Aurora, CO to Orchard City, CO is 298.5 miles and takes about 5h 50m via Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway, US 50, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Colorado, traversing the Mountain West region from start to finish. Expect a local driving experience with frequent turns, rather than a straightforward interstate cruise. With a drive time under six hours and a single recommended stop, this route is well-suited for a one-day excursion.
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
149.3 miles from Aurora, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
151.8 mi
2h 55m
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
80.8 mi
1h 25m
US 50
20.8 mi
25m
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
13.2 mi
14m
United States Highway 50
11.7 mi
14m
32 Road
5.4 mi
9m
CO 65
5.2 mi
8m
CO 92
3.8 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
— 151.8 mi, about 2h 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Aurora, CO and Orchard City, 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 left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 12AToward I 70 West: DenverUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·46 sec
Toward I 70 West: Denver
11
Merge onto I 70
2.1 mi·2 min·Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
150 mi·2 hr 52 min·Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 70
81 mi·1 hr 25 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on I 70
13 mi·14 min·Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
15
Take the exit onto I 70 BUS
1.6 mi·2 min·I 70 BUS
Exit 37Toward I 70 Business, US 6, US 50: Clifton, Grand Junction, DeltaUse the left lane.
16
Continue on I 70 BUS; US 6
0.2 mi·31 sec·I 70 BUS; US 6
17
Turn left onto CO 141
5.4 mi·9 min·32 Road
Use the left lane.
18
At end of road, turn left onto US 50; CO 141
12 mi·14 min·United States Highway 50
Toward DeltaUse the left lane.
19
Continue on US 50
16 mi·18 min·US 50
20
Continue on US 50
4.7 mi·7 min·US 50
21
Turn left onto CO 92
1.1 mi·2 min·CO 92
Use the left lane.
22
Continue on CO 92
2.7 mi·3 min·CO 92
23
Turn left onto CO 65
5.2 mi·8 min·CO 65
Use the left lane.
24
Turn right onto 2100 Road
396 ft·22 sec·2100 Road
25
Turn left onto Fruitgrowers Road
38 ft·1 sec·Fruitgrowers Road
26
Arrive at destination
Fruitgrowers Road
Trip Plan
Given the drive duration of under six hours, you can comfortably complete this trip in a single day. Consider departing in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for any unexpected delays. Plan for one stop along the way to break up the drive and refuel or grab a snack. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 151.8-mile stretch on Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway, as services might be spaced out.
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 149.3 miles from Aurora, CO, or about 2h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 151.8 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 66 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 149.3 miles or 2h 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Orchard 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 298.5 miles and 5h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 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 Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway for about 151.8 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 257 — 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.
6
1.3 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 225 North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 225 North
8
2.8 mi into trip|~5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 West: Denver
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 12A
Toward I 70 West: Denver
8
249.8 mi into trip|~4h 43m in|I 70 BUS
Take the exit onto I 70 BUS toward I 70 Business, US 6, US 50: Clifton, Grand Junction, Delta
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Exit 37
Toward I 70 Business, US 6, US 50: Clifton, Gra...
7
257 mi into trip|~4h 56m in|US 50; CO 141 / United States Highway 50
At end of road, turn left onto US 50; CO 141 / United States Highway 50 toward Delta
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward Delta
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.97 one way
$89.95 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg104 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$47.62
$95.24
premium
$4.39
$51.64
$103.28
diesel
$5.61
$65.91
$131.81
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 104.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
89.6
1
$31.34
$14.33
Efficient EV
74.6
0
$26.12
$11.94
EV Truck/SUV
119.4
1
$41.79
$19.10
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Aurora, CO
Evening
in Aurora on Saturday
Local time
7:27 PM
MDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Orchard City, CO
Evening
in Orchard City on Saturday
Local time
7:27 PM
MDT
Current temp
76°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
29 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
5h 50m 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.
Colorado National Monument
National Monument
Colorado National Monument preserves one of the grand landscapes of the American West. But this treasure is much more than a monument. Towering monoliths exist within a vast plateau and canyon panoram...
12 mi from route
~31 min detour
$25
near mile 257.3
Big enough to be overwhelming, yet still intimate enough to feel the pulse of time. Come see some of the steepest cliffs, oldest rock, and craggiest spires in North America. Forces of nature and the G...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
$30
near mile 298.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive offers a turn-heavy local feel, with only about 15% of the journey on highways. You'll navigate a mix of roads, including Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway and US 50. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 151.8 miles on Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway. Be prepared for a dynamic route that requires attention to navigation as you transition between different road types.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 151.8 miles.
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 1.2 miles in near East 17th Place.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 298.5 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 1.2 miles (East 17th Place): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles: 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 Orchard City, CO, road signs point toward Grand Junction and Delta.
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."
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 50m. Total distance: 298.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Aurora, CO to Orchard City, CO covers 298.5 miles and takes about 5h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway, Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, US 50. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 149.3 miles from Aurora, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $44.97 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 298.5 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (East 17th Place): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Aurora, CO and Orchard City, CO, road signs point toward Grand Junction and Delta.
