Origin
Aurora, CO
Morning in Aurora on Saturday
Local time
9:02 AM
MDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Aurora, CO to Orchard City, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 50m
Distance
298.5 mi
480 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$45
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 37m
★
6 AM
5h 51m
8 AM
6h 17m
10 AM
6h 0m
12 PM
5h 57m
3 PM
6h 1m
5 PM
6h 15m
8 PM
5h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Aurora, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Orchard City, CO
David Sing
Trip Overview
The drive from Aurora, CO to Orchard City, CO covers 298.5 miles and takes about 5h 50m 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 $44.97 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
149.3 miles from Aurora, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 55m into the drive .
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 5h 50m. Total distance: 298.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 50m drive with frequent turns across 298.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Toledo 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 50m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Aurora, CO to Orchard City, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Toledo Street | — | — |
| East 10th Avenue | — | — |
| North Potomac Street | — | — |
| North Fitzsimons Parkway | — | — |
| East 17th Place | — | — |
| I 225 North | — | — |
| I 70 West | — | — |
| Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Toledo Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Aurora, CO and Orchard City, CO.
1
Start on North Vaughn Street
79 ft
·
6 sec
·
North Vaughn Street
2
Turn right onto Toledo Street
0.2 mi
·
49 sec
·
Toledo Street
3
Turn slight right onto East 10th Avenue
256 ft
·
16 sec
·
East 10th Avenue
4
Turn left onto North Potomac Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Potomac Street
5
Continue on North Fitzsimons Parkway
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
North Fitzsimons Parkway
6
Turn right onto East 17th Place
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
East 17th Place
7
Take the ramp left toward I 225 North
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
I 225 North
8
Merge slight left
1.1 mi
·
1 min
9
Keep slight left to continue on I 70 West: Denver
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 70 West: Denver
10
Keep slight left to continue on I 70 West: Denver
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
I 70 West: Denver
11
Merge slight left onto Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
12
Keep slight left to continue on Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
150 mi
·
2 hr 52 min
·
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
13
Continue on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
81 mi
·
1 hr 25 min
·
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
14
Continue on Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
15
Take the exit slight right toward I 70 Business, US 6, US 50: Clifton, Grand Junction, Delta
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
I 70 Business, US 6, US 50: Clifton, Grand Junction, Delta
16
Continue straight
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
17
Turn left onto 32 Road
5.4 mi
·
9 min
·
32 Road
18
At the end of the road, turn left onto United States Highway 50
12 mi
·
14 min
·
United States Highway 50
19
Continue straight
16 mi
·
18 min
20
Continue straight
4.7 mi
·
7 min
21
Turn left
1.1 mi
·
2 min
22
Continue straight
2.7 mi
·
3 min
23
Turn left
5.2 mi
·
8 min
24
Turn right onto 2100 Road
397 ft
·
22 sec
·
2100 Road
25
Turn left onto Fruitgrowers Road
39 ft
·
2 sec
·
Fruitgrowers Road
26
Arrive at your destination
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 149.3 miles from Aurora, CO, or about 2h 55m 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 66 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 149.3 miles or 2h 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Orchard 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 298.5 miles and 5h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 149.3 mi from Aurora, CO · 2h 55m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
149 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 66 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 149.3 miles from Aurora, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Orchard City, CO
The final approach into Orchard 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 Orchard 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
$44.97 one way
$89.95 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
104 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $47.62 | $95.24 |
| premium | $4.39 | $51.64 | $103.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $65.91 | $131.81 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 104.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 89.6 | 1 | $31.34 | $14.33 |
| Efficient EV | 74.6 | 0 | $26.12 | $11.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 119.4 | 1 | $41.79 | $19.10 |
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Orchard City, CO
Morning in Orchard City on Saturday
Local time
9:02 AM
MDT
Current temp
76°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
29 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
5h 50m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Orchard City, CO covers 298.5 miles and takes about 5h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Toledo Street, East 10th Avenue, North Potomac Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 149.3 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 $44.97 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 50m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Aurora, CO to Orchard City, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Aurora, CO to Orchard City, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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