Origin
Las Animas, CO
Afternoon in Las Animas on Saturday
Local time
2:02 PM
MDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Las Animas, 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
3h 55m
Distance
180.2 mi
290 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 43m
★
6 AM
3h 56m
8 AM
4h 22m
10 AM
4h 5m
12 PM
4h 2m
3 PM
4h 6m
5 PM
4h 20m
8 PM
3h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Las Animas, CO
RDNE Stock project
Centennial, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Las Animas to Centennial is 180.2 miles and takes about 3h 55m via Ronald Reagan Highway and US 50, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Colorado, moving from the Mountain West region to another part of the same region. It's a drive that offers a mixed experience, balancing highway cruising with more direct routes. Consider this if you're looking for a straightforward drive that gets you where you need to go without extensive detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
90.1 miles from Las Animas, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 19m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan Highway | 70.7 mi | 1h 13m |
| US 50 | 26.2 mi | 43m |
| CO 96 | 20.7 mi | 27m |
| Ambassador Thompson Boulevard | 19.8 mi | 33m |
| John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway | 12.9 mi | 12m |
| West 3rd Street | 9.3 mi | 15m |
| Monument Valley Freeway | 8.5 mi | 9m |
| César Chávez Memorial Highway | 3.8 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Highway
— 70.7 mi, about 1h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Las Animas, CO and Centennial, CO.
1
Start on Elm Avenue
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Elm Avenue
2
Turn right onto US 50
20 mi
·
33 min
·
Ambassador Thompson Boulevard
Use the straight / left lanes.
3
Continue on US 50
9.3 mi
·
15 min
·
West 3rd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Continue on US 50
19 mi
·
31 min
·
US 50
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn right onto CO 167
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
South Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Turn left onto CO 96
21 mi
·
27 min
·
CO 96
7
Continue on US 50; CO 96
7.6 mi
·
12 min
·
US 50; CO 96
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn right onto Paul Harvey Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
Paul Harvey Boulevard
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
10
At end of road, turn left onto William White Boulevard
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
William White Boulevard
11
Turn right onto CO 47
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
César Chávez Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Toward I 25 North: Denver
13
Merge onto I 25
1.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Freeway
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on I 25
13 mi
·
12 min
·
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 25
23 mi
·
23 min
·
Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 25; US 24
8.5 mi
·
9 min
·
Monument Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 25
48 mi
·
49 min
·
Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 196
Toward Dry Creek Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn left onto CR 46
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
East Dry Creek Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
20
Turn left onto South Chester Street
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Chester Street
Use the left lane.
21
Turn left onto East Panorama Circle
0.1 mi
·
39 sec
·
East Panorama Circle
22
Turn left
133 ft
·
11 sec
23
Turn right
472 ft
·
34 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 55m estimated drive time, leaving Las Animas in the morning should allow you to reach Centennial with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop on this 180.2-mile route, you have flexibility in how you pace yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you transition off Ronald Reagan Highway, as services might be more spread out on US 50 and CO 96. The estimated fuel cost is around $27, so plan accordingly.
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 90.1 miles from Las Animas, CO, or about 2h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.7 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 40 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90.1 miles or 2h 19m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Centennial, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Las Animas, 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 Las Animas, CO
This is one driving day of about 180.2 miles and 3h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Las Animas, 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 Ronald Reagan Highway for about 70.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
90 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 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 90.1 miles from Las Animas, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Ronald Reagan Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 70.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 179.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 50 / Ambassador Thompson Boulevard
Turn right onto US 50 / Ambassador Thompson Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
47.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
|
CO 167 / South Main Street
Turn right onto CO 167 / South Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
77.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 3m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
78 mi into trip
|
~2h 3m in
|
Paul Harvey Boulevard
Turn right onto Paul Harvey Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
7
179.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 52m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.15 one way
$54.30 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
63 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $28.75 | $57.49 |
| premium | $4.39 | $31.17 | $62.35 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $39.79 | $79.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 54.1 | 0 | $18.92 | $8.65 |
| Efficient EV | 45.1 | 0 | $15.77 | $7.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 72.1 | 0 | $25.23 | $11.53 |
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 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
Afternoon in Centennial on Saturday
Local time
2:02 PM
MDT
Current temp
54°F
Sunny
N 7 mph
0% chance
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
6 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
3h 55m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
About 32% of this 180.2-mile drive is on highways. You'll encounter your longest continuous stretch of highway, 70.7 miles, on Ronald Reagan Highway. After that, the route transitions to surface roads like US 50 and CO 96. Expect a shift from faster highway speeds to more moderate rural cruising as you progress.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 24 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 70.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 50 / Ambassador Thompson Boulevard.
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 180.2 miles you will encounter 16 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 50 / Ambassador Thompson Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 47.8 miles (CO 167 / South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 77.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Centennial, CO
Full guide →Centennial is a suburban city of about 106,000 in the Denver Metropolitan Area of the western U.S. state of Colorado. The city lies in Arapahoe County southeast of Denver.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 55m. Total distance: 180.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (32%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Las Animas, CO to Centennial, CO covers 180.2 miles and takes about 3h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Ronald Reagan Highway, US 50, CO 96. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 90.1 miles from Las Animas, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.15 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 180.2 miles you will encounter 16 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 50 / Ambassador Thompson Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 47.8 miles (CO 167 / South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 77.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Las Animas, CO to Centennial, 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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