Origin
Fountain, CO
Evening in Fountain on Friday
Local time
6:17 PM
MDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fountain, CO to Centennial, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 16m
Distance
69.7 mi
112 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 11m
★
6 AM
1h 17m
8 AM
1h 29m
10 AM
1h 21m
12 PM
1h 20m
3 PM
1h 22m
5 PM
1h 28m
8 PM
1h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fountain, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Centennial, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 69.7-mile drive from Fountain to Centennial, Colorado, is a straightforward 1 hour and 16-minute journey. It's easily manageable as a single-day trip, so you won't need to worry about overnight stays. You'll spend about $11 on fuel for this route. Primarily navigating through the Mountain West region of Colorado, this drive offers a practical way to get from point A to point B without extensive planning. Given its relatively short distance and duration, it's a convenient option for a quick travel day.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 16m. Total distance: 69.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (12%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with only 12% of the journey on highways. You'll primarily be on roads like Ronald Reagan Highway, Monument Valley Freeway, and South Santa Fe Avenue. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 59 miles on Ronald Reagan Highway, offering a sustained period of travel before the landscape shifts. This drive is characterized by frequent changes in direction and likely involves navigating through various local road networks, rather than a monotonous interstate experience.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Ronald Reagan Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 59 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near CO 85 / South Santa Fe Avenue.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 69.7 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.4 miles (CO 85 / South Santa Fe Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (I 25 / Ronald Reagan Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 68.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CO 85 / South Santa Fe Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto CO 85 / South Santa Fe Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 25 / Ronald Reagan Highway
Merge onto I 25 / Ronald Reagan Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
68.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward Dry Creek Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 196
Toward Dry Creek Road
5
69.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
|
South Chester Street
Turn left onto South Chester Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
69.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
|
East Panorama Circle
Turn left onto East Panorama Circle
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan Highway | 59 mi | 1h 1m |
| Monument Valley Freeway | 8.5 mi | 9m |
| South Santa Fe Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East Dry Creek Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| West Indiana Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Panorama Circle | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| South Chester Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Highway
— 59 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fountain, CO and Centennial, CO.
1
Start on South Main Street
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
South Main Street
2
Turn right onto West Indiana Avenue
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
West Indiana Avenue
3
At end of road, turn left onto CO 85
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
South Santa Fe Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 25 North: Colo Springs
5
Merge onto I 25
11 mi
·
11 min
·
Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 25; US 24
8.5 mi
·
9 min
·
Monument Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 25
48 mi
·
49 min
·
Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 196
Toward Dry Creek Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn left onto CR 46
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
East Dry Creek Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Turn left onto South Chester Street
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Chester Street
Use the left lane.
11
Turn left onto East Panorama Circle
0.1 mi
·
39 sec
·
East Panorama Circle
12
Turn left
133 ft
·
11 sec
13
Turn right
472 ft
·
34 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 34.8 mi from Fountain, CO · 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 34.8 miles from Fountain, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Centennial, CO
The final approach into Centennial, CO usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.50 one way
$21.00 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $11.12 | $22.24 |
| premium | $4.39 | $12.06 | $24.12 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.39 | $30.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.9 | 0 | $7.32 | $3.35 |
| Efficient EV | 17.4 | 0 | $6.10 | $2.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.9 | 0 | $9.76 | $4.46 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (67% 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
Centennial, CO
Evening in Centennial on Friday
Local time
6:17 PM
MDT
Current temp
77°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
34 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
1h 16m 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 Fountain, CO to Centennial, CO covers 69.7 miles and takes about 1h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Ronald Reagan Highway, Monument Valley Freeway, South Santa Fe Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 34.8 miles from Fountain, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.50 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 69.7 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.4 miles (CO 85 / South Santa Fe Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (I 25 / Ronald Reagan Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 68.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Fountain, CO to Centennial, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Florissant Fossil Beds 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.
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