Origin
Commerce City, CO
Afternoon in Commerce City on Thursday
Local time
4:13 PM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Commerce City, CO to Clifton, CO
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
4h 36m
Distance
244 mi
393 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$37
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 23m
★
6 AM
4h 36m
8 AM
5h 3m
10 AM
4h 46m
12 PM
4h 43m
3 PM
4h 47m
5 PM
5h 2m
8 PM
4h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Commerce City, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Clifton, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Commerce City, CO to Clifton, CO covers 244 miles and takes about 4h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway, Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 145.7 miles on Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $36.76 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
122 miles from Commerce City, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 22m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 36m. Total distance: 244 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (1%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 36m drive with frequent turns across 244 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 145.7 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 near Dexter Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 36m drive. You will face about 12 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 (Dexter Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (East 60th Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Dexter Street
At end of road, turn right onto Dexter Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
East 60th Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto East 60th Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 6; US 85; CO 2 / North Vasquez Boulevard
Turn right onto US 6; US 85; CO 2 / North Vasquez Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
242.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 33m in
|
I 70 BUS
Take the exit onto I 70 BUS toward I 70 Business, US 6, US 50: Clifton, Grand Junction, Delta
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 37
Toward I 70 Business, US 6, US 50: Clifton, Gra...
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway | 145.7 mi | 2h 47m |
| Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway | 80.8 mi | 1h 25m |
| Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway | 13.2 mi | 14m |
| North Vasquez Boulevard | 2 mi | 2m |
| I 70 BUS | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| US 6 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| F Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Dexter Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
— 145.7 mi, about 2h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Commerce City, CO and Clifton, CO.
1
Start on this road
0.1 mi
·
55 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto Dexter Street
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Dexter Street
3
Turn right
148 ft
·
16 sec
4
Turn left
96 ft
·
12 sec
5
At end of road, turn left onto East 60th Avenue
200 ft
·
14 sec
·
East 60th Avenue
6
Turn right onto US 6; US 85; CO 2
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North Vasquez Boulevard
Use the right lane.
7
Turn right onto US 6; US 85
98 ft
·
1 sec
·
East 46th North Avenue
8
Take the exit onto US 6; US 85
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
US 6; US 85
Toward I 70 West
9
Merge onto I 70
146 mi
·
2 hr 47 min
·
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on I 70
81 mi
·
1 hr 25 min
·
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on I 70
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
12
Take the exit onto I 70 BUS
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
I 70 BUS
Exit 37
Toward I 70 Business, US 6, US 50: Clifton, Grand Junction, Delta
13
Turn sharp left onto US 6
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
F Road
Use the left lane.
14
Enter roundabout onto US 6
76 ft
·
1 sec
·
F Road
15
Continue on US 6
361 ft
·
10 sec
·
F Road
16
Arrive at destination
US 6
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 122 miles from Commerce City, CO, or about 2h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 145.7 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 54 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 122 miles or 2h 22m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clifton, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Commerce City, 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 Commerce City, CO
This is one driving day of about 244 miles and 4h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Commerce City, 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 Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway for about 145.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 122 mi from Commerce City, CO · 2h 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
122 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 54 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 122 miles from Commerce City, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 145.7 miles.
Arriving in Clifton, CO
The final approach into Clifton, 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 Clifton, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.76 one way
$73.53 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
85 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $38.92 | $77.85 |
| premium | $4.39 | $42.21 | $84.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $53.87 | $107.74 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 85.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 73.2 | 0 | $25.62 | $11.71 |
| Efficient EV | 61 | 0 | $21.35 | $9.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 97.6 | 1 | $34.16 | $15.62 |
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
29 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.
Destination
Clifton, CO
Afternoon in Clifton on Thursday
Local time
4:13 PM
MDT
Current temp
71°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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 36m 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 Commerce City, CO to Clifton, CO covers 244 miles and takes about 4h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway, Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 122 miles from Commerce City, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $36.76 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 straightforward 4h 36m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Dexter Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (East 60th Avenue): Navigation decision point.
The route from Commerce City, CO to Clifton, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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