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Trip from Ouray, 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

5h 38m

Distance

305.5 mi

492 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$46

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
5h 25m ★
6 AM
5h 39m
8 AM
6h 5m
10 AM
5h 48m
12 PM
5h 45m
3 PM
5h 49m
5 PM
6h 4m
8 PM
5h 31m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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home rule municipality and county seat of Ouray County, Colorado, United States

Ouray, CO

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Centennial, CO, CO

Centennial, CO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 305.5-mile journey from Ouray, Colorado, to Centennial, Colorado, is estimated to take about 5 hours and 38 minutes of driving time. With a fuel cost around $46, it's an accessible trip for a single day, though you might consider breaking it up if you prefer a more relaxed pace. The route primarily uses local roads, indicated by its 'turn-heavy local drive' profile and 0% highway share, making it a more intimate experience through the Mountain West region. Plan for at least one stop to break up the drive and refuel. This route offers a consistent driving experience without long stretches of highway.

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

152.8 miles from Ouray, CO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 49m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Main Street — —
North Townsend Avenue — —
Confluence Drive — —
West 5th Street — —
G Road — —
G50 Road — —
32 Road — —
I 70 East — —

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Main Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ouray, CO and Centennial, CO.

1

Start on 6th Avenue

13 ft · 3 sec · 6th Avenue
2

Turn right onto Main Street

36 mi · 49 min · Main Street
3

Continue on North Townsend Avenue

3.7 mi · 6 min · North Townsend Avenue
4

Continue straight

17 mi · 20 min
5

Turn left onto Confluence Drive

0.8 mi · 1 min · Confluence Drive
6

Turn left onto West 5th Street

0.2 mi · 27 sec · West 5th Street
7

Continue on G Road

1.6 mi · 3 min · G Road
8

Continue on G Road

0.7 mi · 1 min · G Road
9

Continue on G50 Road

2.1 mi · 3 min · G50 Road
10

At the end of the road, turn left

15 mi · 17 min
11

Continue straight

12 mi · 14 min
12

Continue on 32 Road

5.4 mi · 9 min · 32 Road
13

Turn right

0.3 mi · 34 sec
14

Continue straight

0.8 mi · 1 min
15

Keep slight right to continue on I 70 East: Denver

225 mi · 4 hr 12 min · I 70 East: Denver
16

Take the exit slight right toward US 6 East: 6th Avenue, Lakewood

0.3 mi · 44 sec · US 6 East: 6th Avenue, Lakewood
17

Merge slight left onto West 6th Avenue Freeway

7.9 mi · 9 min · West 6th Avenue Freeway
18

Take the exit slight right toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs

0.6 mi · 59 sec · I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs
19

Take the exit slight right toward I 25 South: Colorado Springs

0.5 mi · 1 min · I 25 South: Colorado Springs
20

Merge slight left onto North Valley Highway

12 mi · 14 min · North Valley Highway
21

Take the exit slight right toward Dry Creek Road

0.3 mi · 26 sec · Dry Creek Road
22

Turn right onto East Dry Creek Road

0.2 mi · 21 sec · East Dry Creek Road
23

Turn left onto South Chester Street

0.1 mi · 31 sec · South Chester Street
24

Turn left onto East Panorama Circle

0.1 mi · 40 sec · East Panorama Circle
25

Turn left

135 ft · 11 sec
26

Turn right

472 ft · 35 sec
27

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Given the 5-hour and 38-minute estimated duration, starting your drive from Ouray in the morning allows you to reach Centennial with daylight to spare. With a fuel cost of approximately $46, it's a manageable expense for a single-day trip. Since there are no long highway stretches, you can be flexible with when and where you make your single recommended stop. Pay attention to the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile; keeping navigation active will be helpful to anticipate the frequent changes in direction as you traverse Colorado.

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 152.8 miles from Ouray, CO, or about 2h 49m into the drive.

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 67 miles or 1h 14m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 152.8 miles or 2h 49m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 37m

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 Ouray, 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 Ouray, CO

This is one driving day of about 305.5 miles and 5h 38m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 67 miles from Ouray, 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.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in and county seat of Garfield County, Colorado, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Glenwood Springs, CO

153 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

Palisade, CO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 67 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Glenwood Springs, CO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 152.8 miles from Ouray, 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Phở Hậu Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20 mile 283.7

Lakewood, Colorado

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+13039880755

Doc Holliday's Saloon and Restaurant

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~10 min detour $10 to $20 mile 152.8

Glenwood Springs, Colorado

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+19709452388

Visit website

Museum of Outdoor Arts

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 305.5

Greenwood Village, Colorado

+13038060444

Visit website

Colorado Adventure Center - Zipline & Ropes Course

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 261.9

Idaho Springs, Colorado

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+17207071885

Visit website

Bachelor Syracuse Mine Tour

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour

Ouray, Colorado

+19703250220

Visit website

Morrison Natural History Museum

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 283.7

Morrison, Colorado

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+13036971873

Visit website

Clear Creek White Water Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 283.7

Golden, Colorado

Hours: Open 24 hours

+13033848000

Visit website

Doc Holliday's Grave Trailhead

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 152.8

Glenwood Springs, CO

Hours: 6 am–7 pm

+19703846400

Visit website

Kids Wonder

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 305.5

Centennial, Colorado

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+13038350709

Visit website

St Mary's Glacier Trailhead

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.6 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 261.9

Idaho Springs, Colorado

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$46.03 one way

$92.06 round trip

$3.83/gal 25.4 MPG avg 107 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.05 $48.74 $97.47
premium $4.39 $52.85 $105.70
diesel $5.61 $67.45 $134.90

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$46

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$71–$96

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 106.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 91.6 1 $32.08 $14.66
Efficient EV 76.4 0 $26.73 $12.22
EV Truck/SUV 122.2 1 $42.77 $19.55

Gas CO2

107 kg

EV CO2

36 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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

Ouray, CO

Evening in Ouray on Saturday

Local time

7:24 PM

MDT

Current temp

32°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Centennial, CO

Evening in Centennial on Saturday

Local time

7:24 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

45 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

5h 38m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for the entirety of this 305.5-mile route, as it has a 0% highway share. This means you'll be navigating local roads, including segments on Main Street, North Townsend Avenue, and Confluence Drive, for the entire trip. There isn't a longest uninterrupted stretch to note, as the drive is characterized by frequent turns and transitions rather than long, straightaways. This type of driving can be engaging, requiring your attention as you move through different communities within Colorado.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: Main Street.

How Hard Is This Drive?

3/10

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.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 5h 38m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Ouray, CO to Centennial, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

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 5h 38m. Total distance: 305.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Ouray, CO to Centennial, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Centennial, CO before the return drive.

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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