Origin
Clifton, CO
Morning in Clifton on Friday
Local time
8:44 AM
MDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Clifton, CO to Grand Junction, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
10m
Distance
5.9 mi
10 km
Drive Score
5/10
Practical drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 9m
★
6 AM
0h 10m
8 AM
0h 12m
10 AM
0h 11m
12 PM
0h 11m
3 PM
0h 11m
5 PM
0h 12m
8 PM
0h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clifton, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Grand Junction, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Clifton, CO to Grand Junction, CO covers 5.9 miles and takes about 10m 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, F Road, South 13th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 5.7 miles on I 70 BUS. At current regular gas prices, budget about $0.89 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 10m. Total distance: 5.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 10m highway drive covering 5.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 70 BUS and F Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 5.7 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 8 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 5.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 BUS and F Road. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 6 / F Road.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Clifton, CO to Grand Junction, CO is easy. At 10m with 95% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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 0.2 miles (I 70 BUS; US 6): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.9 miles (South 13th Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
3 of 3 key pointsThese 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
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
I 70 BUS; US 6
Turn left onto I 70 BUS; US 6
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
5.9 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
South 13th Street
Turn left onto South 13th Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 70 BUS | 5.7 mi | 9m |
| F Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South 13th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 70 BUS
— 5.7 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clifton, CO and Grand Junction, 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
·
22 sec
·
F Road
4
Turn left onto I 70 BUS; US 6
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
I 70 BUS; US 6
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on I 70 BUS; US 6
4.2 mi
·
7 min
·
I 70 BUS; US 6
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on I 70 BUS
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
I 70 BUS
7
Turn left onto South 13th Street
351 ft
·
9 sec
·
South 13th Street
8
Arrive at destination
South 13th Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$0.89 one way
$1.78 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
2 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $0.94 | $1.88 |
| premium | $4.39 | $1.02 | $2.04 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.30 | $2.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 50% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 1.8 | 0 | $0.62 | $0.28 |
| Efficient EV | 1.5 | 0 | $0.52 | $0.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 2.4 | 0 | $0.83 | $0.38 |
Gas CO2
2 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (50% 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
Grand Junction, CO
Morning in Grand Junction on Friday
Local time
8:44 AM
MDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
5 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
10m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 Grand Junction, CO covers 5.9 miles and takes about 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 70 BUS, F Road, South 13th 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 3 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 $0.89 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.
The drive from Clifton, CO to Grand Junction, CO is easy. At 10m with 95% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 6 / F Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.2 miles (I 70 BUS; US 6): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.9 miles (South 13th Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Clifton, CO to Grand Junction, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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