Origin
Aurora, CO
Late night in Aurora on Sunday
Local time
2:00 AM
MDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Aurora, CO to Cañon City, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 22m
Distance
113.7 mi
183 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 12m
★
6 AM
2h 22m
8 AM
2h 42m
10 AM
2h 29m
12 PM
2h 27m
3 PM
2h 30m
5 PM
2h 41m
8 PM
2h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Aurora, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Cañon City, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Aurora, CO to Cañon City, CO is 113.7 miles and takes about 2h 22m via South Valley Highway, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Mountain West region, specifically within Colorado. Expect a local driving experience with frequent turns, rather than a straight shot on an interstate. Given the relatively short distance and duration, this is a perfect single-day trip, offering flexibility in your departure time and allowing for plenty of exploration upon arrival in Cañon City.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
56.8 miles from Aurora, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Valley Highway | 51.6 mi | 54m |
| South Nevada Avenue | 30.6 mi | 40m |
| 3rd Street | 9.5 mi | 16m |
| I 225 | 8.3 mi | 9m |
| Monument Valley Freeway | 7.8 mi | 9m |
| Royal Gorge Boulevard | 3.7 mi | 7m |
| East 6th Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Vaughn Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
South Valley Highway
— 51.6 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Aurora, CO and Cañon City, CO.
1
Start on North Vaughn Street
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
North Vaughn Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto North Zion Street
509 ft
·
26 sec
·
North Zion Street
3
Turn left onto Vaughn Street
257 ft
·
18 sec
·
Vaughn Street
4
Turn left onto CO 30
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
East 6th Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 225 South
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 225
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
I 225
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 25 South: Colorado Springs
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
9
Merge onto I 25
52 mi
·
54 min
·
South Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 25
7.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Monument Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 140
Toward CO 115 South: Tejon Street, Nevada Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto CO 115
31 mi
·
40 min
·
South Nevada Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn right onto CR 123
9.5 mi
·
16 min
·
3rd Street
Use the right lane.
14
At end of road, turn left onto Mackenzie Avenue
126 ft
·
7 sec
·
Mackenzie Avenue
15
Turn right onto US 50
3.7 mi
·
7 min
·
Royal Gorge Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn right onto South 4th Street
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
South 4th Street
17
Turn right onto Macon Avenue
90 ft
·
4 sec
·
Macon Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
Macon Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a straightforward, single-day trip of just over 2 hours, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure. Leaving Aurora in the morning will get you to Cañon City with ample daylight to spare. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is around $17, and while there are no mandatory stops indicated, plan for a quick break if needed. The route's 'turn-heavy' nature means paying close attention to GPS or road signs is crucial; don't hesitate to pull over briefly if you miss a turn to reorient yourself rather than making a hasty maneuver.
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 56.8 miles from Aurora, CO, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51.6 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 25 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.8 miles or 1h 2m 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 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cañon City, 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.
+
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 Aurora, CO
This is one driving day of about 113.7 miles and 2h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Aurora, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on South Valley Highway for about 51.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
57 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 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 56.8 miles from Aurora, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 69.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Zion Street
At end of road, turn right onto North Zion Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 225 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 225 South
5
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 225
Merge onto I 225
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
9.2 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 25 South: Colorado Springs
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 25 South: Colorado Springs
8
69.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
Take the exit toward CO 115 South: Tejon Street, Nevada Avenue
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 140
Toward CO 115 South: Tejon Street, Nevada Avenu...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.13 one way
$34.26 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
40 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $18.14 | $36.28 |
| premium | $4.39 | $19.67 | $39.34 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.10 | $50.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34.1 | 0 | $11.94 | $5.46 |
| Efficient EV | 28.4 | 0 | $9.95 | $4.55 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 45.5 | 0 | $15.92 | $7.28 |
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% 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
Cañon City, CO
Late night in Cañon City on Sunday
Local time
2:00 AM
MDT
Current temp
78°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
31 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
2h 22m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive, with only 14% of the journey on highways. You'll navigate through local roads, including South Valley Highway, South Nevada Avenue, and 3rd Street, which means you'll be making frequent adjustments to your direction. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 51.6 miles on South Valley Highway. Be prepared for a driving experience that requires consistent attention to navigation, as it's less about cruising and more about actively managing your path through local thoroughfares.
Only 14% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 51.6 mi on South Valley Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near North Zion Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 113.7 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 0.2 miles (North Zion Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles (I 225): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Aurora, CO
Full guide →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."
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 22m. Total distance: 113.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 51.6 miles on South Valley Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Cañon City, CO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (North Zion Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles (I 225): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Cañon City, CO before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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