If you are planning to head from Aurora to Yuma, you are looking at a 142.6-mile journey across the Colorado landscape. Expect to spend about 2 hours and 41 minutes behind the wheel for this trip. Because it is a manageable distance, you can easily complete the drive in one day without needing an overnight stay. Budgeting around $22 for fuel will cover your transit across these Mountain West locations. While this route avoids major interstates, it offers a straightforward path for those looking to traverse the region. It serves as a practical, direct connection between the two cities.
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
71.3 miles from Aurora, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 20m into the drive
.
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."
This trip is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive, favoring surface streets over high-speed transit. You will navigate via Toledo Street, East 10th Avenue, and North Potomac Street rather than relying on heavy highway infrastructure. With a 0% highway share, the experience is strictly local, requiring your full attention on navigating turns rather than cruising at interstate speeds. You should anticipate a consistent, winding pace that differs significantly from a typical highway commute. The road's personality remains steady and focused on local navigation throughout the duration of the 142.6-mile trek.
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.
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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Aurora, CO to Yuma, CO is easy. At 2h 41m 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 Yuma, 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 East
—
—
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 Yuma, 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 right to continue on I 70 East: Limon
0.7 mi·57 sec·I 70 East: Limon
10
Merge slight left onto Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
0.6 mi·45 sec·Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
11
Keep slight right to continue on Peña Boulevard
6.5 mi·7 min·Peña Boulevard
12
Take the exit slight right toward E470 Toll: Fort Collins
0.2 mi·13 sec·E470 Toll: Fort Collins
13
Keep slight left to continue on E470 Toll North: Fort Collins
0.6 mi·53 sec·E470 Toll North: Fort Collins
14
Keep slight right to continue on E470 Toll North
0.5 mi·1 min·E470 Toll North
15
Keep slight left
0.5 mi·57 sec
16
Merge slight left onto E-470
6.4 mi·6 min·E-470
17
Take the exit slight right toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
1.1 mi·2 min·I 76 East: Fort Morgan
18
Merge slight left onto Heartland Expressway
73 mi·1 hr 12 min·Heartland Expressway
19
Take the exit slight right toward US 34, US 6: Akron, Yuma, Wray
0.2 mi·24 sec·US 34, US 6: Akron, Yuma, Wray
20
Turn right onto US Highway 6
0.8 mi·1 min·US Highway 6
21
At the end of the road, turn left onto US Highway 34
21 mi·24 min·US Highway 34
22
Continue on West 1st Street
28 mi·34 min·West 1st Street
23
Turn left onto South Ash Street
0.3 mi·1 min·South Ash Street
24
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a turn-heavy route, give yourself plenty of time to navigate local intersections safely. Plan for at least one stop during the 2-hour and 41-minute drive to stretch your legs and refresh, as the constant turning can be more mentally taxing than a straight highway shot. Because you aren't utilizing major interstates, keep an eye on your fuel levels before you depart Aurora, as finding service stations may be less convenient once you leave the suburban grid. Aim to leave during daylight hours to ensure you have maximum visibility for the numerous turns along the way. Flexibility is your best asset here, so don't feel rushed to reach Yuma in a single push if you need extra breaks.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 71.3 miles from Aurora, CO, or about 1h 20m 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 31 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.3 miles or 1h 20m 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 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Yuma, 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 142.6 miles and 2h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 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 71.3 mi from Aurora, CO
· 1h 20m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.49 one way
$42.97 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$22.75
$45.50
premium
$4.39
$24.67
$49.34
diesel
$5.61
$31.48
$62.97
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.8
0
$14.97
$6.84
Efficient EV
35.7
0
$12.48
$5.70
EV Truck/SUV
57
0
$19.96
$9.13
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (66% 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
10:11 AM
MDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Yuma, CO
Morning
in Yuma on Saturday
Local time
10:11 AM
MDT
Current temp
83°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
36 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
2h 41m 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 Yuma, CO covers 142.6 miles and takes about 2h 41m 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 71.3 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 $21.49 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Aurora, CO to Yuma, CO is easy. At 2h 41m 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 Yuma, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Aurora, CO to Yuma, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
