Major city · United States
Centennial
Skip Centennial as a base: it is a Denver suburb with no hotel district. Stay in Denver or the Tech Center and come out only for a specific stop.
Centennial is a low-rise suburban city of about 100,000 people in the south Denver metro, incorporated in 2001 and built almost entirely around cars and offices. There is no walkable hotel core and no cluster of sights. Travellers use it for one or two stops — a park, a mall, a meal by the airport — while sleeping in Denver, Aurora or the Denver Tech Center. Treat it as a half-day, not a destination.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- USD
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep–Oct
- avoid Jul–Aug (afternoon heat and storms), Dec–Feb (cold, icy pavements)
- Airports
- DEN · APA
- Nights
- 0–1
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Centennial911 ▾
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Centennial non-emergency police303-795-4711
- Colorado Road Conditions (CDOT)511
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Centennial, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the US dollar (USD, $).United States-wide
- SIM or eSIMAT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.United States-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.United States-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.United States-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United States-wide
- SafetyLow street-crime risk; the real hazards are driving, summer hail and winter ice.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations.United States-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance · 303-795-4711 Centennial non-emergency police · 511 Colorado Road Conditions (CDOT)
- Sundays & holidaysFederal holidays close offices, banks and post offices; national parks stay open.United States-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportDEN Denver International (About 35–45 min by car via E-470 or I-225; RTD A line to Union Station, then the E or R light rail south.).
- Getting aroundA car is the default: addresses are spread over 10–15 km (6.2–9.3 mi) and pavements are patchy.A car is the default: addresses are spread over 6.2–9.3 mi (10–15 km) and pavements are patchy.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee$4–7
- Sit-down mealSit-down dinner main$18–35
- BeerDraught beer$7–10
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Rideshare, 5 km (3.1 mi)Rideshare, 3.1 mi (5 km)Higher at peak and in bad weather.$12–20
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week$15–35
- Budget bedHostel dorm bed (Denver or Aurora), a night, per personUS$45
- Mid-range bedBusiness-hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$170
- High-end bedBusiness-hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$280
A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$70 · Mid US$140 · High US$260
Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- DEN Denver International (About 35–45 min by car via E-470 or I-225; RTD A line to Union Station, then the E or R light rail south.) · APA Centennial Airport (General aviation only; no scheduled airline service for visitors.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
Feb
Avoid
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
Mar
not flagged
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
Apr
not flagged
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
May
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Jun
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Jul
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Aug
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Sep
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Oct
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Nov
not flagged
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Dec
Avoid
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
Best: May–Jun, Sep–Oct. Avoid: Jul–Aug, Dec–Feb. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)), coolest Dec (−9°C (16°F)16°F (−9°C) low), wettest May (10 rain days), driest Jan (5). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Centennial: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
−8°C (18°F)18°F (−8°C)
5 rd
Feb
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
−7°C (19°F)19°F (−7°C)
5 rd
Mar
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C)
7 rd
Apr
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
8 rd
May
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
10 rd
Jun
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
8 rd
Jul
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
9 rd
Aug
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
9 rd
Sep
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
6 rd
Oct
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
5 rd
Nov
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
−4°C (25°F)25°F (−4°C)
5 rd
Dec
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
−9°C (16°F)16°F (−9°C)
5 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
A car is the default: addresses are spread over 10–15 km and pavements are patchy. RTD light rail E and R lines stop at Arapahoe at Village Center, Dry Creek and County Line, useful only if your start and end points sit on those lines. Local buses and FlexRide cover the gaps but run infrequently. Rideshare works and is the fallback after a meal.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Denver
goDoor to door: 35–50 min
RTD E or R light rail from Arapahoe at Village Center, Dry Creek or County Line
Museums, food and evening options; the reason most people are in the metro at all.
Door to door: 40–60 min
Car via I-25 and US-6, or light rail to Denver then the W line
Foothills town with a walkable main street; better as a full day than a half.
Castle Rock
cautionDoor to door: 25–35 min
Car south on I-25
Outlet mall and a small old town; only worth it if you are already driving south.
Aurora
cautionDoor to door: 20–30 min
Car via I-225
Useful for cheap rooms and airport runs, not a sightseeing day.
Door to door: 40–50 min
Car via E-470 and I-76
No reason to cross the metro for it from Centennial.
Door to door: 40–55 min
Car via I-25 and I-70
Olde Town is pleasant but the drive from Centennial is long for what it is.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Denver Tech Center edge (Dry Creek / Arapahoe)
The only practical bed base near Centennial: business hotels with parking, 5–10 min by car from most Centennial addresses.
Downtown Denver
Better for a trip without a car: 25–35 min by light rail to the Centennial stations, more food and evening options.
Aurora / I-225 corridor
Cheaper rooms and quick access to DEN; 20–30 min by car to Centennial.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- $70–110 excl. bed
- Mid
- $120–190 excl. bed
- High
- $200+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Business-hotel double room1 × 1 night × US$170 | US$170 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$140 | US$280 |
| Rental car, one day, compact1 × US$70 · check | US$70 |
| RTD day pass2 × US$11 · check | US$22 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$20 | US$40 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | US$58 |
| Trip total≈ US$320 per person per day, bed included | US$640 |
2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Flights and car hire excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | $4–7 |
| Burrito or burger lunch | $12–20 |
| Sit-down dinner main | $18–35 |
| Draught beer | $7–10 |
| Rideshare, 5 kmHigher at peak and in bad weather. | $12–20 |
| RTD local fare | $2.75–5.50 (check) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | $15–35 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Almost nothing is walkable between stops: budget 10–20 min by car per hop.
- Summer afternoons bring fast thunderstorms and hail; park under cover when one is forecast.
- Winter ice on pavements and car parks is the main injury risk.
- E-470 is a toll road with no cash booths: check how your rental car handles tolls before you drive it.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
- Centennial non-emergency police
- 303-795-4711
- Colorado Road Conditions (CDOT)
- 511
Pocket card
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CentennialCentennial
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
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—
—
To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Centennial non-emergency police303-795-4711
- Colorado Road Conditions511
Embassy
No embassies or consulates in Centennial; consulates sit in Denver (check the address for yours).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Rideshare, Centennial → Downtown Denver: $30–50, 25–35 min (check)
- RTD light rail, Centennial → Downtown Denver: about $2.75–5.50, 35–50 min (check)
- Car, Centennial → DEN via E-470: 35–45 min plus tolls (check)
Say or show
- Where is the light rail station? — Where is the light rail station?
- Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
- Is there parking here? — Is there parking here?
- How long is the wait? — How long is the wait?
- The bill, please — The bill, please
- Is this seat taken? — Is this seat taken?
Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% for taxis and rideshare.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Centennial. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (afternoon heat and storms), Dec–Feb (cold, icy pavements) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 6 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for DEN: last RTD A line departures, E-470 toll handling, rideshare fallback.
- Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Centennial Center Park, The Streets at SouthGlenn, Centennial Airport.
- Place pages with verified hours for Centennial Center Park and The Streets at SouthGlenn, and eat pages with last orders.
- Storm and ice fixtures so gates A–D can go green.
Sources
- officialCity of Centennial
- officialDenver International Airport
- officialRTD Denver — E line
- officialThe Streets at SouthGlenn
- secondaryWikivoyage: Centennial, revision 5284305 (CC BY-SA 4.0)