The drive from Clifton, CO to Aurora, CO covers 251.7 miles and takes about 4h 47m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 70 BUS, I 70, I 225 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 234.1 miles on I 70 BUS.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.92 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
125.8 miles from Clifton, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 22m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 47m. Total distance: 251.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 4h 47m highway drive covering 251.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 70 BUS and I 70. The longest continuous stretch is about 234.1 miles on I 70 BUS.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 70 BUS is the longest continuous segment at about 234.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 BUS and I 70. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near I 70 BUS.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 251.7 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 0.9 miles (I 70 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 234.3 miles (I 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 239.6 miles (I 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.9 mi into trip|~1m in|I 70 BUS
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 BUS toward I 70 East: Denver
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 70 East: Denver
7
234.3 mi into trip|~4h 23m in|I 70
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 toward I 70 East: Denver
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 70 East: Denver
6
239.6 mi into trip|~4h 30m in|I 70
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
247.6 mi into trip|~4h 41m in
Take the exit toward I 225 South: Aurora, Colorado Springs
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 282
Toward I 225 South: Aurora, Colorado Springs
7
250.7 mi into trip|~4h 45m in
Take the exit toward CO 30: 6th Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 9
Toward CO 30: 6th Avenue
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70 BUS
234.1 mi
4h 23m
I 70
13.3 mi
17m
I 225
2.2 mi
2m
East 6th Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
F Road
0.2 mi
<1m
North Vaughn Street
0.2 mi
<1m
North Zion Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Vaughn Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70 BUS
— 234.1 mi, about 4h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clifton, CO and Aurora, CO.
1
Start on US 6
355 ft·10 sec·F Road
2
Enter roundabout onto US 6
78 ft·1 sec·F Road
3
Continue on US 6
0.1 mi·18 sec·F Road
4
Turn sharp right onto I 70 BUS
0.7 mi·1 min·I 70 BUS
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 BUS
233 mi·4 hr 22 min·I 70 BUS
Toward I 70 East: DenverUse the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70
5.3 mi·7 min·I 70
Toward I 70 East: DenverUse the right lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70
8.0 mi·10 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 282Toward I 225 South: Aurora, Colorado SpringsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 225
2.2 mi·2 min·I 225
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 9Toward CO 30: 6th AvenueUse the slight right lane.
11
Turn right onto CO 30
0.3 mi·31 sec·East 6th Avenue
Use the right lane.
12
Turn right onto Vaughn Street
257 ft·12 sec·Vaughn Street
13
Turn right onto North Zion Street
509 ft·27 sec·North Zion Street
14
Turn left onto North Vaughn Street
0.2 mi·43 sec·North Vaughn Street
15
Arrive at destination
North Vaughn 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 125.8 miles from Clifton, CO, or about 2h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 234.1 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 55 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.8 miles or 2h 22m 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 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Aurora, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Clifton, 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 Clifton, CO
This is one driving day of about 251.7 miles and 4h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Clifton, 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 I 70 BUS for about 234.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 125.8 mi from Clifton, CO
· 2h 22m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Colorado National Monument
National Monument
Colorado National Monument preserves one of the grand landscapes of the American West. But this treasure is much more than a monument. Towering monoliths exist within a vast plateau and canyon panoram...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.92 one way
$75.85 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$40.15
$80.31
premium
$4.39
$43.54
$87.08
diesel
$5.61
$55.57
$111.14
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.1 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 $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75.5
0
$26.43
$12.08
Efficient EV
62.9
0
$22.02
$10.07
EV Truck/SUV
100.7
1
$35.24
$16.11
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 16, 2026
Origin
Clifton, CO
Morning
in Clifton on Friday
Local time
7:19 AM
MDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Aurora, CO
Morning
in Aurora on Friday
Local time
7:19 AM
MDT
Current temp
47°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
24 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
4h 47m 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 Clifton, CO to Aurora, CO covers 251.7 miles and takes about 4h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 70 BUS, I 70, I 225. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 125.8 miles from Clifton, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $37.92 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 demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 251.7 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (I 70 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 234.3 miles (I 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 239.6 miles (I 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Clifton, CO to Aurora, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
EV charging comes from the
NREL Alternative Fuels
dataset.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
