Origin
Aurora, CO
Night in Aurora on Tuesday
Local time
9:31 PM
MDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Aurora, CO to Cañon City, CO
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
2h 22m
Distance
113.7 mi
183 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 12m
★
6 AM
2h 22m
8 AM
2h 42m
10 AM
2h 29m
12 PM
2h 27m
3 PM
2h 30m
5 PM
2h 41m
8 PM
2h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Aurora, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Cañon City, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Aurora, CO to Cañon City, CO covers 113.7 miles and takes about 2h 22m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Zion Street, Vaughn Street, East 6th Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.13 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
56.8 miles from Aurora, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 11m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 22m drive with frequent turns across 113.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Zion Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Aurora, CO to Cañon City, CO is easy. At 2h 22m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Aurora, CO to Cañon City, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Zion Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Vaughn Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East 6th Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 225 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 25 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Valley Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Monument Valley Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| CO 115 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
North Zion Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Aurora, CO and Cañon City, CO.
1
Start on North Vaughn Street
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
North Vaughn Street
2
At the end of the road, turn right onto North Zion Street
509 ft
·
27 sec
·
North Zion Street
3
Turn left onto Vaughn Street
256 ft
·
18 sec
·
Vaughn Street
4
Turn left onto East 6th Avenue
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
East 6th Avenue
5
Take the ramp slight right toward I 225 South
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
I 225 South
6
Merge slight left
8.3 mi
·
9 min
7
Keep slight left to continue on I 25 South: Colorado Springs
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
I 25 South: Colorado Springs
8
Keep slight left
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
9
Merge slight left onto South Valley Highway
52 mi
·
54 min
·
South Valley Highway
10
Continue on Monument Valley Freeway
7.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Monument Valley Freeway
11
Take the exit slight right toward CO 115 South: Tejon Street, Nevada Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
CO 115 South: Tejon Street, Nevada Avenue
12
Turn right onto South Nevada Avenue
31 mi
·
40 min
·
South Nevada Avenue
13
Turn right onto 3rd Street
9.5 mi
·
16 min
·
3rd Street
14
At the end of the road, turn left onto Mackenzie Avenue
125 ft
·
7 sec
·
Mackenzie Avenue
15
Turn right onto Royal Gorge Boulevard
3.7 mi
·
7 min
·
Royal Gorge Boulevard
16
Turn right onto South 4th Street
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
South 4th Street
17
Turn right onto Macon Avenue
89 ft
·
4 sec
·
Macon Avenue
18
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 56.8 miles from Aurora, CO, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
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 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.8 miles or 1h 11m 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 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cañon City, 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 113.7 miles and 2h 22m.
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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 56.8 mi from Aurora, CO · 1h 11m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
57 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 56.8 miles from Aurora, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Cañon City, CO
The final approach into Cañon City, 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 Cañon City, 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
$17.13 one way
$34.26 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
40 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $18.14 | $36.28 |
| premium | $4.39 | $19.67 | $39.34 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.10 | $50.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34.1 | 0 | $11.94 | $5.46 |
| Efficient EV | 28.4 | 0 | $9.95 | $4.55 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 45.5 | 0 | $15.92 | $7.28 |
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Destination
Cañon City, CO
Night in Cañon City on Tuesday
Local time
9:31 PM
MDT
Current temp
41°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
6 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
2h 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 Cañon City, CO covers 113.7 miles and takes about 2h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Zion Street, Vaughn Street, East 6th Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 56.8 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 $17.13 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.
The drive from Aurora, CO to Cañon City, CO is easy. At 2h 22m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Aurora, CO to Cañon City, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Aurora, CO to Cañon City, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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