The drive from Orchard City, CO to Aurora, CO covers 298.7 miles and takes about 5h 51m 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, US 50, I 70 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 234.5 miles on I 70 BUS.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $45.00 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
149.4 miles from Orchard City, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70 BUS
234.5 mi
4h 24m
US 50
32.4 mi
40m
I 70
13.3 mi
17m
32 Road
5.4 mi
9m
CO 65
5.2 mi
8m
CO 92
3.8 mi
5m
I 225
2.2 mi
2m
East 6th Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70 BUS
— 234.5 mi, about 4h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Orchard City, CO and Aurora, CO.
1
Start on Fruitgrowers Road
38 ft·3 sec·Fruitgrowers Road
2
Turn right onto 2100 Road
396 ft·23 sec·2100 Road
3
Turn left onto CO 65
5.2 mi·8 min·CO 65
4
Turn right onto CO 92
2.7 mi·3 min·CO 92
5
Continue on CO 92
1.1 mi·2 min·CO 92
6
Turn right onto US 50
4.7 mi·6 min·US 50
7
Continue on US 50
16 mi·18 min·US 50
8
Continue on US 50
12 mi·14 min·US 50
9
Continue on CO 141
5.4 mi·9 min·32 Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Turn right onto I 70 BUS; US 6
0.3 mi·34 sec·I 70 BUS; US 6
11
Continue on I 70 BUS; US 6
0.8 mi·1 min·I 70 BUS; US 6
12
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.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70
5.3 mi·7 min·I 70
Toward I 70 East: DenverUse the right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70
8.0 mi·10 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 282Toward I 225 South: Aurora, Colorado SpringsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 225
2.2 mi·2 min·I 225
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 9Toward CO 30: 6th AvenueUse the slight right lane.
18
Turn right onto CO 30
0.3 mi·31 sec·East 6th Avenue
Use the right lane.
19
Turn right onto Vaughn Street
257 ft·12 sec·Vaughn Street
20
Turn right onto North Zion Street
509 ft·27 sec·North Zion Street
21
Turn left onto North Vaughn Street
0.2 mi·43 sec·North Vaughn Street
22
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 149.4 miles from Orchard City, CO, or about 2h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 234.5 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 66 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 149.4 miles or 2h 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 46m
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 Orchard City, 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 Orchard City, CO
This is one driving day of about 298.7 miles and 5h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 miles from Orchard City, 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 234.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 48 and 297.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
48 mi into trip|~1h 5m 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
281.3 mi into trip|~5h 27m 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
286.6 mi into trip|~5h 34m 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
294.6 mi into trip|~5h 45m 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
297.8 mi into trip|~5h 49m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.00 one way
$90.01 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg105 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$47.65
$95.30
premium
$4.39
$51.67
$103.35
diesel
$5.61
$65.95
$131.90
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 104.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
24 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Grub & Scrub - Tesla Supercharger
Parachute, CO
Tesla
12 DCFC
Sonic Drive-In - Tesla Supercharger
Rifle, CO
Tesla
12 DCFC
Shopping Center - Tesla Supercharger
Gypsum, CO
Tesla
8 DCFC
Residence Inn Glenwood Springs - Tesla Supercharger
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
89.6
1
$31.36
$14.34
Efficient EV
74.7
0
$26.14
$11.95
EV Truck/SUV
119.5
1
$41.82
$19.12
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Orchard City, CO
Afternoon
in Orchard City on Saturday
Local time
12:04 PM
MDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Aurora, CO
Afternoon
in Aurora on Saturday
Local time
12:04 PM
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
29 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
5h 51m 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.
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...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
$25
near mile 41.2
Big enough to be overwhelming, yet still intimate enough to feel the pulse of time. Come see some of the steepest cliffs, oldest rock, and craggiest spires in North America. Forces of nature and the G...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a 5h 51m highway drive covering 298.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 70 BUS and US 50. The longest continuous stretch is about 234.5 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 22 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 234.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 BUS and US 50. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 48 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 12 significant decision points across 298.7 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 48 miles (I 70 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 281.3 miles (I 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 286.6 miles (I 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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."
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 51m. Total distance: 298.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Orchard City, CO to Aurora, CO covers 298.7 miles and takes about 5h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 70 BUS, US 50, I 70. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 149.4 miles from Orchard City, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $45.00 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 12 significant decision points across 298.7 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 48 miles (I 70 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 281.3 miles (I 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 286.6 miles (I 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Orchard City, CO to Aurora, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
