Denver to Clifton is 238.4 miles and takes about 4h 30m via I 70, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Colorado, transitioning from the Mountain West region to a similar environment. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip, making it ideal for a single-day journey. Given its relatively short duration and high percentage on the interstate, you can expect a consistent pace. This route is best suited for travelers prioritizing reaching their destination efficiently rather than seeking a leisurely, stop-and-go experience.
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
119.2 miles from Denver, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 16m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 30m. Total distance: 238.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a highway-focused drive, with 99% of the journey taking place on interstates and major freeways. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on I 70, with a significant uninterrupted stretch of 224.5 miles on this main highway. Expect a consistent driving experience that emphasizes speed and efficiency rather than winding scenic byways. The route is designed for smooth travel, allowing you to cover ground quickly without frequent changes in road type or speed limits.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 70 is the longest continuous segment at about 224.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and West 6th Avenue Freeway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Grant Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 30m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Grant Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles (East 8th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Grant Street
Turn right onto Grant Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in|East 8th Avenue
Turn right onto East 8th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
11.4 mi into trip|~17m in
Take the exit toward I 70 West: Grand Junction
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 70 West: Grand Junction
5
12.1 mi into trip|~18m in|I 70
Merge onto I 70
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
236.7 mi into trip|~4h 26m 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
I 70
224.5 mi
4h 8m
West 6th Avenue Freeway
9.5 mi
11m
I 70 BUS
1.4 mi
2m
East 8th Avenue
0.9 mi
2m
Grant Street
0.8 mi
1m
F Road
0.3 mi
<1m
North Kalamath Street
0.1 mi
<1m
East Colfax Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 224.5 mi, about 4h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Denver, CO and Clifton, CO.
1
Start on this road
379 ft·29 sec·this road
2
Turn right
62 ft·8 sec
3
Turn right onto I 70 Business; US 40; US 287
358 ft·14 sec·East Colfax Avenue
4
Turn right onto Grant Street
0.8 mi·1 min·Grant Street
Use the right lane.
5
Turn right onto East 8th Avenue
0.9 mi·2 min·East 8th Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on North Kalamath Street
0.1 mi·22 sec·North Kalamath Street
7
Continue on 6
9.5 mi·11 min·West 6th Avenue Freeway
Toward West 6th Avenue FreewayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi·55 sec
Toward I 70 West: Grand JunctionUse the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 70
225 mi·4 hr 8 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto I 70 BUS
1.4 mi·2 min·I 70 BUS
Exit 37Toward I 70 Business, US 6, US 50: Clifton, Grand Junction, Delta
11
Turn sharp left onto US 6
0.2 mi·33 sec·F Road
Use the left lane.
12
Enter roundabout onto US 6
76 ft·1 sec·F Road
13
Continue on US 6
361 ft·10 sec·F Road
14
Arrive at destination
US 6
Trip Plan
With a driving time of around 4 hours and 30 minutes, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Consider departing Denver in the morning to give yourself ample daylight and avoid rush hour traffic. The longest stretch without a significant road change is over 200 miles, so plan for a fuel stop before you hit that point, especially given the estimated $36 fuel cost. While there's only one recommended stop, you have the flexibility to pull over as needed, but this route prioritizes direct travel.
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 119.2 miles from Denver, CO, or about 2h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 224.5 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 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 119.2 miles or 2h 16m 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 41m
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 Denver, 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 Denver, CO
This is one driving day of about 238.4 miles and 4h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Denver, 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 for about 224.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 119.2 mi from Denver, CO
· 2h 16m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
$25
near mile 238.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.92 one way
$71.84 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg83 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$38.03
$76.06
premium
$4.39
$41.24
$82.48
diesel
$5.61
$52.64
$105.27
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: 83.4 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
71.5
0
$25.03
$11.44
Efficient EV
59.6
0
$20.86
$9.54
EV Truck/SUV
95.4
1
$33.38
$15.26
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 15, 2026
Origin
Denver, CO
Morning
in Denver on Friday
Local time
9:25 AM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Clifton, CO
Morning
in Clifton on Friday
Local time
9:25 AM
MDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
35°F
Avon, CO
119 mi in
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 30m 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 Denver, CO to Clifton, CO covers 238.4 miles and takes about 4h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 70, West 6th Avenue Freeway, I 70 BUS. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 119.2 miles from Denver, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $35.92 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 30m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Grant Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles (East 8th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Denver, CO to Clifton, 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 by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
