This 235.5-mile drive from Arvada, Colorado, to Clifton, Colorado, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 4 hours and 25 minutes. You'll spend most of your time on I-70, with only a small portion on local roads like Kipling Parkway. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $35. Given that both the origin and destination are within the Mountain West region, you'll experience consistent scenery. It's a straightforward, highway-focused route perfect for those looking to cover ground efficiently.
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
117.8 miles from Arvada, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
230.9 mi
4h 16m
I 70 BUS
1.4 mi
2m
Kipling Parkway
1 mi
1m
West 58th Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
Ralston Road
0.4 mi
1m
F Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Kipling Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Ammons Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 230.9 mi, about 4h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arvada, CO and Clifton, CO.
1
Start on this road
41 ft·5 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Ammons Street
227 ft·9 sec·Ammons Street
3
Turn right onto Ralston Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Ralston Road
4
Continue on West 58th Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·West 58th Avenue
5
Turn left onto Kipling Parkway
1.0 mi·1 min·Kipling Parkway
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on CO 391
0.2 mi·25 sec·Kipling Street
Use the left lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward I 70 West
8
Merge onto I 70
231 mi·4 hr 16 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
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
10
Turn sharp left onto US 6
0.2 mi·33 sec·F Road
Use the left lane.
11
Enter roundabout onto US 6
76 ft·1 sec·F Road
12
Continue on US 6
361 ft·10 sec·F Road
13
Arrive at destination
US 6
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour, 25-minute drive, departing in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight and allow for flexibility. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of over 230 miles, plan your breaks strategically, perhaps around the midpoint of your journey. The fuel cost is estimated at $35, so ensure your tank is full before you leave Arvada. Keep an eye on I-70 for any potential traffic or construction, especially as you approach the Denver metro area or the Grand Junction vicinity.
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 117.8 miles from Arvada, CO, or about 2h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 230.9 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 in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 117.8 miles or 2h 13m 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 36m
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 Arvada, 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 Arvada, CO
This is one driving day of about 235.5 miles and 4h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Arvada, 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 230.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 235.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Ammons Street
Turn right onto Ammons Street
Navigation decision point
5
2.9 mi into trip|~5m in|I 70
Merge onto I 70
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
233.8 mi into trip|~4h 22m 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...
5
235.3 mi into trip|~4h 24m in|US 6 / F Road
Turn sharp left onto US 6 / F Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
235.5 mi into trip|~4h 25m in|US 6 / F Road
Enter roundabout onto US 6 / F Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.48 one way
$70.97 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg82 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$37.57
$75.14
premium
$4.39
$40.74
$81.48
diesel
$5.61
$52.00
$103.99
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 82.4 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
70.6
0
$24.73
$11.30
Efficient EV
58.9
0
$20.61
$9.42
EV Truck/SUV
94.2
1
$32.97
$15.07
Gas CO2
82 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 19, 2026
Origin
Arvada, CO
Late night
in Arvada on Tuesday
Local time
2:06 AM
MDT
Current temp
35°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Clifton, CO
Late night
in Clifton on Tuesday
Local time
2:06 AM
MDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
40°F
Vail, CO
118 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
36 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 25m 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.
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 235.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway experience, with 99% of your travel on major interstates and parkways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a substantial 230.9 miles on I-70, meaning you can settle in for a long, consistent drive. This route is characterized by its efficiency and speed, allowing you to maintain a steady pace for the majority of the journey. While there's minimal deviation from the main thoroughfares, the landscape of the Mountain West will provide a continuous backdrop.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 230.9 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and I 70 BUS. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Ammons Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 25m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Ammons Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.9 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 233.8 miles (I 70 BUS): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Arvada is a city of about 125,000 in the Denver Metropolitan Area of the U.S. state of Colorado. A former farming community in Jefferson and Adams counties, the city is now a residential suburb of Denver. Olde Town Arvada lies 7 miles (11 km) northwest of the Colorado State Capitol and 9 miles (14 km) east of the Front Range foothills.
Top landmarks
•Arvada Flour Mill — historic mill in Arvada, Colorado, USA
•Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities — art center in Arvada, Colorado
The longest stretch is about 230.9 miles on I 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Ammons Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.9 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 233.8 miles (I 70 BUS): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Colorado National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Clifton, CO, but most travelers stay overnight.
