Aurora, CO Road Trips

Aurora originated in the 1880s as a town called Fletcher, taking its name from Denver businessman Donald Fletcher who founded the town. He and his partners staked out 4 sq mi east of Denver. He left two years later during the silver crash, leaving the community with a huge water debt. Inhabitants decided to rename their township Aurora in 1907. It has been growing ever since then and at one time was the fastest growing city in America. Aurora municipal website.

Aurora has over a dozen historical sites to see ranging from historical farms, buildings and homes. 1 Aurora History Museum, 15051 E Alameda Pkwy, ☏ +1 303 739-6666. 9AM-4PM daily. The Aurora History Museum is a community-based cultural center featuring changing history and decorative arts exhibits with educational programs, tours, workshops and family events offered for all ages throughout the year. Free. (updated Jul 2017) Plains Conservation Center, 21901 E Hampden Ave. An outdoor education area with 1100 acres, it shows the natural wonder of the Prairie. Free. The Morrison Nature Center at Star K Ranch, 16002 E Smith Rd, ☏ +1 303 739-2428. A 200-acre ranch and outdoor learning center. Free.

The Aurora Fox, 9900 E Colfax Ave, ☏ +1 303 739-1970. Professional theatre in the heart of the East End Arts District. Golfing. Aurora has 6 golf courses throughout the city. 1 Aurora Reservoir, 5800 S Powhaton Rd, ☏ +1 303-326-8425. A wide array of activities can be done here like fishing, sailing, non-motorized boating, windsurfing, a seasonal swim beach (Check website to see when open), SCUBA area, archery range, and large group picnic shelters, also has 8 miles of concrete trails around the reservoir. (updated Apr 2025) 2 Cherry Creek State Park, 4201 S Parker Rd (One mile south of I-225 on Parker Rd at Lehigh, adjacent to south Denver), ☏ +1 303 690-1166, [email protected]. 5AM-10PM daily. An 880-acre reservoir that offers a multitude of outdoor activities and unique activities such as horseback riding and a shooting range. You can also do boating, hiking, fishing, camping and biking. A sandy beach with roped-off swimming area and a bathhouse is open Memorial Day-Labor Day. $10/vehicle/day, Dog off-leash pass $3/day. (updated Apr 2025) Quincy Reservoir, 18350 E Quincy Ave, ☏ +1 303 693-5463. 3 Bally's Arapahoe Park Racetrack, 26000 E Quincy Ave (in southeast Aurora next to the Aurora Reservoir. From Denver, take I-25 south to toll road E-470. Exit E-470 on Quincy Ave (Exit 13) and follow the signs to the racetrack), ☏ +1 303 690-2400. Open from Memorial Day through the beginning of August. Live racing is held F-Su with a post time of 1PM. Colorado's only venue for horse racing. Dress code is casual.

Aurora has many typical fast food joints: Wendys, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, McDonalds, Burger King, Taco Bell etc. There's a number of restaurants serving the cheap and filling Vietnamese dish Pho throughout Aurora and the surrounding area. Each restaurant however tends to use different names for the dish. 1 Rosie's Diner, 14061 E Iliff Ave, ☏ +1 303 752-3663. The definition of a classic American diner. (updated Jul 2017) 2 Carrabba's Italian Grill, 2088 S Abilene St (I-225 to Iliff Rd. Go east 1/2 block. Go north on Abilene 1/4 mile. Located on east side of road), ☏ +1 303 338-8600. 4PM-11PM daily. Carrabba's serves fresh, flavorful Italian dishes prepared from the finest ingredients sourced from around the world. (updated Jul 2017) 3 Sushi Katsu, 2222 S Havana St #H, ☏ +1 303 368-8778. This is an all-you-can-eat sushi joint that serves delicious sushi and other Japanese food. Its $26 per person at dinner time and at lunch its half that. (updated Jul 2017) 4 Dating Yumy, 12203 E Iliff Ave #D, ☏ +1 303 755-8518. A good place for wontons and soup dumplings. 5 Seoul Korean BBQ & Sushi, 2080 S Havana St, ☏ +1 303 632-7576. Korean BBQ. (updated Jul 2017)

Las Adelitas Night Club, 11249 E Colfax Ave, ☏ +1 720-501-9262. Helps if you like Spanish music. 1 Stampede, 2430 S Havana St, ☏ +1 303 696-7686. A local country club where you can do line dancing. It's pretty large with a few bars inside. Also has a mesquite grill restaurant you can eat. Its ladies nights are known for drawing a huge crowd. (updated Jul 2017) 2 Sheabeen Irish Pub, 2300 S Chambers Rd #A, ☏ +1 303 696-6131. Has a few pool tables and electronic video games like Deer Hunter, also does karoke on Sundays that is themed. (updated Jul 2017) 3 U Time International Billiards And Sports Bar., 1919 S Havana St, ☏ +1 303 755-7675. Has over a dozen pool tables, also has dart boards and foosball. Also does beer pong tournaments on Thursdays. (updated Jul 2017)

Best Western Gateway Inn & Suites, 800 S Abilene St, ☏ +1 720 748-4800, fax: +1 720 748-9145. Cambria Suites Denver Airport, 16001 E 40th Circle, ☏ +1 303 576-9600, fax: +1 303 889-9702. Denver Airport Marriott at Gateway Park, 16455 E 40th Circle, ☏ +1 303 371-4333, toll-free: +1-888-238-2454, fax: +1 303 371-1134. Doubletree Hotel, 13696 East Iliff Pl, ☏ +1 303 337-2800. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Fairfield Inn, 13851 E Harvard Ave, ☏ +1 303 745-6700, fax: +1 303 745-6777. 1 Hyatt Place Denver Cherry Creek, 4150 East Mississippi Ave, ☏ +1 303 782-9300. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. (updated Mar 2016) Motel 6, 14031 E Iliff Ave, ☏ +1 303 873-0286, fax: +1 303 695-4526.

Renting With Aurora's considerable sprawl, car rentals are the most convenient form of transportation for visitors. Local companies tend to offer better prices, but national chains might be more convenient as far as return policies and hours.Rental companies include most major car rental chains Weather conditions The colder weather months (November–February) often bring snow and ice to area roads. Visitors who park their cars should be prepared in case their car is "snowed in" by snow removal trucks. Also, pay strict attention to parking rules and snow emergencies to avoid being towed away at the car owner's expense. During the winter months, a snow brush, ice scraper, and plenty of windshield washer fluid is essential, and many natives opt to carry a shovel, some sand, and a bag of ice melt/road salt in the trunk just in case. By plane then you are coming from Denver International Airport which isn't too far away. Denver International Airport, (DEN IATA). Commonly referred to as DIA. It is about 20 miles to the east of downtown Denver. Frontier Airlines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines all maintain hubs at the airport in Concourses A, B, and C respectively. Most other major domestic carriers also have service here.

You can get around with local transit via RTD. The new light rail R line runs in a north-south direction and is a useful way of getting around. 1 Aurora Metro Center Station, near the Aurora Mall, is the preferred station for changing between local buses and light rail.

As in any city, use common sense. Simply using caution and avoiding any situation in which you are uncomfortable will keep you out of trouble.