Trip from Aurora, CO to Salida, CO

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 24m

Distance

148.3 mi

239 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$22

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

9 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min

4 AM

3h 12m ★

6 AM

3h 24m

8 AM

3h 49m

10 AM

3h 33m

12 PM

3h 30m

3 PM

3h 34m

5 PM

3h 47m

8 PM

3h 17m

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

Wikimedia Commons

Salida, CO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Aurora, CO to Salida, CO covers 148.3 miles and takes about 3h 24m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on West Hampden Avenue, US 285, I 225 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 111.6 miles on West Hampden Avenue. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.34 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

74.1 miles from Aurora, CO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 40m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
West Hampden Avenue	111.6 mi	2h 26m
US 285	14.1 mi	22m
I 225	8.3 mi	9m
CO 291	7 mi	9m
East Hampden Avenue	2.8 mi	5m
South Valley Highway	0.9 mi	<1m
East Jefferson Avenue	0.8 mi	1m
Crestone Avenue	0.5 mi	1m

Longest stretch: West Hampden Avenue — 111.6 mi, about 2h 26m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on North Vaughn Street

0.2 mi · 45 sec · North Vaughn Street

At end of road, turn right onto North Zion Street

509 ft · 26 sec · North Zion Street

Turn left onto Vaughn Street

257 ft · 18 sec · Vaughn Street

Turn left onto CO 30

0.2 mi · 21 sec · East 6th Avenue

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 41 sec

Toward I 225 South Use the right lane.

Merge onto I 225

8.3 mi · 9 min · I 225

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 55 sec

Toward I 25 North: Denver Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 25

0.9 mi · 59 sec · South Valley Highway

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 33 sec

Exit 201 Toward US 285, CO 30: Hampden Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn left onto US 285; CO 30

2.8 mi · 5 min · East Hampden Avenue

Use the left / straight / right lanes.

Continue on US 285

0.3 mi · 34 sec · East Hampden Bypass

Continue on US 285

0.8 mi · 1 min · East Jefferson Avenue

Continue on US 285

0.2 mi · 31 sec · West Hampden Drive

Continue on US 285

112 mi · 2 hr 26 min · West Hampden Avenue

Use the left lane.

At end of road, turn left onto US 285

11 mi · 17 min · US 285

Continue on US 285

3.1 mi · 5 min · US 285

Turn left onto CO 291

7.0 mi · 9 min · CO 291

Turn right onto Mesa Lane

0.2 mi · 24 sec · Mesa Lane

Use the right lane.

Turn left onto CR 160

0.2 mi · 23 sec · Crestone Avenue

Continue on Crestone Avenue

0.3 mi · 46 sec · Crestone Avenue

At end of road, turn right onto Poncha Boulevard

302 ft · 13 sec · Poncha Boulevard

Turn left onto West 5th Street

0.1 mi · 16 sec · West 5th Street

Turn right onto I Street

149 ft · 6 sec · I Street

Arrive at destination

I Street

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 74.1 miles from Aurora, CO, or about 1h 40m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.6 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 33 miles or 46m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 74.1 miles or 1h 40m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 43m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Salida, 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 148.3 miles and 3h 24m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 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 West Hampden Avenue for about 111.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Applewood, CO

74 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

Applewood, CO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Applewood, CO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 74.1 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 West Hampden Avenue if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 111.6 miles.

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

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

La Familia restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Aurora, Colorado

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 9 am–8 pm

+17205243411

Old Town Hot Pot

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Aurora, Colorado

2.9 mi

Los Toritos Mexican Restaurant

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Aurora, Colorado

2.6 mi

La Familia restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Aurora, Colorado

Hours: 9 am–8 pm

+17205243411

Old Town Hot Pot

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour $20 to $30 mile 10.6

Aurora, Colorado

Hours: 11:30 am–9:30 pm

+13036580870

Visit website

Los Toritos Mexican Restaurant

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour $20 to $30

Aurora, Colorado

Hours: 9 am–11 pm

+13033666381

Phở Hậu Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour $10 to $20 mile 21.2

Lakewood, Colorado

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+13039880755

Tikka & Grill, Nepali and Indian Food

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour Moderately mile 10.6

Denver, Colorado

Hours: 11 am–9:15 pm

+17204767144

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour

Denver, Colorado

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour

Denver, Colorado

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Sister City Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 21.2

