Traveling from Edwards to Centennial covers a distance of 121.4 miles, typically taking about 2 hours and 28 minutes to complete. Because this is a relatively short trip, it works perfectly as a straightforward day trip without the need for an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via the Gerald R. Ford Memorial Highway, the North Valley Highway, and the West 6th Avenue Freeway. Budgeting approximately $18 for fuel will cover your transit across these Mountain West locations. While the route is efficient, be prepared for a drive that transitions from mountain terrain into the more populated areas of the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
60.7 miles from Edwards, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Gerald R. Ford Memorial Highway
98 mi
1h 56m
North Valley Highway
12.3 mi
14m
West 6th Avenue Freeway
7.9 mi
9m
US 6
0.6 mi
<1m
Edwards Access Road
0.5 mi
<1m
East Dry Creek Road
0.2 mi
<1m
East Panorama Circle
0.1 mi
<1m
South Chester Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Gerald R. Ford Memorial Highway
— 98 mi, about 1h 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Edwards, CO and Centennial, CO.
1
Start on this road
211 ft·17 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Edwards Access Road
151 ft·3 sec·Edwards Access Road
3
Enter roundabout onto Edwards Access Road
321 ft·6 sec·Edwards Access Road
4
Continue on Edwards Access Road
0.4 mi·42 sec·Edwards Access Road
5
Enter roundabout onto I 70 Business
126 ft·2 sec·Edwards Access Road
6
Continue on I 70 Business
150 ft·3 sec·Edwards Access Road
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
8
Merge onto I 70
98 mi·1 hr 56 min·Gerald R. Ford Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 261Toward US 6 East: 6th Avenue, LakewoodUse the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto US 6
7.9 mi·9 min·West 6th Avenue Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit onto US 6
0.6 mi·59 sec·US 6
Toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado SpringsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 25 South: Colorado Springs
13
Merge onto I 25
12 mi·14 min·North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·26 sec
Exit 196Toward Dry Creek RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn right onto CR 46
0.2 mi·21 sec·East Dry Creek Road
16
Turn left onto South Chester Street
0.1 mi·30 sec·South Chester Street
Use the left lane.
17
Turn left onto East Panorama Circle
0.1 mi·39 sec·East Panorama Circle
18
Turn left
133 ft·11 sec
19
Turn right
472 ft·34 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable 2-hour and 28-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time to avoid the worst of local traffic. Plan your fuel stops strategically before hitting the longer 98-mile stretch, as this will help keep your $18 budget on track. Because the route features many turns, keep your focus sharp and pace yourself to account for the change in road complexity as you move toward Centennial. Take advantage of the fact that you don't need to plan for overnight stops, allowing you to complete the entire 121.4-mile trip in one efficient push.
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 60.7 miles from Edwards, CO, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98 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 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.7 miles or 1h 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 2h
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 Edwards, 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 Edwards, CO
This is one driving day of about 121.4 miles and 2h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Edwards, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Gerald R. Ford Memorial Highway for about 98 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 120.6 — 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|Edwards Access Road
Enter roundabout onto Edwards Access Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
0.9 mi into trip|~1m in|I 70 / Gerald R. Ford Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 70 / Gerald R. Ford Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
98.9 mi into trip|~1h 58m in
Take the exit toward US 6 East: 6th Avenue, Lakewood
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 261
Toward US 6 East: 6th Avenue, Lakewood
7
107.1 mi into trip|~2h 9m in|US 6
Take the exit onto US 6 toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs
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.
Toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs
7
120.6 mi into trip|~2h 26m 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
$18.29 one way
$36.58 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$19.37
$38.73
premium
$4.39
$21.00
$42.00
diesel
$5.61
$26.80
$53.61
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.4
0
$12.75
$5.83
Efficient EV
30.4
0
$10.62
$4.86
EV Truck/SUV
48.6
0
$17.00
$7.77
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Edwards, CO
Late night
in Edwards on Sunday
Local time
1:54 AM
MDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Centennial, CO
Late night
in Centennial on Sunday
Local time
1:54 AM
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
13 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 28m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a trip defined by its turn-heavy local feel, which adds a bit of variety compared to a standard interstate cruise. Although the route is only 7% highway, the majority of your time behind the wheel involves a long, 98-mile stretch along the Gerald R. Ford Memorial Highway. This segment provides the primary flow of the drive before you transition into the more technical local sections. You should stay alert as the road characteristics shift from open highway stretches to the more demanding, winding local roads that define the latter portion of your journey.
Only 7% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 98 mi on Gerald R. Ford Memorial 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 0.1 miles in near Edwards Access Road.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 121.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Edwards Access Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.9 miles (I 70 / Gerald R. Ford Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 98.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Edwards, CO and Centennial, CO, road signs point toward Lakewood and Colorado Springs.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 28m. Total distance: 121.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 98 miles on Gerald R. Ford Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Edwards Access Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.9 miles (I 70 / Gerald R. Ford Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 98.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Centennial, CO before heading back.
