Trip from Aurora, CO to Delta, CO

Drive Time

5h 37m

Distance

289.8 mi

466 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$44

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

5h 24m ★

6 AM

5h 38m

8 AM

6h 4m

10 AM

5h 47m

12 PM

5h 44m

3 PM

5h 48m

5 PM

6h 3m

8 PM

5h 30m

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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Aurora, CO

Raul Kozenevski

Delta, CO

Ofspace LLC, Culture

Trip Overview

The drive from Aurora, CO to Delta, CO covers 289.8 miles and takes about 5h 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway, Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, US 50 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 151.8 miles on Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $43.91 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

144.9 miles from Aurora, CO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 50m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 5h 37m drive with frequent turns across 289.8 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 151.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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 1.2 miles in near East 17th Place.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 289.8 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 3.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

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.

2.8 mi into trip | ~5m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 West: Denver

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes. Exit 12A Toward I 70 West: Denver

3.6 mi into trip | ~7m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 West: Denver

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane. Toward I 70 West: Denver

249.8 mi into trip | ~4h 43m in | I 70 BUS

Take the exit onto I 70 BUS toward I 70 Business, US 6, US 50: Clifton, Grand Junction, Delta

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the none lane. Exit 37 Toward I 70 Business, US 6, US 50: Clifton, Gra...

257 mi into trip | ~4h 56m in | US 50; CO 141 / United States Highway 50

At end of road, turn left onto US 50; CO 141 / United States Highway 50 toward Delta

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward Delta

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Aurora, CO to Delta, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Grand Junction along the way.

Grand Junction

249.8 mi in | ~4h 43m | via I 70 BUS

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway	151.8 mi	2h 55m
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway	80.8 mi	1h 25m
US 50	20.9 mi	26m
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway	13.2 mi	14m
United States Highway 50	11.7 mi	14m
32 Road	5.4 mi	9m
I 70 BUS	1.8 mi	3m
I 225	1.1 mi	1m

Longest stretch: Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway — 151.8 mi, about 2h 55m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Aurora, CO and Delta, CO.

Start on North Vaughn Street

80 ft · 5 sec · North Vaughn Street

Turn right onto Toledo Street

0.2 mi · 49 sec · Toledo Street

Turn slight right onto East 10th Avenue

257 ft · 16 sec · East 10th Avenue

Turn left onto North Potomac Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Potomac Street

Use the none lane.

Continue on North Fitzsimons Parkway

0.3 mi · 40 sec · North Fitzsimons Parkway

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto East 17th Place

0.2 mi · 29 sec · East 17th Place

Use the straight / right lanes.

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 51 sec

Toward I 225 North Use the left lane.

Merge onto I 225

1.1 mi · 1 min · I 225

Keep slight left at fork

0.8 mi · 1 min

Exit 12A Toward I 70 West: Denver Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 46 sec

Toward I 70 West: Denver Use the none lane.

Merge onto I 70

2.1 mi · 2 min · Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway

Use the none lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 70

150 mi · 2 hr 52 min · Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 70

81 mi · 1 hr 25 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

Use the none lane.

Continue on I 70

13 mi · 14 min · Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway

Use the none lane.

Take the exit onto I 70 BUS

1.6 mi · 2 min · I 70 BUS

Exit 37 Toward I 70 Business, US 6, US 50: Clifton, Grand Junction, Delta Use the none lane.

Continue on I 70 BUS; US 6

0.2 mi · 31 sec · I 70 BUS; US 6

Use the none lane.

Turn left onto CO 141

5.4 mi · 9 min · 32 Road

Use the left lane.

At end of road, turn left onto US 50; CO 141

12 mi · 14 min · United States Highway 50

Toward Delta Use the left lane.

Continue on US 50

16 mi · 18 min · US 50

Use the none lane.

Continue on US 50

4.9 mi · 7 min · US 50

Use the none lane.

Turn left onto East 3rd Street

0.1 mi · 19 sec · East 3rd Street

Use the left lane.

Turn right

283 ft · 20 sec

Arrive at 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 144.9 miles from Aurora, CO, or about 2h 50m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 151.8 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 35m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 144.9 miles or 2h 50m 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 30m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Delta, 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 289.8 miles and 5h 37m.

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.

The longest stretch is on Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway for about 151.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 144.9 mi from Aurora, CO · 2h 50m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Aspen, CO

145 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

Boulder, CO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Aspen, CO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 144.9 miles from Aurora, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 151.8 miles.

Arriving in Delta, CO

The final approach into Delta, 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 Delta, CO.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$43.91 one way

$87.83 round trip

$3.85/gal 25.4 MPG avg 101 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.08	$46.60	$93.19
premium	$4.43	$50.58	$101.16
diesel	$5.64	$64.38	$128.77

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$44

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$69–$94

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 101.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	86.9	1	$30.43	$13.91
Efficient EV	72.5	0	$25.36	$11.59
EV Truck/SUV	115.9	1	$40.57	$18.55

Gas CO2

101 kg

EV CO2

34 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Aurora, CO

Afternoon in Aurora on Sunday

Local time

4:00 PM

MDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Delta, CO

Afternoon in Delta on Sunday

Local time

4:00 PM

MDT

Current temp

32°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

34 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

5h 37m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Aurora, CO to Delta, CO covers 289.8 miles and takes about 5h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway, Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, US 50. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 144.9 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 $43.91 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

On the drive from Aurora, CO to Delta, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Grand Junction along the way.

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Trip from Aurora, CO to Delta, CO

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Delta, CO

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Aurora, CO

Delta, CO

Same local time

34 degrees cooler at arrival

5h 37m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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