Origin
Parker, CO
Late night in Parker on Sunday
Local time
1:33 AM
MDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Parker, 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
16m
Distance
10.6 mi
17 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 15m
★
6 AM
0h 16m
8 AM
0h 19m
10 AM
0h 17m
12 PM
0h 17m
3 PM
0h 17m
5 PM
0h 19m
8 PM
0h 15m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Parker, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Centennial, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 10.6-mile drive from Parker to Centennial, Colorado, is easily manageable in about 16 minutes, making it a perfect single-day trip. With a fuel cost estimated at just $2, it's an economical choice for getting between these two Mountain West communities. The route primarily utilizes E-470 and South Parker Road, with a brief stint on I-25, suggesting a blend of highway and local road driving. Given its brevity, there's no need to consider an overnight stay; you can complete this journey with flexibility in your schedule. It's a straightforward hop within the state of Colorado.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| E-470 | 4.9 mi | 4m |
| South Parker Road | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| I 25 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| East Dry Creek Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Mainstreet | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Panorama Circle | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| South Chester Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| South Pikes Peak Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
E-470
— 4.9 mi, about 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Parker, CO and Centennial, CO.
1
Start on South Pikes Peak Drive
100 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Pikes Peak Drive
2
Turn right onto East Mainstreet
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
East Mainstreet
3
Turn right onto CO 83
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
South Parker Road
Use the right lane.
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward E470 Toll South, I 25: Colorado Springs
5
Merge onto E470
4.9 mi
·
4 min
·
E-470
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 1A
Toward I 25: Denver, Colorado Springs
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 1A
Toward I 25 North: Denver
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
this road
Exit 1A; 26
Toward I 25 North: Denver
9
Merge onto I 25
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 25
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 196
Toward Dry Creek Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto CR 46
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
East Dry Creek Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Turn left onto South Chester Street
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Chester Street
Use the left lane.
13
Turn left onto East Panorama Circle
0.1 mi
·
39 sec
·
East Panorama Circle
14
Turn left
133 ft
·
11 sec
15
Turn right
472 ft
·
34 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 2.6 and 9.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.6 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the exit toward E470 Toll South, I 25: Colorado Springs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward E470 Toll South, I 25: Colorado Springs
5
3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
E470 / E-470
Merge onto E470 / E-470
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
7.9 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward I 25: Denver, Colorado Springs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 1A
Toward I 25: Denver, Colorado Springs
9
8.1 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 25 North: Denver
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward I 25 North: Denver
7
9.6 mi into trip
|
~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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.60 one way
$3.19 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $1.69 | $3.38 |
| premium | $4.39 | $1.83 | $3.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.34 | $4.68 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.59
E-470
(4.9 mi)
$0.59
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Tolls
$1
Total
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.11 | $0.51 |
| Efficient EV | 2.7 | 0 | $0.93 | $0.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.2 | 0 | $1.48 | $0.68 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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 Sunday
Local time
1:33 AM
MDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
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 the majority of this 10.6-mile journey. While about 9% of the route involves highway driving, including a 4.9-mile stretch on E-470, the overall feel is more about navigating local roads and intersections. This isn't a long, monotonous highway cruise; instead, it's a route where you'll be making more frequent adjustments. The road character likely shifts between faster-paced highway segments and more deliberate local street driving as you progress from Parker to Centennial.
Only 9% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 4.9 mi on E-470.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 2.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 10.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 16m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3 miles (E470 / E-470): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Parker, CO and Centennial, CO, road signs point toward E470 Toll South and Colorado Springs.
E470 Toll South
2.6 mi in
|
~4m
Colorado Springs
7.9 mi in
|
~10m
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 16m. Total distance: 10.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 4.9 miles on E-470. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.59 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 2.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3 miles (E470 / E-470): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
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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