Drive Time
4h 24m
Distance
172.5 mi
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
The drive from Aurora, CO to Aspen, CO covers 172.5 miles and takes about 4h 24m 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 $23.43 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
86.3 miles from Aurora, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 12m into the drive .
Expect a 4h 24m drive with frequent turns across 172.5 miles of local and secondary 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.
Step-by-step road directions between Aurora, CO and Aspen, CO.
Start on North Vaughn Street
Turn right onto Toledo Street
Turn slight right onto East 10th Avenue
Turn left onto North Potomac Street
Continue on North Fitzsimons Parkway
Turn right onto East 17th Place
Take the ramp left toward I 225 North
Merge slight left
Keep slight left to continue on I 70 West: Denver
Keep slight left to continue on I 70 West: Denver
Merge slight left onto Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
Keep slight left to continue on Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
Take the exit slight right toward CO 91 South: Copper Mountain, Leadville
Continue straight
Continue straight
At the end of the road, turn right onto East 9th Street
Turn slight left onto Harrison Avenue
Turn right onto West 6th Street
Turn left onto McWethy Drive
Turn right
Turn right
Turn right onto South Original Street
Continue on East Main Street
Turn right onto North Galena Street
Turn left
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 2h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.3 miles or 2h 12m 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Aspen, CO than in the middle of the route.
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 172.5 miles and 4h 24m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 86.3 mi from Aurora, CO · 2h 12m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
86 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 86.3 miles from Aurora, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Aspen, 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 Aspen, CO.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$23.43 one way
$46.86 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.85 | $26.15 | $52.29 |
| premium | $4.15 | $28.18 | $56.37 |
| diesel | $3.75 | $25.47 | $50.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.4 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 51.8 | 0 | $18.11 | $8.28 |
| Efficient EV | 43.1 | 0 | $15.09 | $6.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 69 | 0 | $24.15 | $11.04 |
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Late night in Aurora on Saturday
Local time
4:34 AM
MDT
Current temp
66°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Late night in Aspen on Saturday
Local time
4:34 AM
MDT
Current temp
26°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
40°F
Boulder, CO
86 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Explore more options from Aurora, CO or browse trips ending in Aspen, CO.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CO road trips.
Explore maps for Aurora, CO or Aspen, CO on MapSof.net.