Origin
Colorado City, CO
Night in Colorado City on Saturday
Local time
10:39 PM
MDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Colorado City, CO to Centennial, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 16m
Distance
124.9 mi
201 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 7m
★
6 AM
2h 16m
8 AM
2h 35m
10 AM
2h 23m
12 PM
2h 21m
3 PM
2h 24m
5 PM
2h 34m
8 PM
2h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Colorado City, CO
gabesdotphotos photographer
Centennial, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 124.9-mile drive from Colorado City to Centennial, Colorado, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 16 minutes. You'll primarily navigate the Ronald Reagan Highway, John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway, and South Freeway, with about 17% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $19, making it an economical option. Given its relatively short duration and the fact that both locations are within the Mountain West region, this trip is well-suited for a day excursion without the need for an overnight stay. It offers a straightforward path between these two Colorado communities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
62.5 miles from Colorado City, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 8m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan Highway | 70.7 mi | 1h 13m |
| John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway | 31.3 mi | 31m |
| South Freeway | 10.4 mi | 13m |
| Monument Valley Freeway | 8.5 mi | 9m |
| CO 165 | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| East Dry Creek Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Panorama Circle | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| South Chester Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Highway
— 70.7 mi, about 1h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colorado City, CO and Centennial, CO.
1
Start on this road
166 ft
·
17 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn left onto Bent Brothers Boulevard
169 ft
·
13 sec
·
Bent Brothers Boulevard
3
Turn left onto CO 165
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
CO 165
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 25 North: Pueblo
5
Merge onto I 25
18 mi
·
18 min
·
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
6
Continue on I 25
10 mi
·
13 min
·
South Freeway
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on I 25
13 mi
·
12 min
·
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 25
23 mi
·
23 min
·
Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 25; US 24
8.5 mi
·
9 min
·
Monument Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 25
48 mi
·
49 min
·
Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 196
Toward Dry Creek Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn left onto CR 46
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
East Dry Creek Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Turn left onto South Chester Street
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Chester Street
Use the left lane.
14
Turn left onto East Panorama Circle
0.1 mi
·
39 sec
·
East Panorama Circle
15
Turn left
133 ft
·
11 sec
16
Turn right
472 ft
·
34 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour and 16-minute drive, leaving in the morning or mid-afternoon can help you avoid the busiest local traffic. With no specific stops recommended, you have flexibility to add breaks as needed, perhaps for a quick stretch or to grab a snack. The estimated fuel cost of $19 is quite low, so you shouldn't need to worry about frequent refueling. Keep an eye on your navigation, especially as you transition from the Ronald Reagan Highway onto the John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway and South Freeway, to ensure you're on the correct local roads. Since it's a single-day trip, you can depart and arrive on the same day, making it a convenient option.
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 62.5 miles from Colorado City, CO, or about 1h 8m 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 27 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.5 miles or 1h 8m 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 50m
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 Colorado City, 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 Colorado City, CO
This is one driving day of about 124.9 miles and 2h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Colorado City, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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
62 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 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 62.5 miles from Colorado City, 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 124.8 — 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
|
Bent Brothers Boulevard
At end of road, turn left onto Bent Brothers Boulevard
Navigation decision point
7
123.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 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
124.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 14m in
|
South Chester Street
Turn left onto South Chester Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
124.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 14m in
|
East Panorama Circle
Turn left onto East Panorama Circle
Navigation decision point
5
124.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 15m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.82 one way
$37.64 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
44 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $19.92 | $39.85 |
| premium | $4.39 | $21.61 | $43.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $27.58 | $55.15 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 37.5 | 0 | $13.11 | $6.00 |
| Efficient EV | 31.2 | 0 | $10.93 | $5.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 50 | 0 | $17.49 | $7.99 |
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (66% 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
Night in Centennial on Saturday
Local time
10:39 PM
MDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
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
3 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
2h 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for much of this 124.9-mile journey. While 17% of the route utilizes highways, the majority involves navigating local roads and making frequent turns. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 70.7 miles on the Ronald Reagan Highway, offering a period of more consistent travel before transitioning back to more complex local routes. This driving profile suggests a need for attention to navigation as you move between different road types and through various community areas. The character of the drive will likely shift from more open highway to more intricate urban and suburban road networks.
Only 17% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70.7 mi on Ronald Reagan Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Bent Brothers Boulevard.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 16m drive. You will face about 10 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 (Bent Brothers Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 123.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 124.5 miles (South Chester Street): 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 2h 16m. Total distance: 124.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (17%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 70.7 miles on Ronald Reagan Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 (Bent Brothers Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 123.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 124.5 miles (South Chester Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Centennial, CO before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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