The drive from Frederick, CO to Aurora, CO covers 34.7 miles and takes about 46m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, North Valley Highway, Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 13.7 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.23 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 46m. Total distance: 34.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 46m drive with frequent turns across 34.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 13.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.2 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 18 decision points packed into just 34.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 46m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 11.3 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
3.2 mi into trip|~6m in
Turn left toward I 25 South: Denver
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 25 South: Denver
6
11.3 mi into trip|~15m in|I 25 / North Valley Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25 / North Valley Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
20.9 mi into trip|~27m in
Take the exit toward I 270 East: Aurora, Limon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 217B
Toward I 270 East: Aurora, Limon
8
30.6 mi into trip|~40m 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
33.8 mi into trip|~43m 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
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Frederick, CO and Aurora, CO, road signs point toward Limon and Colorado Springs.
Limon
20.9 mi in|~27m
Colorado Springs
30.6 mi in|~40m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
13.7 mi
15m
North Valley Highway
10.2 mi
12m
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
2.5 mi
3m
I 225
2.2 mi
2m
CO 52
2.1 mi
3m
Colorado Boulevard
0.8 mi
1m
5th Street
0.3 mi
1m
East 6th Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 13.7 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Frederick, CO and Aurora, CO.
1
Start on this road
175 ft·14 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Locust Street
168 ft·9 sec·Locust Street
3
Turn right onto 5th Street
0.3 mi·1 min·5th Street
4
Enter roundabout onto Colorado Boulevard
252 ft·10 sec·Colorado Boulevard
5
Continue on Colorado Boulevard
0.5 mi·51 sec·Colorado Boulevard
6
Enter roundabout onto Colorado Boulevard
177 ft·3 sec·Colorado Boulevard
7
Continue on Colorado Boulevard
0.2 mi·17 sec·Colorado Boulevard
8
Turn slight right
293 ft·10 sec
9
Turn straight onto CO 52
2.1 mi·3 min·CO 52
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn left
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward I 25 South: DenverUse the left lane.
11
Merge onto I 25
7.0 mi·7 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 25
0.6 mi·36 sec·North Valley Highway
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
8.8 mi·10 min·North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
0.8 mi·1 min·North Valley Highway
15
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 217BToward I 270 East: Aurora, LimonUse the slight left / straight lanes.
16
Merge onto I 270
6.7 mi·8 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto I 70
2.5 mi·3 min·Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 282Toward I 225 South: Aurora, Colorado SpringsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 225
2.2 mi·2 min·I 225
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 9Toward CO 30: 6th AvenueUse the slight right lane.
21
Turn right onto CO 30
0.3 mi·31 sec·East 6th Avenue
Use the right lane.
22
Turn right onto Vaughn Street
257 ft·12 sec·Vaughn Street
23
Turn right onto North Zion Street
509 ft·27 sec·North Zion Street
24
Turn left onto North Vaughn Street
0.2 mi·43 sec·North Vaughn Street
25
Arrive at destination
North Vaughn Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 17.4 mi from Frederick, CO
· 22m into the drive
The midpoint is around 17.4 miles from Frederick, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Aurora, CO
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Aurora, CO if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.23 one way
$10.46 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg12 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$5.54
$11.07
premium
$4.39
$6.00
$12.01
diesel
$5.61
$7.66
$15.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
10.4
0
$3.64
$1.67
Efficient EV
8.7
0
$3.04
$1.39
EV Truck/SUV
13.9
0
$4.86
$2.22
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Frederick, CO
Evening
in Frederick on Friday
Local time
6:49 PM
MDT
Current temp
42°F
Chance Snow Showers
N 15 mph26% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 17 at 5:39PM MDT until April 17 at 6:00PM MDT by NWS Pueblo CO
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 17 at 2:46PM MDT until April 18 at 8:00AM MDT by NWS Denver CO
Destination
Aurora, CO
Evening
in Aurora on Friday
Local time
6:49 PM
MDT
Current temp
41°F
Chance Snow Showers
N 14 mph37% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 17 at 5:39PM MDT until April 17 at 6:00PM MDT by NWS Pueblo CO
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 17 at 2:46PM MDT until April 18 at 8:00AM MDT by NWS Denver CO
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
1 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
46m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Frederick, CO to Aurora, CO covers 34.7 miles and takes about 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, North Valley Highway, Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 17.4 miles from Frederick, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.23 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 short but busy drive. With 18 decision points packed into just 34.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 46m.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 11.3 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Frederick, CO and Aurora, CO, road signs point toward Limon and Colorado Springs.
