1 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 67 miles or 1h 15m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 151.7 miles or 2h 50m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 41m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Colorado Springs, CO than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Clifton, 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 Clifton, CO

This is one driving day of about 303.4 miles and 5h 42m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 67 miles from Clifton, 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 BUS for about 226.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Aspen, CO

152 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.

Popular next leg

Aspen, CO to Colorado Springs, CO

156 mi · 4h 3m

Pacing Suggestions

Glenwood Springs, CO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 67 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Aspen, CO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 151.7 miles from Clifton, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 70 BUS if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 226.1 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 302.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
0.9 mi into trip | ~1m in | I 70 BUS

Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 BUS toward I 70 East: Denver

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 70 East: Denver
8
226.3 mi into trip | ~4h 14m in

Take the exit toward US 6 East: 6th Avenue, Lakewood

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 261 Toward US 6 East: 6th Avenue, Lakewood
7
234.5 mi into trip | ~4h 24m in | US 6

Take the exit onto US 6 toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs
7
302.2 mi into trip | ~5h 38m in

Take the exit toward Bijou Street

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 142 Toward Bijou Street
8
302.5 mi into trip | ~5h 39m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 25: Downtown

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes. Toward I 25: Downtown

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$45.71 one way

$91.43 round trip

$3.83/gal 25.4 MPG avg 106 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.05 $48.40 $96.80
premium $4.39 $52.49 $104.97
diesel $5.61 $66.99 $133.97

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$46

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$71–$96

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 106.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 91 1 $31.86 $14.56
Efficient EV 75.9 0 $26.55 $12.14
EV Truck/SUV 121.4 1 $42.48 $19.42

Gas CO2

106 kg

EV CO2

35 kg (67% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 13, 2026

Origin

Clifton, CO

Afternoon in Clifton on Saturday

Local time

2:26 PM

MDT

Current temp

44°F

Mostly Clear

SSW 10 to 15 mph 6% chance Live forecast

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 13 at 12:18AM MDT until April 13 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Pueblo CO

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 13 at 12:18AM MDT until April 13 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Pueblo CO

Destination

Colorado Springs, CO

Afternoon in Colorado Springs on Saturday

Local time

2:26 PM

MDT

Current temp

44°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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

5h 42m 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Colorado National Monument

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
View on nps.gov
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

National Monument

Beneath a grassy mountain valley in central Colorado lies one of the richest and most diverse fossil deposits in the world. Petrified redwood stumps up to 14 feet wide and thousands of detailed fossil...

25 mi from route ~63 min detour $10 near mile 303.4
View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

303.4 mi in 5h 42m, mostly highway — 226.1 mi of that is on I 70 BUS.

79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 226.1 mi on I 70 BUS.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 BUS and North Valley Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near I 70 BUS.

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 13 significant decision points across 303.4 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: at 0.9 miles (I 70 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 226.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 234.5 miles (US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Mountain driving with significant elevation changes

9,952 ft 4,720 ft

Total Climb

7,287 ft

Total Descent

5,999 ft

Highest Point

9,952 ft

~151.7 mi in

Elevation Range

5,232 ft

Notable High Points

9,952 ft at ~151.7 miles +605 ft prominence
7,331 ft at ~281.7 miles +1,169 ft prominence

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Clifton, CO to Colorado Springs, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Lakewood along the way.

Lakewood

226.3 mi in | ~4h 14m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 42m. Total distance: 303.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 226.1 miles on I 70 BUS. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Colorado Springs, CO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (I 70 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 226.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 234.5 miles (US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — Colorado National Monument and Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Colorado Springs, CO before the return drive.

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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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