Aurora, CO to Paonia, CO is 241.9 miles and takes about 5h 20m via Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway and CO 133, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Colorado, moving from the Mountain West region to another part of the Mountain West. Expect a local driving experience with frequent turns rather than a straightforward interstate cruise. With a recommended one-day drive, you'll have flexibility in your schedule to enjoy the journey.
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
121 miles from Aurora, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
151.8 mi
2h 55m
CO 133
58.1 mi
1h 36m
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
14.3 mi
16m
Glen Avenue
9.8 mi
15m
Midland Avenue
1.6 mi
2m
I 225
1.1 mi
1m
Grand Avenue
1 mi
2m
North Potomac Street
0.6 mi
1m
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 Paonia, 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
14 mi·16 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi·21 sec
Toward CO 82 East: Glenwood Springs, Aspen
15
Continue on CO 82
390 ft·15 sec·Laurel Street
16
Continue on CO 82
0.2 mi·45 sec·Grand Avenue
17
Turn right onto 8th Street
0.4 mi·48 sec·8th Street
18
At end of road, turn left onto Midland Avenue
1.6 mi·2 min·Midland Avenue
19
Enter roundabout onto 27th Street
178 ft·3 sec·27th Street
20
Continue on 27th Street
0.1 mi·12 sec·27th Street
21
Enter roundabout onto 27th Street
84 ft·2 sec·27th Street
22
Continue on 27th Street
0.1 mi·18 sec·27th Street
23
Turn right onto CO 82
9.8 mi·15 min·Glen Avenue
Use the left lane.
24
Turn right onto CO 133
1.1 mi·2 min·CO 133
25
Enter roundabout onto CO 133
110 ft·1 sec·CO 133
26
Continue on CO 133
1.3 mi·2 min·CO 133
27
Continue on CO 133
56 mi·1 hr 31 min·CO 133
Use the left lane.
28
Turn left onto Grand Avenue
0.8 mi·2 min·Grand Avenue
Use the left lane.
29
Turn left onto 3rd Street
0.3 mi·47 sec·3rd Street
30
Turn right onto Orchard Avenue
53 ft·2 sec·Orchard Avenue
31
Arrive at destination
Orchard Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 20m duration, starting your drive in Aurora, CO, in the morning will allow ample time to reach Paonia, CO, within daylight hours. The fuel cost is estimated at $36, so ensure your vehicle is adequately fueled before departing, as the longest stretch without a significant road change is over 150 miles. While this is a single-day trip with only one suggested stop, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition onto CO 133 and the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, to avoid any unexpected delays.
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 121 miles from Aurora, CO, or about 2h 23m 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 53 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 121 miles or 2h 23m 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 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Paonia, 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 241.9 miles and 5h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Toledo Street
Turn right onto Toledo Street
Navigation decision point
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
6
6 mi into trip|~10m in|I 70 / Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70 / Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.45 one way
$72.89 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg85 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$38.59
$77.18
premium
$4.39
$41.85
$83.69
diesel
$5.61
$53.41
$106.82
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72.6
0
$25.40
$11.61
Efficient EV
60.5
0
$21.17
$9.68
EV Truck/SUV
96.8
1
$33.87
$15.48
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
28 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 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
Paonia, CO
Late night
in Paonia on Tuesday
Local time
4:48 AM
MDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
28°F
Avon, CO
121 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
28 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 20m 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.
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park
National Park
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...
21 mi from route
~53 min detour
$30
near mile 241.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features a significant amount of local roads, accounting for 75% of the route. You'll experience a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 151.8 miles on the Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway. Be prepared for a more engaging driving experience that requires attention to navigation and road changes, rather than a simple highway cruise.
Only 25% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 151.8 mi on Tuskegee Airmen Memorial 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 early in the drive near Toledo Street.
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 20 significant decision points across 241.9 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: near the start (Toledo Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (East 17th Place): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles: 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.
On the drive from Aurora, CO to Paonia, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Aspen 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 20m. Total distance: 241.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 151.8 miles on Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 11 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Paonia, 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. There are 11 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Toledo Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (East 17th Place): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Paonia, CO before the return drive.
