Origin
Aurora, CO
Evening in Aurora on Sunday
Local time
5:05 PM
MDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Aurora, CO to Brush, CO
Drive Time
1h 39m
Distance
91.3 mi
147 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 32m
★
6 AM
1h 40m
8 AM
1h 55m
10 AM
1h 45m
12 PM
1h 44m
3 PM
1h 46m
5 PM
1h 54m
8 PM
1h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Aurora, CO
Raul Kozenevski
Brush, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Aurora to Brush, you are looking at a straightforward 91.3-mile journey across Colorado's Mountain West. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 39 minutes on the road, making this an ideal candidate for a single-day excursion. You will primarily utilize Peña Boulevard, E-470, and the Heartland Expressway to reach your destination. With fuel costs estimated at $14, it is a budget-friendly route that does not require an overnight stay. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick change of scenery, this highway-focused drive offers a direct path between the two cities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
45.7 miles from Aurora, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
Drive Character
This route is defined by its efficiency, with 79% of the trip consisting of highway driving. You will spend a significant portion of your time on the Heartland Expressway, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 70.6 miles. Because the road is heavily highway-focused, you can expect a consistent pace throughout the drive. The transition from the suburban feel of Aurora onto the open stretches of the Heartland Expressway changes the character of the trip from local commuting to sustained cruising. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that prioritizes speed and directness over technical or winding roads.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Heartland Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 70.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Heartland Expressway and Peña Boulevard. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near East 17th Place.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 91.3 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 1.2 miles (East 17th Place): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (Peña Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
1.2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
East 17th Place
Turn right onto East 17th Place
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
2.8 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 70 East: Limon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 12B
Toward I 70 East: Limon
8
4.1 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
Peña Boulevard
Keep slight right at fork onto Peña Boulevard toward Denver International Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 284
Toward Denver International Airport
8
10.7 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Keep slight left at fork toward E470 Toll North: Fort Collins
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 6B
Toward E470 Toll North: Fort Collins
8
11.3 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Keep slight right at fork toward E470 Toll North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 6B
Toward E470 Toll North
Towns Along This Route
Between Aurora, CO and Brush, CO, road signs point toward E470 Toll: Fort Collins, E470 Toll North: Fort Collins and E470 Toll North.
E470 Toll: Fort Collins
10.6 mi in
|
~15m
E470 Toll North: Fort Collins
10.7 mi in
|
~15m
E470 Toll North
11.3 mi in
|
~16m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Heartland Expressway | 70.6 mi | 1h 10m |
| Peña Boulevard | 6.5 mi | 7m |
| E-470 | 6.4 mi | 6m |
| I 225 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| North Potomac Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Colorado Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Fitzsimons Parkway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Heartland Expressway
— 70.6 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Aurora, CO and Brush, CO.
1
Start on North Vaughn Street
80 ft
·
5 sec
·
North Vaughn Street
2
Turn right onto Toledo Street
0.2 mi
·
49 sec
·
Toledo Street
3
Turn slight right onto East 10th Avenue
257 ft
·
16 sec
·
East 10th Avenue
4
Turn left onto North Potomac Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Potomac Street
Use the none lane.
5
Continue on North Fitzsimons Parkway
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
North Fitzsimons Parkway
Use the left lane.
6
Turn right onto East 17th Place
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
East 17th Place
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward I 225 North
Use the left lane.
8
Merge onto I 225
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
I 225
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
57 sec
Exit 12B
Toward I 70 East: Limon
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 70
0.6 mi
·
45 sec
·
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto Peña Boulevard
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Peña Boulevard
Exit 284
Toward Denver International Airport
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
Exit 6
Toward E470 Toll: Fort Collins
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 6B
Toward E470 Toll North: Fort Collins
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 6B
Toward E470 Toll North
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
16
Merge onto E470
6.4 mi
·
6 min
·
E-470
Use the none lane.
17
Take the exit
1.1 mi
·
1 min
Exit 35
Toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto I 76
71 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
Heartland Expressway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward CO 71: Brush, Snyder
20
Turn right onto CO 71
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Colorado Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Turn right onto Howard Street
398 ft
·
15 sec
·
Howard Street
22
Turn left onto Clayton Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Clayton Street
23
Arrive at destination
Clayton Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure schedule to avoid peak local traffic. You do not need to worry about planning formal stops, as the 1-hour and 39-minute duration is easily manageable in a single stint. Before you head out, ensure your tank is ready for the Heartland Expressway portion, which makes up the bulk of your 91.3-mile journey. Keep in mind that as you move through the Mountain West, the landscape opens up, so keep your eyes on the road during the long 70.6-mile stretch. Using E-470 as your primary artery out of the metro area will help you maintain a steady flow until you reach the open highway.
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 45.7 miles from Aurora, CO, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.6 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 80 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.7 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brush, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Aurora, 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 Aurora, CO
This is one driving day of about 91.3 miles and 1h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Aurora, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Heartland Expressway for about 70.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 45.7 mi from Aurora, CO · 52m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
46 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 45.7 miles from Aurora, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Heartland Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 70.6 miles.
Arriving in Brush, CO
The final approach into Brush, CO usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Brush, CO.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.84 one way
$27.67 round trip
$3.85/gal
25.4 MPG avg
32 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.08 | $14.68 | $29.36 |
| premium | $4.43 | $15.93 | $31.87 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $20.28 | $40.57 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.77
E-470
(6.4 mi)
$0.77
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: 31.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 27.4 | 0 | $9.59 | $4.38 |
| Efficient EV | 22.8 | 0 | $7.99 | $3.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 36.5 | 0 | $12.78 | $5.84 |
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Brush, CO
Evening in Brush on Sunday
Local time
5:05 PM
MDT
Current temp
36°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
66°F
Brighton, CO
46 mi in
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
30 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 39m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Aurora, CO to Brush, CO covers 91.3 miles and takes about 1h 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Heartland Expressway, Peña Boulevard, E-470. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 45.7 miles from Aurora, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.84 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 91.3 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (East 17th Place): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (Peña Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Aurora, CO and Brush, CO, road signs point toward E470 Toll: Fort Collins, E470 Toll North: Fort Collins and E470 Toll North.
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