Origin
Aurora, CO
Late night in Aurora on Friday
Local time
2:27 AM
MDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Aurora, CO to Dove Valley, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
22m
Distance
14 mi
22 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 20m
★
6 AM
0h 22m
8 AM
0h 26m
10 AM
0h 23m
12 PM
0h 23m
3 PM
0h 24m
5 PM
0h 26m
8 PM
0h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Aurora, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Dove Valley, CO
Regan Dsouza
Trip Overview
This quick 14-mile drive from Aurora, CO to Dove Valley, CO takes about 22 minutes, making it an easy day trip. You'll primarily travel on South Parker Road and I-225, with a smaller portion on East Arapahoe Road. With only a 31% highway share, expect a mixed driving experience. The estimated fuel cost is a budget-friendly $2, and with no planned stops, it's a straightforward journey within the Mountain West region. This short distance means you have plenty of flexibility for when you depart and how you spend your time upon arrival.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 22m. Total distance: 14 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (31%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile.
Drive Character
The journey between Aurora and Dove Valley offers a mixed drive profile, with 31% of the route on highways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 5 miles on South Parker Road, providing a continuous segment before transitioning. The road character shifts as you navigate through urban and suburban landscapes, moving from arterial roads to interstate sections and back. This blend means you'll experience varying speed limits and traffic patterns throughout the short 14-mile trip.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Parker Road is the longest continuous segment at about 5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near North Zion Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 14 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 22m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (North Zion Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Zion Street
At end of road, turn right onto North Zion Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 225 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 225 South
7
5.2 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit toward CO 83: Parker Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 4
Toward CO 83: Parker Road
7
11 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward CO 88: East Arapahoe Road, South Parker Road south, CO 83 south
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CO 88: East Arapahoe Road, South Parker...
7
11.2 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Keep slight right at fork toward CO 88 west, CR 42 west: East Arapahoe Road west
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward CO 88 west, CR 42 west: East Arapahoe Ro...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Aurora, CO and Dove Valley, CO, road signs point toward Parker Road South and Cr 42 West: East Arapahoe Road West.
Parker Road South
11 mi in
|
~16m
Cr 42 West: East Arapahoe Road West
11.2 mi in
|
~17m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Parker Road | 5 mi | 7m |
| I 225 | 4.3 mi | 4m |
| East Arapahoe Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| South Potomac Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| East 6th Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Vaughn Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Zion Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Vaughn Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
South Parker Road
— 5 mi, about 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Aurora, CO and Dove Valley, CO.
1
Start on North Vaughn Street
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
North Vaughn Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto North Zion Street
509 ft
·
26 sec
·
North Zion Street
3
Turn left onto Vaughn Street
257 ft
·
18 sec
·
Vaughn Street
4
Turn left onto CO 30
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
East 6th Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 225 South
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 225
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
I 225
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
Exit 4
Toward CO 83: Parker Road
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward CO 83 South: Parker Road
9
Continue on CO 83
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
South Parker Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward CO 88: East Arapahoe Road, South Parker Road south, CO 83 south
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on this road
528 ft
·
14 sec
·
this road
Toward CO 88, CR 42: East Arapahoe Road, South Parker Road south, CO 83 south
12
Keep slight right at fork
525 ft
·
16 sec
Toward CO 88 west, CR 42 west: East Arapahoe Road west
13
Turn straight onto CO 88; CR 42
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
East Arapahoe Road
14
Turn left onto South Potomac Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South Potomac Street
Use the left / uturn lanes.
15
Arrive at destination
South Potomac Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.11 one way
$4.22 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $2.23 | $4.47 |
| premium | $4.39 | $2.42 | $4.84 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.09 | $6.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.2 | 0 | $1.47 | $0.67 |
| Efficient EV | 3.5 | 0 | $1.22 | $0.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.6 | 0 | $1.96 | $0.90 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Dove Valley, CO
Late night in Dove Valley on Friday
Local time
2:27 AM
MDT
Current temp
61°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
14 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
22m 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 Dove Valley, CO covers 14 miles and takes about 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Parker Road, I 225, East Arapahoe Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 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 $2.11 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 short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 14 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 22m.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (North Zion Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Aurora, CO and Dove Valley, CO, road signs point toward Parker Road South and Cr 42 West: East Arapahoe Road West.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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