Spanning 143.8 miles across the Mountain West, your trip from Yuma to Aurora is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 16 minutes. Because this is a relatively short distance, you can easily complete the entire drive in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $22 on fuel for the trek, making it a budget-friendly option for your schedule. You will navigate a mix of West 8th Avenue, Highway 34, and Highway 6 to reach your destination. This route serves as a functional transition between the rural landscape of Yuma and the metropolitan environment of Aurora, offering a practical way to traverse this portion of Colorado.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
71.9 miles from Yuma, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 8m into the drive
.
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."
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that feels quite different from the typical high-speed interstate experience. With a highway share of 0%, you should prepare for a route that prioritizes local roads over major freeways. Behind the wheel, you will encounter a steady rhythm of navigation rather than a monotonous, long-distance grind. The road requires your full attention as you transition between the various highways, keeping the pace consistent throughout the 143.8-mile journey. Since there are no major highway stretches, you will find the drive demands a more active driving style compared to a standard cross-country haul.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West 8th Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Yuma, CO to Aurora, CO is easy. At 2h 16m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Yuma, CO to Aurora, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
West 8th Avenue
—
—
Highway 34
—
—
Highway 6
—
—
E470 Toll South
—
—
E-470
—
—
Denver International Airport
—
—
Peña Boulevard West
—
—
Peña Boulevard
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West 8th Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Yuma, CO and Aurora, CO.
1
Start on South Ash Street
0.3 mi·1 min·South Ash Street
2
Turn right onto West 8th Avenue
28 mi·34 min·West 8th Avenue
3
Continue on US Highway 34
21 mi·24 min·US Highway 34
4
Turn right onto US Highway 6
1.0 mi·1 min·US Highway 6
5
Take the ramp slight right
0.1 mi·19 sec
6
Merge slight left
73 mi·1 hr 13 min
7
Take the exit slight right toward E470 Toll South: Limon
1.0 mi·2 min·E470 Toll South: Limon
8
Merge slight left onto E-470
6.9 mi·6 min·E-470
9
Take the exit slight right toward Denver International Airport, Pena Boulevard
0.2 mi·17 sec·Denver International Airport, Pena Boulevard
10
Keep slight right to continue on Peña Boulevard West
0.7 mi·1 min·Peña Boulevard West
11
Merge slight left onto Peña Boulevard
6.6 mi·8 min·Peña Boulevard
12
Merge slight left onto Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
0.1 mi·8 sec·Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
13
Take the exit slight right toward I 225 South: Aurora, Colorado Springs, Peoria Street
0.4 mi·36 sec·I 225 South: Aurora, Colorado Springs, Peoria Street
14
Keep slight left to continue on I 225 South: Aurora, Colorado Springs
Take the exit slight right toward CO 30: 6th Avenue
0.3 mi·40 sec·CO 30: 6th Avenue
17
Turn right onto East 6th Avenue
0.3 mi·31 sec·East 6th Avenue
18
Turn right onto Vaughn Street
256 ft·13 sec·Vaughn Street
19
Turn right onto North Zion Street
509 ft·28 sec·North Zion Street
20
Turn left onto North Vaughn Street
0.2 mi·43 sec·North Vaughn Street
21
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since this 2-hour and 16-minute trip is quite manageable, you have significant flexibility in your departure time. Aim to hit the road when local traffic is at its lightest to ensure a smooth transition into the Aurora area. Although there are no scheduled stops in the data, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $22 estimate assumes a steady pace. Given the turn-heavy nature of this route, double-check your navigation apps or physical maps before leaving Yuma to stay confident through the various highway transitions. Embracing the lack of major highway stretches allows you to focus on the road ahead without the pressure of managing long, uninterrupted stints.
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 71.9 miles from Yuma, CO, or about 1h 8m into the drive.
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 32 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.9 miles or 1h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Aurora, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
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Open the route before leaving Yuma, 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 Yuma, CO
This is one driving day of about 143.8 miles and 2h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Yuma, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 71.9 mi from Yuma, CO
· 1h 8m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.67 one way
$43.33 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$22.94
$45.88
premium
$4.39
$24.88
$49.75
diesel
$5.61
$31.75
$63.50
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.1
0
$15.10
$6.90
Efficient EV
36
0
$12.58
$5.75
EV Truck/SUV
57.5
0
$20.13
$9.20
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (66% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Yuma, CO
Morning
in Yuma on Saturday
Local time
10:10 AM
MDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Aurora, CO
Morning
in Aurora on Saturday
Local time
10:10 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
36 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
2h 16m 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 Yuma, CO to Aurora, CO covers 143.8 miles and takes about 2h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West 8th Avenue, Highway 34, Highway 6. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 71.9 miles from Yuma, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.67 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.
The drive from Yuma, CO to Aurora, CO is easy. At 2h 16m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Yuma, CO to Aurora, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Yuma, CO to Aurora, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
