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Trip from Clifton, CO to Colorado Springs, CO

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

Excellent

22 DC fast

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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Downtown Clifton, CO, CO

Clifton, CO

Israel Luvhimbi

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 highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 226.1 miles on I 70 BUS. At current regular gas prices, budget about $45.98 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 .

Drive Character

This is a 5h 42m highway drive covering 303.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 70 BUS and North Valley Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 226.1 miles on I 70 BUS.

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 BUS is the longest continuous segment at about 226.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

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.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

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

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

Towns Along This Route

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

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 F Road

354 ft · 10 sec · F Road
2

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward F Road

79 ft · 1 sec · F Road
3

Exit the roundabout onto F Road

0.1 mi · 18 sec · F Road
4

Turn sharp right

0.7 mi · 1 min
5

Keep slight right to continue on I 70 East: Denver

225 mi · 4 hr 12 min · I 70 East: Denver
6

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

0.3 mi · 44 sec · US 6 East: 6th Avenue, Lakewood
7

Merge slight left onto West 6th Avenue Freeway

7.9 mi · 9 min · West 6th Avenue Freeway
8

Take the exit slight right toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs

0.6 mi · 59 sec · I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs
9

Take the exit slight right toward I 25 South: Colorado Springs

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

Merge slight left onto North Valley Highway

61 mi · 1 hr 5 min · North Valley Highway
11

Continue on Monument Valley Freeway

5.9 mi · 6 min · Monument Valley Freeway
12

Take the exit slight right toward Bijou Street

0.2 mi · 30 sec · Bijou Street
13

Keep slight left to continue on I 25: Downtown

495 ft · 14 sec · I 25: Downtown
14

Turn left onto West Bijou Street

0.2 mi · 27 sec · West Bijou Street
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

492 ft · 18 sec · North Weber Street
18

Turn right onto East Pikes Peak Avenue

423 ft · 14 sec · East Pikes Peak Avenue
19

Arrive at your destination

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 80 miles or 1h 30m 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 80 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.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 151.7 mi from Clifton, CO · 2h 50m into the drive

Downtown Aspen, CO, CO

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

New Castle, CO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 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.

Arriving in Colorado Springs, CO

The final approach into Colorado Springs, 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 Colorado Springs, 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

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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$45.98 one way

$91.95 round trip

$3.85/gal 25.4 MPG avg 106 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.08 $48.78 $97.57
premium $4.43 $52.95 $105.90
diesel $5.64 $67.40 $134.81

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, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

22 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Grub & Scrub - Tesla Supercharger

Parachute, CO

Tesla

12 DCFC

Sonic Drive-In - Tesla Supercharger

Rifle, CO

Tesla

12 DCFC

Shopping Center - Tesla Supercharger

Gypsum, CO

Tesla

8 DCFC

Edwards Station - Tesla Supercharger

Edwards, CO

Tesla

8 DCFC

Residence Inn Glenwood Springs - Tesla Supercharger

Glenwood Springs, CO

Tesla

6 DCFC

Target T2029 (Glenwood Springs, CO)

Glenwood Springs, CO

Electrify America

4 DCFC

East-West Resorts Edwards Station (Edwards, CO)

Edwards, CO

Electrify America

4 DCFC

MAVERIK RIFLE PL3

Rifle, CO

ChargePoint Network

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 14 Tesla: 5 Electrify America: 2 Non-Networked: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

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 data refreshed 5 hours ago

Origin

Clifton, CO

Morning in Clifton on Monday

Local time

6:06 AM

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

Morning in Colorado Springs on Monday

Local time

6:06 AM

MDT

Current temp

62°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

18 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

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Clifton, CO to Colorado Springs, CO covers 303.4 miles and takes about 5h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 70 BUS, North Valley Highway, West 6th Avenue Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 151.7 miles from Clifton, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $45.98 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 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.
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.
On the drive from Clifton, CO to Colorado Springs, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Lakewood along the way.

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