Trip from Aurora, CO to Greeley, CO

Drive Time

1h 18m

Distance

63 mi

101 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min

4 AM

1h 12m ★

6 AM

1h 18m

8 AM

1h 30m

10 AM

1h 22m

12 PM

1h 21m

3 PM

1h 23m

5 PM

1h 30m

8 PM

1h 14m

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

Greeley, CO

Jacob Moore

Trip Overview

If you are looking for a straightforward trip through the Mountain West, the 63-mile stretch between Aurora and Greeley is an efficient choice. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 18 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a quick day trip. With a fuel budget of roughly $10, it is an economical excursion that connects these two Colorado hubs without requiring an overnight stay. You will primarily utilize Peña Boulevard, the Heartland Expressway, and County Road 49 to navigate between these points. Because the route is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time based on your own schedule rather than fighting fatigue. It serves as a practical, no-nonsense connection for travelers moving between these two distinct areas.

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

31.5 miles from Aurora, CO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 38m into the drive .

Drive Character

This 63-mile journey offers a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate haul. You will find that only 27 percent of the trip is spent on highways, meaning the majority of your time is dedicated to navigating local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 22-mile segment on County Road 49, which provides a bit of consistency before the road profile shifts again. Because of the local nature of the route, stay alert for frequent turns and changing road conditions. It is a drive that requires your active attention, ensuring you remain engaged with the road throughout the duration of your trip.

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

There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

County Road 49 is the longest continuous segment at about 22 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 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 63 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 23 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 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

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

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

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 Greeley, CO, road signs point toward Denver International Airport, E470 Toll: Fort Collins, E470 Toll North: Fort Collins and E470 Toll North.

Denver International Airport

4.1 mi in | ~7m | via Peña Boulevard

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
County Road 49	22 mi	25m
Heartland Expressway	15.4 mi	15m
Peña Boulevard	6.5 mi	7m
E-470	6.4 mi	6m
East 18th Street	3.7 mi	5m
I 225	1.1 mi	1m
8th Avenue	0.9 mi	1m
9th Street	0.8 mi	1m

Longest stretch: County Road 49 — 22 mi, about 25m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Aurora, CO and Greeley, 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 right at fork

0.7 mi · 57 sec

Exit 12B Toward I 70 East: Limon Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 70

0.6 mi · 45 sec · Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

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.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 13 sec

Exit 6 Toward E470 Toll: Fort Collins Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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.

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min

Exit 6B Toward E470 Toll North Use the straight / right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 56 sec

Merge onto E470

6.4 mi · 6 min · E-470

Use the none lane.

Take the exit

1.1 mi · 1 min

Exit 35 Toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 76

15 mi · 15 min · Heartland Expressway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 22 sec

Exit 34 Toward Kersey Road Use the slight right lane.

Turn left onto CR 49

22 mi · 25 min · County Road 49

Use the none lane.

Turn left onto East 18th Street

3.7 mi · 5 min · East 18th Street

Use the left lane.

At end of road, turn right onto US 34 Business; US 85 Business

0.9 mi · 1 min · 8th Avenue

Use the right lane.

Turn left onto US 34 Business

0.2 mi · 28 sec · 10th Street

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto US 34 Business

503 ft · 16 sec · 10th Avenue

Use the right lane.

Turn left onto US 34 Business

0.8 mi · 1 min · 9th Street

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto 19th Avenue

262 ft · 11 sec · 19th Avenue

Arrive at destination

19th Avenue

Trip Plan

Since this is a short 1 hour and 18 minute drive, you have the luxury of departing whenever it best suits your plans. You won't need to worry about planning formal stops given the manageable distance, though keeping your fuel tank in mind will help you stay within your $10 budget. Because the route relies heavily on local roads like County Road 49, be prepared for more frequent turns than you would encounter on a standard interstate path. My best piece of advice is to check your navigation before leaving Aurora, as the transition between Peña Boulevard and the Heartland Expressway requires a few specific turns. Enjoy the flexibility this quick trip offers, as it allows you to reach Greeley without the need for complex travel logistics.

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 31.5 miles from Aurora, CO, or about 38m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 22 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 63 miles or 1h 18m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 31.5 miles or 38m 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 4m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Greeley, 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 63 miles and 1h 18m.

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 County Road 49 for about 22 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 31.5 mi from Aurora, CO · 38m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Brighton, CO

32 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

Windsor, CO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 63 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lochbuie, CO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 31.5 miles from Aurora, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Greeley, CO

The final approach into Greeley, 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 Greeley, 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

$9.55 one way

$19.09 round trip

$3.85/gal 25.4 MPG avg 22 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.08	$10.13	$20.26
premium	$4.43	$11.00	$21.99
diesel	$5.64	$14.00	$27.99

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

$10

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$35–$60

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 22 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	18.9	$6.61	$3.02
Efficient EV	15.8	$5.51	$2.52
EV Truck/SUV	25.2	$8.82	$4.03

Gas CO2

22 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (68% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Aurora, CO

Evening in Aurora on Sunday

Local time

6:22 PM

MDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Greeley, CO

Evening in Greeley on Sunday

Local time

6:22 PM

MDT

Current temp

37°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

66°F

Brighton, CO

32 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

29 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 18m 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 Greeley, CO covers 63 miles and takes about 1h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are County Road 49, Heartland Expressway, Peña Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 31.5 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 $9.55 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.

Between Aurora, CO and Greeley, CO, road signs point toward Denver International Airport, E470 Toll: Fort Collins, E470 Toll North: Fort Collins and E470 Toll North.

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Trip from Aurora, CO to Greeley, 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 Greeley, CO

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Aurora, CO

Greeley, CO

Same local time

29 degrees cooler at arrival

1h 18m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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