Origin
Denver, CO
Evening in Denver on Sunday
Local time
6:22 PM
MDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Denver, CO to Aurora, CO
Drive Time
22m
Distance
9.9 mi
16 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 21m
★
6 AM
0h 23m
8 AM
0h 27m
10 AM
0h 24m
12 PM
0h 24m
3 PM
0h 25m
5 PM
0h 27m
8 PM
0h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Denver, CO
MINEIA MARTINS
Aurora, CO
Raul Kozenevski
Trip Overview
Traveling the 15.5 miles between Denver and Aurora is a quick, straightforward journey that typically takes about 25 minutes. Because this is a short trip within the Mountain West region, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You will navigate primarily via East Colfax Avenue, North Yosemite Street, and East Lowry Boulevard rather than hopping on major interstates. With a fuel cost of just $2, this commute is exceptionally budget-friendly for any traveler. It functions best as a direct connection between these two Colorado cities, offering a practical alternative to highway travel. Whether you are heading out for work or visiting friends, the simplicity of this route makes it a stress-free transition.
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
4.9 miles from Denver, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 12m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel rather than drifting through a monotonous interstate grind. With 0% of the route on highways, you will be navigating city streets for the entire 15.5-mile duration. There is no long-distance highway cruising here, as the longest stretch is 0 miles on East Colfax Avenue, meaning you will be making frequent adjustments and turns. The character of the road is defined by its urban, local nature, requiring your full attention as you transition between the specified arterial roads. It is a functional path that emphasizes local connectivity over high-speed travel.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Colfax Avenue is the longest continuous segment at about 5.3 miles.
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. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 22m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (I 70 Business; US 40; US 287 / East Colfax Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.4 miles (North Yosemite Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
I 70 Business; US 40; US 287 / East Colfax Avenue
Turn right onto I 70 Business; US 40; US 287 / East Colfax Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
5.4 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
North Yosemite Street
Turn right onto North Yosemite Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
9.5 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
Vaughn Street
Turn left onto Vaughn Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
9.7 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
North Vaughn Street
Turn left onto North Vaughn Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Colfax Avenue | 5.3 mi | 13m |
| East 6th Avenue | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| North Yosemite Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| East Lowry Boulevard | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| North Vaughn Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Zion Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Vaughn Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
East Colfax Avenue
— 5.3 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Denver, CO and Aurora, CO.
1
Start on this road
379 ft
·
29 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
62 ft
·
8 sec
3
Turn right onto I 70 Business; US 40; US 287
5.3 mi
·
13 min
·
East Colfax Avenue
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn right onto North Yosemite Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
North Yosemite Street
Use the right lane.
5
Enter roundabout onto East Lowry Boulevard
288 ft
·
6 sec
·
East Lowry Boulevard
6
Continue on East Lowry Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
East Lowry Boulevard
7
Continue on East 6th Avenue
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
East 6th Avenue
8
Turn left onto Vaughn Street
257 ft
·
12 sec
·
Vaughn Street
Use the left lane.
9
Turn right onto North Zion Street
509 ft
·
27 sec
·
North Zion Street
10
Turn left onto North Vaughn Street
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
North Vaughn Street
11
Arrive at destination
North Vaughn Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a brief 25-minute trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around local traffic patterns. You will not need to schedule any formal stops along the way, allowing you to head straight to your destination without interruption. Given the nature of this route, keep a close eye on your navigation as you transition between East Colfax Avenue and North Yosemite Street to stay on track. Because the fuel cost is a modest $2, you can easily manage your budget without worrying about multiple fill-ups. Focus on staying alert for city traffic signals, as the turn-heavy layout requires you to remain proactive throughout the drive.
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 4.9 miles from Denver, CO, or about 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 5.3 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 9.9 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 4.9 miles or 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 19m
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 Denver, 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 Denver, CO
This is one driving day of about 9.9 miles and 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Denver, 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.
The longest stretch is on East Colfax Avenue for about 5.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 4.9 mi from Denver, CO · 12m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
5 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 9.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 4.9 miles from Denver, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Aurora, CO
The final approach into Aurora, 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 Aurora, 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
$1.50 one way
$3.00 round trip
$3.85/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.08 | $1.59 | $3.18 |
| premium | $4.43 | $1.73 | $3.46 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $2.20 | $4.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3 | 0 | $1.04 | $0.48 |
| Efficient EV | 2.5 | 0 | $0.87 | $0.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4 | 0 | $1.39 | $0.63 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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.
Destination
Aurora, CO
Evening in Aurora on Sunday
Local time
6:22 PM
MDT
Current temp
66°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
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 Denver, CO to Aurora, CO covers 9.9 miles and takes about 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Colfax Avenue, East 6th Avenue, North Yosemite Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 4.9 miles from Denver, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.50 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.
This is a straightforward 22m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (I 70 Business; US 40; US 287 / East Colfax Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.4 miles (North Yosemite Street): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Denver, CO to Aurora, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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