If you are planning a trip from Aurora to Brush, you are looking at a straightforward 91.3-mile journey across Colorado's Mountain West. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 39 minutes on the road, making this an ideal candidate for a single-day excursion. You will primarily utilize Peña Boulevard, E-470, and the Heartland Expressway to reach your destination. With fuel costs estimated at $14, it is a budget-friendly route that does not require an overnight stay. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick change of scenery, this highway-focused drive offers a direct path between the two cities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.7 miles from Aurora, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Heartland Expressway
70.6 mi
1h 10m
Peña Boulevard
6.5 mi
7m
E-470
6.4 mi
6m
I 225
1.1 mi
1m
North Potomac Street
0.6 mi
1m
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
0.6 mi
<1m
Colorado Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
North Fitzsimons Parkway
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Heartland Expressway
— 70.6 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Aurora, CO and Brush, CO.
1
Start on North Vaughn Street
80 ft·5 sec·North Vaughn Street
2
Turn right onto Toledo Street
0.2 mi·49 sec·Toledo Street
3
Turn slight right onto East 10th Avenue
257 ft·16 sec·East 10th Avenue
4
Turn left onto North Potomac Street
0.6 mi·1 min·North Potomac Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on North Fitzsimons Parkway
0.3 mi·40 sec·North Fitzsimons Parkway
Use the left lane.
6
Turn right onto East 17th Place
0.2 mi·29 sec·East 17th Place
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward I 225 NorthUse the left lane.
8
Merge onto I 225
1.1 mi·1 min·I 225
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·57 sec
Exit 12BToward I 70 East: LimonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 70
0.6 mi·45 sec·Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto Peña Boulevard
6.5 mi·7 min·Peña Boulevard
Exit 284Toward Denver International AirportUse the straight / right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·13 sec
Exit 6Toward E470 Toll: Fort CollinsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·53 sec
Exit 6BToward E470 Toll North: Fort CollinsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 6BToward E470 Toll NorthUse the straight / right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·56 sec
16
Merge onto E470
6.4 mi·6 min·E-470
Use the slight right lane.
17
Take the exit
1.1 mi·1 min
Exit 35Toward I 76 East: Fort MorganUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto I 76
71 mi·1 hr 10 min·Heartland Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward CO 71: Brush, Snyder
20
Turn right onto CO 71
0.5 mi·1 min·Colorado Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Turn right onto Howard Street
398 ft·15 sec·Howard Street
22
Turn left onto Clayton Street
0.1 mi·15 sec·Clayton Street
23
Arrive at destination
Clayton Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure schedule to avoid peak local traffic. You do not need to worry about planning formal stops, as the 1-hour and 39-minute duration is easily manageable in a single stint. Before you head out, ensure your tank is ready for the Heartland Expressway portion, which makes up the bulk of your 91.3-mile journey. Keep in mind that as you move through the Mountain West, the landscape opens up, so keep your eyes on the road during the long 70.6-mile stretch. Using E-470 as your primary artery out of the metro area will help you maintain a steady flow until you reach the open highway.
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 45.7 miles from Aurora, CO, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.6 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 20 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.7 miles or 52m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brush, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Aurora, CO so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Aurora, CO
This is one driving day of about 91.3 miles and 1h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Aurora, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Heartland Expressway for about 70.6 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 11.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
1.2 mi into trip|~3m in|East 17th Place
Turn right onto East 17th Place
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
2.8 mi into trip|~5m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 70 East: Limon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 12B
Toward I 70 East: Limon
8
4.1 mi into trip|~7m in|Peña Boulevard
Keep slight right at fork onto Peña Boulevard toward Denver International Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 284
Toward Denver International Airport
8
10.7 mi into trip|~15m in
Keep slight left at fork toward E470 Toll North: Fort Collins
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 6B
Toward E470 Toll North: Fort Collins
8
11.3 mi into trip|~16m in
Keep slight right at fork toward E470 Toll North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 6B
Toward E470 Toll North
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.76 one way
$27.51 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$14.56
$29.13
premium
$4.39
$15.79
$31.59
diesel
$5.61
$20.16
$40.32
Estimated Tolls: $0.77
E-470
(6.4 mi)$0.77
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.4
0
$9.59
$4.38
Efficient EV
22.8
0
$7.99
$3.65
EV Truck/SUV
36.5
0
$12.78
$5.84
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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 19, 2026
Origin
Aurora, CO
Late night
in Aurora on Tuesday
Local time
4:48 AM
MDT
Current temp
36°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Brush, CO
Late night
in Brush on Tuesday
Local time
4:48 AM
MDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
33°F
Brighton, CO
46 mi in
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
23 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 39m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is defined by its efficiency, with 79% of the trip consisting of highway driving. You will spend a significant portion of your time on the Heartland Expressway, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 70.6 miles. Because the road is heavily highway-focused, you can expect a consistent pace throughout the drive. The transition from the suburban feel of Aurora onto the open stretches of the Heartland Expressway changes the character of the trip from local commuting to sustained cruising. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that prioritizes speed and directness over technical or winding roads.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70.6 mi on Heartland Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Heartland Expressway and Peña Boulevard. 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 East 17th Place.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 91.3 miles you will encounter 19 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 (East 17th Place): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (Peña Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Aurora, CO and Brush, CO, road signs point toward E470 Toll: Fort Collins, E470 Toll North: Fort Collins and E470 Toll North.
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."
Top landmarks
•DeLaney Barn
•Blanche A. Wilson House — house
•Plains Conservation Center — park in Colorado, United States of America
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 39m. Total distance: 91.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 70.6 miles on Heartland Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.77 in tolls one way, starting with E-470. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Brush, CO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (East 17th Place): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (Peña Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Brush, CO before heading back.
