This 87.9-mile journey from Centennial, Colorado to Ault, Colorado will take you about 1 hour and 47 minutes to complete. With a fuel cost estimated at $13, this drive is easily manageable as a single-day trip. You'll be navigating local roads for the entirety of this route, with no highway driving involved. The drive is characterized by frequent turns, making it a more engaging local experience rather than a high-speed transit. Both your origin and destination are within the Mountain West region, so you'll remain in familiar territory throughout your travels. This route is ideal for those who prefer a more connected-to-the-ground driving experience.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44 miles from Centennial, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
41.4 mi
41m
South Valley Highway
21.8 mi
27m
East Highway 14
12.8 mi
20m
North Valley Highway
9.6 mi
11m
East Mulberry Street
0.8 mi
1m
West 1st Street
0.3 mi
1m
East Dry Creek Road
0.3 mi
<1m
East Panorama Circle
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 41.4 mi, about 41m
Traffic on I-25
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~5,111 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,883
Quietest
1 AM
~447 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Centennial, CO and Ault, CO.
1
Start on this road
495 ft·41 sec·this road
2
Turn left
118 ft·10 sec
3
Turn right onto East Panorama Circle
0.1 mi·23 sec·East Panorama Circle
4
Turn right onto South Chester Street
384 ft·14 sec·South Chester Street
5
Turn right onto CR 46
0.3 mi·46 sec·East Dry Creek Road
6
Turn left
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 25 NorthUse the left lane.
7
Merge onto I 25
22 mi·27 min·South Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
4.3 mi·5 min·North Valley Highway
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
5.3 mi·5 min·North Valley Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on I 25
41 mi·41 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 269AToward CO 14 East: Ault
12
Turn straight onto CO 14
0.8 mi·1 min·East Mulberry Street
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on CO 14
13 mi·20 min·East Highway 14
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on CO 14
0.3 mi·1 min·West 1st Street
15
Arrive at destination
CO 14
Trip Plan
Given the short 1 hour and 47 minute duration and 87.9-mile length, this trip is perfectly suited for a single day. Leaving in the morning or late afternoon will help you avoid potential local traffic congestion. Since there are no designated stops and the longest stretch is undefined due to the turn-heavy nature, plan to fuel up before you depart Centennial to ensure you have enough for the $13 estimated fuel cost. Keep an eye on your GPS, as the frequent turns on local roads require attention. This route offers flexibility, so you can depart whenever is most convenient for you.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 44 miles from Centennial, CO, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.4 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 19 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44 miles or 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ault, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Centennial, CO so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Centennial, CO
This is one driving day of about 87.9 miles and 1h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Centennial, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 41.4 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 73.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
0.6 mi into trip|~2m in
Turn left toward I 25 North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 25 North
5
0.8 mi into trip|~2m in|I 25 / South Valley Highway
Merge onto I 25 / South Valley Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
22.6 mi into trip|~30m in|I 25 / North Valley Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25 / North Valley Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
26.9 mi into trip|~36m in|I 25 / North Valley Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25 / North Valley Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
73.7 mi into trip|~1h 23m in
Take the exit toward CO 14 East: Ault
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 269A
Toward CO 14 East: Ault
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.05 one way
$30.11 round trip
$4.35/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.59
$15.88
$31.77
premium
$4.93
$17.06
$34.13
diesel
$5.35
$18.51
$37.03
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.4
0
$9.23
$4.22
Efficient EV
22
0
$7.69
$3.52
EV Truck/SUV
35.2
0
$12.31
$5.63
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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.
Forecast as of May 21, 2026
Origin
Centennial, CO
Afternoon
in Centennial on Wednesday
Local time
2:45 PM
MDT
Current temp
41°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
S 6 mph47% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued May 20 at 8:42PM MDT until May 21 at 7:00PM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO
Destination
Ault, CO
Afternoon
in Ault on Wednesday
Local time
2:45 PM
MDT
Current temp
39°F
Mostly Cloudy
SE 5 to 9 mph11% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued May 20 at 8:42PM MDT until May 21 at 7:00PM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO
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
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 47m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route from Centennial to Ault. With 0% highway share, you'll be on surface streets and local roads for the entire 87.9 miles. There's no single 'longest stretch' to note as the route is defined by frequent directional changes. This means you'll be constantly adjusting your course, which can make the 1 hour and 47 minute duration feel more dynamic. The character of the drive will likely shift as you move through different neighborhoods and towns, offering a more intimate look at the Colorado landscape.
Only 15% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.4 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 87.9 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 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles (I 25 / South Valley Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.6 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Top landmarks
•Seventeen Mile House — historic site in Centennial, Colorado
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 47m. Total distance: 87.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41.4 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Ault, CO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles (I 25 / South Valley Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.6 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ault, CO before heading back.