Lakewood, Colorado

Hours: 5 am–10 pm

+13039877800

Visit website

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 10.6

Greenwood Village, Colorado

+13038060444

Visit website

Morrison Natural History Museum

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 21.2

Morrison, Colorado

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+13036971873

Visit website

The Unreal Garden

3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

3 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 21.2

Littleton, Colorado

Hours: 12–8 pm

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 16

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 10.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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

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

0.9 mi into trip | ~2m in | I 225

Merge onto I 225

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

9.2 mi into trip | ~12m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 25 North: Denver

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 25 North: Denver

10.5 mi into trip | ~14m in

Take the exit toward US 285, CO 30: Hampden Avenue

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. Exit 201 Toward US 285, CO 30: Hampden Avenue

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$22.34 one way

$44.69 round trip

$3.83/gal 25.4 MPG avg 52 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.05	$23.66	$47.32
premium	$4.39	$25.65	$51.31
diesel	$5.61	$32.74	$65.49

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$22

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$47–$72

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 51.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

9 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Loop Charging Station

Denver, Colorado

Other

1 DCFC

Tesla Supercharger

Denver, Colorado

Tesla

1 DCFC

Tesla Supercharger

Denver, Colorado

Tesla

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Charging Station

Denver, Colorado

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

Costco Wholesale Corporation Charging Station

Denver, Colorado

Other

1 DCFC

EVgo Charging Station

Denver, Colorado

EVgo

1 DCFC

EVgo Charging Station

Denver, Colorado

EVgo

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Charging Station

Denver, Colorado

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

Other: 3 Tesla: 2 ChargePoint: 2 EVgo: 2

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	44.5	$15.57	$7.12
Efficient EV	37.1	$12.98	$5.93
EV Truck/SUV	59.3	$20.76	$9.49

Gas CO2

52 kg

EV CO2

17 kg (67% 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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Aurora, CO

Morning in Aurora on Saturday

Local time

11:30 AM

MDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Salida, CO

Morning in Salida on Saturday

Local time

11:30 AM

MDT

Current temp

72°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

25 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 24m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a 3h 24m drive with frequent turns across 148.3 miles of local and secondary roads.

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

There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

West Hampden Avenue is the longest continuous segment at about 111.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

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 0.2 miles in near North Zion Street.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 148.3 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 0.2 miles (North Zion Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles (I 225): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

About the Cities

Starting in Aurora, CO

Full guide →

Aurora is a city of about 400,000 of the Denver Metropolitan Area in the western U.S. state of Colorado. The city lies immediately east of Denver in Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas counties. In 2008 it was named the "All American City."

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 24m. Total distance: 148.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Aurora, CO to Salida, CO covers 148.3 miles and takes about 3h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are West Hampden Avenue, US 285, I 225. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 74.1 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 $22.34 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 route from Aurora, CO to Salida, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Return Trip

Salida, CO to Aurora, CO

Plan the drive back the other way.

148.5 mi 3h 24m

Explore more options from Aurora, CO or browse trips ending in Salida, CO.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CO road trips.

Trip from Aurora, CO to Salida, CO

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

La Familia restaurant

La Familia restaurant

Old Town Hot Pot

Los Toritos Mexican Restaurant

Phở Hậu Restaurant

Tikka & Grill, Nepali and Indian Food

Tesla Supercharger

Tesla Supercharger

Loop Charging Station

EVgo Charging Station

Costco Wholesale Corporation Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

EVgo Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Sister City Park

Tiny Town & Railroad

Central Park

Belmar Park

Museum of Outdoor Arts

Morrison Natural History Museum

The Unreal Garden

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Aurora, CO

Salida, CO

Same local time

25 degrees warmer at arrival

3h 24m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

About the Cities

Starting in Aurora, CO

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the trip from Aurora, CO to Salida, CO?

What are the main roads on this route?

Is this a good same-day trip?

Where should I stop halfway?

How much does gas cost for this trip?

What is the best time to leave?

How many breaks should I plan?

How hard is the drive from Aurora, CO to Salida, CO?

Where does this route get tricky?

What towns show up on signs driving from Aurora, CO to Salida, CO?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Salida, CO

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