The drive from Clifton, CO to Denver, CO covers 237.8 miles and takes about 4h 32m 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, West 6th Avenue Freeway, North Lincoln Street 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 $35.83 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
118.9 miles from Clifton, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 14m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 32m. Total distance: 237.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 4h 32m highway drive covering 237.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 70 BUS and West 6th Avenue Freeway. 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 11 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 West 6th Avenue Freeway. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 6 / F Road.
Driving Effort5/10
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 237.8 miles you will encounter 8 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: at 0.1 miles (US 6 / F Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; 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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 6 / F Road
Enter roundabout onto US 6 / F Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
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
6
237.7 mi into trip|~4h 32m in|East 14th Avenue
Turn right onto East 14th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
237.7 mi into trip|~4h 32m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70 BUS
226.1 mi
4h 14m
West 6th Avenue Freeway
10.1 mi
14m
North Lincoln Street
0.9 mi
2m
F Road
0.2 mi
<1m
East 14th Avenue
<0.1 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 Denver, 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: DenverUse the slight right lane.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 261Toward US 6 East: 6th Avenue, LakewoodUse the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto US 6
10 mi·14 min·West 6th Avenue Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn left onto North Lincoln Street
0.9 mi·2 min·North Lincoln Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
9
Turn right onto East 14th Avenue
353 ft·17 sec·East 14th Avenue
Use the right lane.
10
Turn left
358 ft·27 sec
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Arrive at 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 118.9 miles from Clifton, CO, or about 2h 14m 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 52 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 118.9 miles or 2h 14m 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Denver, 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 237.8 miles and 4h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 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 118.9 mi from Clifton, CO
· 2h 14m into the drive
The midpoint is around 118.9 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 Denver, CO
The final approach into Denver, 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 Denver, 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.83 one way
$71.66 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg83 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$37.94
$75.87
premium
$4.39
$41.14
$82.28
diesel
$5.61
$52.50
$105.01
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 83.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
71.3
0
$24.97
$11.41
Efficient EV
59.5
0
$20.81
$9.51
EV Truck/SUV
95.1
1
$33.29
$15.22
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Clifton, CO
Late night
in Clifton on Friday
Local time
4:05 AM
MDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Denver, CO
Late night
in Denver on Friday
Local time
4:05 AM
MDT
Current temp
46°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
25 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 32m 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 Denver, CO covers 237.8 miles and takes about 4h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 70 BUS, West 6th Avenue Freeway, North Lincoln Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 118.9 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 $35.83 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 237.8 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 6 / F Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; 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.
The route from Clifton, CO to Denver, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Colorado National Monument.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
