Origin
Idaho Springs, CO
Late night in Idaho Springs on Saturday
Local time
5:46 AM
MDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Idaho Springs, CO to Aurora, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h
Distance
46.2 mi
74 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 55m
★
6 AM
1h 0m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 4m
5 PM
1h 9m
8 PM
0h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Idaho Springs, CO
Chris F
Aurora, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Idaho Springs, CO to Aurora, CO covers 46.2 miles and takes about 1h behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 70 Business, I 70, I 225 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 27.6 miles on I 70 Business. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.96 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 46.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h highway drive covering 46.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 70 Business and I 70. The longest continuous stretch is about 27.6 miles on I 70 Business.
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 Business is the longest continuous segment at about 27.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 Business and I 70. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near I 70 Business.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 46.2 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (I 70 Business): Lane positioning matters here; at 28.8 miles (I 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.2 miles (I 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1.2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 70 Business
Take the ramp onto I 70 Business toward I 70 east: Denver
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 70 east: Denver
7
28.8 mi into trip
|
~36m 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
34.2 mi into trip
|
~43m 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
42.2 mi into trip
|
~53m 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
45.3 mi into trip
|
~57m 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.
On the drive from Idaho Springs, CO to Aurora, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Colorado Springs along the way.
Colorado Springs
42.2 mi in
|
~53m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 70 Business | 27.6 mi | 32m |
| I 70 | 13.3 mi | 17m |
| I 225 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Colorado Boulevard | 1.2 mi | 3m |
| East 6th Avenue | 0.3 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 Business
— 27.6 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Idaho Springs, CO and Aurora, CO.
1
Start on Riverside Drive
3 ft
·
0 sec
·
Riverside Drive
2
Turn right onto I 70 Business
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Colorado Boulevard
3
Enter roundabout onto I 70 Business
134 ft
·
2 sec
·
Colorado Boulevard
4
Continue on I 70 Business
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
Colorado Boulevard
5
Take the ramp onto I 70 Business
28 mi
·
32 min
·
I 70 Business
Toward I 70 east: Denver
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70
5.3 mi
·
7 min
·
I 70
Toward I 70 East: Denver
Use 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 282
Toward I 225 South: Aurora, Colorado Springs
Use 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 9
Toward CO 30: 6th Avenue
Use 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
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23.1 mi from Idaho Springs, CO · 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.1 miles from Idaho Springs, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.96 one way
$13.92 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $7.37 | $14.74 |
| premium | $4.39 | $7.99 | $15.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.20 | $20.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.85 | $2.22 |
| Efficient EV | 11.6 | 0 | $4.04 | $1.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.5 | 0 | $6.47 | $2.96 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Late night in Aurora on Saturday
Local time
5:46 AM
MDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
15 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
1h 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 Idaho Springs, CO to Aurora, CO covers 46.2 miles and takes about 1h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 70 Business, 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 23.1 miles from Idaho Springs, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.96 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 46.2 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (I 70 Business): Lane positioning matters here; at 28.8 miles (I 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.2 miles (I 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Idaho Springs, CO to Aurora, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Colorado Springs along the way.
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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