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Trip from Aurora, CO to Pueblo West, CO

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 6m

Distance

109.8 mi

177 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$17

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
1h 58m ★
6 AM
2h 7m
8 AM
2h 25m
10 AM
2h 13m
12 PM
2h 11m
3 PM
2h 14m
5 PM
2h 24m
8 PM
2h 1m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Aurora, CO, CO

Aurora, CO

Wikimedia Commons

census-designated place in Pueblo County, Colorado, United States

Pueblo West, CO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Aurora, CO to Pueblo West, CO is 109.8 miles and takes about 2h 6m via South Valley Highway, Ronald Reagan Highway, and Monument Valley Freeway, 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 route that involves frequent turns and navigating local roads, rather than a long, straight highway cruise. Given its relatively short duration, this trip is ideal for a single-day excursion, offering a straightforward journey between two points in the state.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

54.9 miles from Aurora, CO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South Valley Highway 51.6 mi 54m
Ronald Reagan Highway 22.9 mi 23m
Monument Valley Freeway 8.8 mi 10m
I 225 8.3 mi 9m
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway 8.2 mi 8m
North Purcell Boulevard 6.1 mi 10m
North Mc Culloch Boulevard 1 mi 2m
East Platteville Boulevard 0.6 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 Pueblo West, 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

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

8.2 mi · 8 min · John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Exit 108 Toward Pueblo West, Purcell Boulevard
15

Turn right onto North Purcell Boulevard

6.1 mi · 10 min · North Purcell Boulevard
16

Enter roundabout onto East Platteville Boulevard

19 ft · 0 sec · East Platteville Boulevard
17

Continue on East Platteville Boulevard

0.6 mi · 1 min · East Platteville Boulevard
18

Turn left onto North Mc Culloch Boulevard

1.0 mi · 2 min · North Mc Culloch Boulevard
19

Turn right onto North Matt Drive

0.3 mi · 1 min · North Matt Drive
20

Turn left onto East Abeyta Drive

0.4 mi · 1 min · East Abeyta Drive
21

Arrive at destination

East Abeyta Drive

Trip Plan

Since this is a single-day trip covering just over 100 miles and taking around 2 hours, you have a lot of flexibility in when you depart. Leaving in the morning will give you ample time to reach Pueblo West and still have the afternoon to settle in. While the drive itself is short, plan for a brief stop if needed; the longest stretch is about 51.6 miles, so you won't need to refuel mid-route based on distance alone. Keep an eye on your navigation, as the 'turn-heavy' profile suggests frequent adjustments are necessary.

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 54.9 miles from Aurora, CO, or about 1h 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 24 miles or 27m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 54.9 miles or 1h 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 37m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pueblo West, 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 109.8 miles and 2h 6m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 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.

county seat of Douglas County, Colorado, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Castle Rock, CO

55 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.

Popular next leg

Castle Rock, CO to Pueblo West, CO

82.1 mi · 1h 36m

Pacing Suggestions

Castle Pines, CO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Woodmoor, CO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 54.9 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.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop

La Familia restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Aurora, Colorado

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 9 am–8 pm

+17205243411

Old Town Hot Pot

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Aurora, Colorado

1.8 mi

Los Toritos Mexican Restaurant

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Aurora, Colorado

2.6 mi

La Familia restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Aurora, Colorado

Hours: 9 am–8 pm

+17205243411

Old Town Hot Pot

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour $20 to $30

Aurora, Colorado

Hours: 11:30 am–9:30 pm

+13036580870

Visit website

Los Toritos Mexican Restaurant

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour $20 to $30

Aurora, Colorado

Hours: 9 am–11 pm

+13033666381

Tesla Supercharger

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour

Denver, Colorado

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour

Denver, Colorado

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Loop Charging Station

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour

Denver, Colorado

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18883856671

Visit website

EVgo Charging Station

2.5 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour

Denver, Colorado

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18774943833

Visit website

Costco Wholesale Corporation Charging Station

2.9 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour

Denver, Colorado

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.2 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4.1 mi from route ~10 min detour

Denver, Colorado

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

EVgo Charging Station

2.3 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour

Denver, Colorado

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18774943833

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour

Denver, Colorado

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Larkspur Community Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Early stretch 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Larkspur, Colorado

Hours: 6 am–8 pm

+13036812324

Visit website

Pulpit Rock Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Colorado Springs, Colorado

Hours: 5 am–9 pm

+17193855940

Visit website

Battlefield Colorado

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour

Colorado Springs, Colorado

Hours: Closed

+17192592257

Visit website

Museum of Outdoor Arts

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour

Greenwood Village, Colorado

+13038060444

Visit website

Castle Rock Adventure Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour

Castle Rock, CO

+17207339477

Visit website

Central Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour

Denver, Colorado

Hours: 5 am–11 pm

+17209131311

Visit website

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

Final third 3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour

Colorado Springs, Colorado

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+17196339925

Visit website

Panorama Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

Final third 3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour

Colorado Springs, Colorado

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 101.3 — 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.
6
101.3 mi into trip | ~1h 49m in

Take the exit toward Pueblo West, Purcell Boulevard

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 108 Toward Pueblo West, Purcell Boulevard

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$16.54 one way

$33.09 round trip

$3.83/gal 25.4 MPG avg 38 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.05 $17.52 $35.03
premium $4.39 $18.99 $37.99
diesel $5.61 $24.24 $48.48

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: 38.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 32.9 0 $11.53 $5.27
Efficient EV 27.5 0 $9.61 $4.39
EV Truck/SUV 43.9 0 $15.37 $7.03

Gas CO2

38 kg

EV CO2

13 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

4:35 AM

MDT

Current temp

36°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Pueblo West, CO

Late night in Pueblo West on Tuesday

Local time

4:35 AM

MDT

Current temp

64°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

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

2h 6m 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

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...

24 mi from route ~60 min detour $10 near mile 64.3
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll be making numerous directional changes rather than cruising on a single interstate. While 16% of the journey involves highway driving, the overall feel is more akin to navigating through towns and connecting local routes. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 51.6 miles on South Valley Highway, giving you a significant segment of more consistent driving before the turns pick up again. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience that requires attention to navigation.

Only 16% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 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?

9/10

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 9/10

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 15 significant decision points across 109.8 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.

About the Cities

Starting in Aurora, CO

Full guide →

Founded 1891

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

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 6m. Total distance: 109.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.

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 Pueblo West, 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 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.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Pueblo West, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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