Origin
Eaton, CO
Late night in Eaton on Friday
Local time
2:08 AM
MDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Eaton, CO to Centennial, CO
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 42m
Distance
83.4 mi
134 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 35m
★
6 AM
1h 43m
8 AM
1h 58m
10 AM
1h 48m
12 PM
1h 47m
3 PM
1h 49m
5 PM
1h 58m
8 PM
1h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Eaton, CO
Mauricio Ortiz
Centennial, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Eaton, CO to Centennial, CO covers 83.4 miles and takes about 1h 42m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on County Road 49, I 76, I 225 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 21.9 miles on County Road 49. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.07 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.7 miles from Eaton, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| County Road 49 | 21.9 mi | 25m |
| I 76 | 15.8 mi | 15m |
| I 225 | 11.1 mi | 12m |
| E-470 | 6.9 mi | 6m |
| Peña Boulevard | 6.6 mi | 8m |
| County Road 47 | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| Highway 392 | 4 mi | 7m |
| South Valley Highway | 3.3 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
County Road 49
— 21.9 mi, about 25m
Traffic on I-225
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~5,271 veh/hr typical · worst 6,438
Quietest
2 AM
~669 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 100 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 Eaton, CO and Centennial, CO.
1
Start on US 85
495 ft
·
15 sec
·
Oak Avenue
2
Continue on US 85
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Oak Avenue
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on US 85
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Highway 85
4
Turn left onto CO 392
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Main Street
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on CO 392
4.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Highway 392
6
Turn right onto CR 47
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
County Road 47
7
Continue on CR 49
22 mi
·
25 min
·
County Road 49
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 76 West
9
Merge onto I 76
16 mi
·
15 min
·
I 76
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Exit 18
Toward E470 Toll South: Limon
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto E470
6.9 mi
·
6 min
·
E-470
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
Exit 28
Toward Denver International Airport, Pena Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 28B
Toward Peña Boulevard West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto Peña Boulevard
6.6 mi
·
8 min
·
Peña Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 70
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 282
Toward I 225 South: Aurora, Colorado Springs, Peoria Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork
1.3 mi
·
2 min
Exit 282
Toward I 225 South: Aurora, Colorado Springs
18
Continue on I 225
11 mi
·
12 min
·
I 225
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 25 South: Colorado Springs
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
21
Merge onto I 25
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
South Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 196
Toward Dry Creek Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Turn right onto CR 46
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
East Dry Creek Road
24
Turn left onto South Chester Street
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Chester Street
Use the left lane.
25
Turn left onto East Panorama Circle
0.1 mi
·
39 sec
·
East Panorama Circle
26
Turn left
133 ft
·
11 sec
27
Turn right
472 ft
·
34 sec
28
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
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 41.7 miles from Eaton, CO, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 21.9 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 18 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.7 miles or 52m 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 26m
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 Eaton, CO so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Eaton, CO
This is one driving day of about 83.4 miles and 1h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Eaton, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on County Road 49 for about 21.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
42 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 41.7 miles from Eaton, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 225 decision points cluster between mile 50.4 and 66.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
50.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward E470 Toll South: Limon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 18
Toward E470 Toll South: Limon
8
58.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
Take the exit toward Denver International Airport, Pena Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 28
Toward Denver International Airport, Pena Boule...
8
58.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Peña Boulevard West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 28B
Toward Peña Boulevard West
8
66 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
Take the exit toward I 225 South: Aurora, Colorado Springs, Peoria Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 282
Toward I 225 South: Aurora, Colorado Springs, ...
7
66.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 225 South: Aurora, Colorado Springs
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 282
Toward I 225 South: Aurora, Colorado Springs
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.07 one way
$28.15 round trip
$4.29/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $14.85 | $29.70 |
| premium | $4.89 | $16.05 | $32.10 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $18.38 | $36.77 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.83
E-470
(6.9 mi)
$0.83
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25 | 0 | $8.76 | $4.00 |
| Efficient EV | 20.9 | 0 | $7.30 | $3.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.4 | 0 | $11.68 | $5.34 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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
Late night in Centennial on Friday
Local time
2:08 AM
MDT
Current temp
62°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
4 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 42m 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?
83.4 mi in 1h 42m — 40% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: County Road 49.
40% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.9 mi on County Road 49.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 50.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 83.4 miles you will encounter 22 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 50.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
5,831 ft
4,606 ft
Total Climb
1,255 ft
Total Descent
260 ft
Highest Point
5,831 ft
~83 mi in
Elevation Range
1,225 ft
Notable High Points
4,861 ft at ~23.7 miles
+17 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Eaton, CO and Centennial, CO, road signs point toward E470 Toll South: Limon, Denver International Airport, Peña Boulevard West and Colorado Springs.
E470 Toll South: Limon
50.4 mi in
|
~1h 1m
Denver International Airport
58.3 mi in
|
~1h 10m
Peña Boulevard West
58.5 mi in
|
~1h 10m
Colorado Springs
66 mi in
|
~1h 19m
About the Cities
Starting in Eaton, CO
Full guide →Arriving in Centennial, CO
Full guide →Founded 2001
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 Douglas County southeast of Denver.
Top landmarks
- • Seventeen Mile House — historic site in Centennial, Colorado
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 1h 42m. Total distance: 83.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (40%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21.9 miles on County Road 49. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.83 in tolls one way, starting with E-470. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 Centennial, 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 50.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.5 miles: 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 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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