Aurora, CO to Manassa, CO is 256.4 miles and takes about 5h 3m via West 7th Street, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Mountain West region, traversing Colorado for its entirety. You'll primarily be on surface roads, offering a more grounded perspective of the landscape rather than high-speed travel. Given its manageable length, this route is well-suited for a single day of driving, allowing you to reach your destination without an overnight stop.
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
128.2 miles from Aurora, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
West 7th Street
71.4 mi
1h 27m
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
53.4 mi
53m
South Valley Highway
51.6 mi
54m
Ronald Reagan Highway
22.9 mi
23m
US 285
19.6 mi
32m
North Freeway
9.7 mi
11m
Monument Valley Freeway
8.8 mi
10m
I 225
8.3 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
West 7th Street
— 71.4 mi, about 1h 27m
Traffic on I-25
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,880 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~190 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
20.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Aurora, CO and Manassa, 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 SouthUse 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 SpringsUse 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
8.8 mi·10 min·Monument Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 25; US 24
0.2 mi·12 sec·Ronald Reagan Highway
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 25
23 mi·23 min·Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 25
13 mi·12 min·John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 25
2.6 mi·2 min·North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·32 sec
Exit 100BToward 29th Street
16
Merge onto I 25; US 50
1.0 mi·1 min·North Freeway
17
Take the exit
0.1 mi·12 sec
Exit 99BToward 13th StreetUse the slight right lane.
18
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·18 sec·this road
19
Merge onto I 25; US 50 Bus
6.1 mi·7 min·North Freeway
Use the straight lane.
20
Continue on I 25
41 mi·40 min·John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
21
Take the exit onto I 25 Business
2.8 mi·4 min·I 25 Business
Exit 52Toward South I 25 Business, US 160 West: Walsenburg, Alamosa
22
Turn right onto US 160
71 mi·1 hr 27 min·West 7th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Continue on US 160; CO 17
0.3 mi·39 sec·Broadway Avenue
24
Continue on US 160; CO 17
521 ft·18 sec·Denver Avenue
25
Turn right onto Fourth Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Fourth Street
26
Turn left onto West Avenue
1.9 mi·3 min·West Avenue
Use the straight lane.
27
Continue on US 285; CO 17
20 mi·32 min·US 285; CO 17
Use the straight / right lanes.
28
Turn left onto CO 142
2.8 mi·5 min·Main Street
Use the left lane.
29
Turn left onto North 5th Street
130 ft·5 sec·North 5th Street
30
Arrive at destination
North 5th Street
Trip Plan
With a total duration of around 5 hours, this trip is easily completed in one day. Aim to depart Aurora, CO in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for an unhurried pace. The single recommended stop suggests you might not need extensive breaks, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you move away from major urban centers. Since the longest stretch on West 7th Street is over 70 miles, ensure you have sufficient fuel before embarking on that segment. Planning your departure around morning rush hour in Aurora will help you get on your way smoothly.
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 128.2 miles from Aurora, CO, or about 2h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 71.4 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 56 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 128.2 miles or 2h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Manassa, 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 256.4 miles and 5h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Aurora, 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 West 7th Street for about 71.4 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 0.2 and 110 — 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
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
6
70.3 mi into trip|~1h 17m in|I 25 / Ronald Reagan Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 25 / Ronald Reagan Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
110 mi into trip|~1h 58m in
Take the exit toward 13th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 99B
Toward 13th Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.10 one way
$78.19 round trip
$3.87/gal25.4 MPG avg90 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$41.56
$83.12
premium
$4.45
$44.95
$89.90
diesel
$4.80
$48.41
$96.83
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76.9
0
$26.92
$12.31
Efficient EV
64.1
0
$22.44
$10.26
EV Truck/SUV
102.6
1
$35.90
$16.41
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 16, 2026
Origin
Aurora, CO
Late night
in Aurora on Sunday
Local time
12:59 AM
MDT
Current temp
67°F
Clear
S 8 to 17 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Manassa, CO
Late night
in Manassa on Sunday
Local time
12:59 AM
MDT
Current temp
50°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 5 to 10 mph6% chanceLive 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
17 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 3m 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.
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
National Monument
Beneath a grassy mountain valley in central Colorado lies one of the richest and most diverse fossil deposits in the world. Petrified redwood stumps up to 14 feet wide and thousands of detailed fossil...
25 mi from route
~62 min detour
$10
near mile 61.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly surface roads, with highway sections making up only 19% of the total distance. You'll experience a longest stretch of 71.4 miles on West 7th Street before encountering other main roads like John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway and South Valley Highway. Expect more frequent interactions with local traffic and varied speed limits as you transition from any highway portions to the predominantly surface road travel.
Only 19% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 71.4 mi on West 7th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 256.4 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 9.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
8,564 ft4,696 ft
Total Climb
5,223 ft
Total Descent
2,938 ft
Highest Point
8,564 ft
~183.2 mi in
Elevation Range
3,868 ft
Notable High Points
6,634 ft at ~55 miles+47 ft prominence
8,564 ft at ~183.2 miles+294 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Aurora, CO to Manassa, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Alamosa along the way.
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 5h 3m. Total distance: 256.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 71.4 miles on West 7th Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Manassa, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. 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 9.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Manassa, CO before the return drive.
