Origin
Aurora, CO
Night in Aurora on Tuesday
Local time
10:33 PM
MDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Aurora, CO to Carbondale, CO
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
3h 45m
Distance
184.3 mi
297 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 33m
★
6 AM
3h 45m
8 AM
4h 11m
10 AM
3h 54m
12 PM
3h 52m
3 PM
3h 55m
5 PM
4h 9m
8 PM
3h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Aurora, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Carbondale, CO
Jacob Moore
Trip Overview
The drive from Aurora, CO to Carbondale, CO covers 184.3 miles and takes about 3h 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Toledo Street, East 10th Avenue, North Potomac Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.77 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
92.2 miles from Aurora, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 52m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 45m drive with frequent turns across 184.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Toledo Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Aurora, CO to Carbondale, CO is easy. At 3h 45m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Aurora, CO to Carbondale, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Toledo Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East 10th Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Potomac Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Fitzsimons Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East 17th Place | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 225 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 70 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Toledo Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Aurora, CO and Carbondale, CO.
1
Start on North Vaughn Street
79 ft
·
6 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
256 ft
·
16 sec
·
East 10th Avenue
4
Turn left onto North Potomac Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Potomac Street
5
Continue on North Fitzsimons Parkway
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
North Fitzsimons Parkway
6
Turn right onto East 17th Place
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
East 17th Place
7
Take the ramp left toward I 225 North
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
I 225 North
8
Merge slight left
1.1 mi
·
1 min
9
Keep slight left to continue on I 70 West: Denver
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 70 West: Denver
10
Keep slight left to continue on I 70 West: Denver
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
I 70 West: Denver
11
Merge slight left onto Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
12
Keep slight left to continue on Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
150 mi
·
2 hr 52 min
·
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
13
Continue on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
14 mi
·
16 min
·
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
14
Take the exit slight right toward CO 82 East: Glenwood Springs, Aspen
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
CO 82 East: Glenwood Springs, Aspen
15
Continue on Laurel Street
390 ft
·
15 sec
·
Laurel Street
16
Continue on Grand Avenue
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
Grand Avenue
17
Turn right onto 8th Street
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
8th Street
18
At the end of the road, turn left onto Midland Avenue
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Midland Avenue
19
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward 27th Street
177 ft
·
3 sec
·
27th Street
20
Exit the roundabout onto 27th Street
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
27th Street
21
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward 27th Street
85 ft
·
2 sec
·
27th Street
22
Exit the roundabout onto 27th Street
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
27th Street
23
Turn right onto Glen Avenue
9.8 mi
·
15 min
·
Glen Avenue
24
Turn right
1.1 mi
·
2 min
25
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Main Street
223 ft
·
3 sec
·
Main Street
26
Exit the roundabout onto Main Street
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
Main Street
27
Turn left onto North 4th Street
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
North 4th Street
28
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 92.2 miles from Aurora, CO, or about 1h 52m 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 80 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92.2 miles or 1h 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 3h 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carbondale, 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 184.3 miles and 3h 45m.
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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 92.2 mi from Aurora, CO · 1h 52m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
92 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 92.2 miles from Aurora, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Carbondale, CO
The final approach into Carbondale, 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 Carbondale, 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
$27.77 one way
$55.54 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
65 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $29.40 | $58.80 |
| premium | $4.39 | $31.88 | $63.76 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $40.69 | $81.38 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 55.3 | 0 | $19.35 | $8.85 |
| Efficient EV | 46.1 | 0 | $16.13 | $7.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 73.7 | 0 | $25.80 | $11.80 |
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
22 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
Carbondale, CO
Night in Carbondale on Tuesday
Local time
10:33 PM
MDT
Current temp
69°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
22 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
3h 45m 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 Carbondale, CO covers 184.3 miles and takes about 3h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Toledo Street, East 10th Avenue, North Potomac Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 92.2 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 $27.77 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Aurora, CO to Carbondale, CO is easy. At 3h 45m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Aurora, CO to Carbondale, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Aurora, CO to Carbondale, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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