Spanning 290.4 miles, this trek from Aurora to Rangely takes you across the diverse terrain of the Mountain West. You should anticipate a travel time of approximately 6 hours and 20 minutes, making this a substantial journey that fits into a single day if you start early. Since this route avoids major interstates entirely, you will rely on local roads like Toledo Street, East 10th Avenue, and North Potomac Street to navigate your way west. Budget about $44 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Because it is a turn-heavy local drive, it is best suited for travelers who prefer backroads over the monotony of high-speed transit.
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
145.2 miles from Aurora, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
151.8 mi
2h 55m
CO 64
55 mi
1h 28m
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
40.3 mi
43m
Government Road
37.1 mi
59m
Whiteriver Avenue
1.5 mi
3m
I 225
1.1 mi
1m
North Potomac Street
0.6 mi
1m
CO 13
0.3 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 Rangely, 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
40 mi·43 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward CO 13 North: Rifle, Meeker
15
Turn right onto CO 13
0.3 mi·35 sec·CO 13
16
Turn slight right onto Whiteriver Avenue
1.5 mi·3 min·Whiteriver Avenue
17
Turn right onto CO 13
0.3 mi·26 sec·Railroad Avenue
18
Continue on CO 13
37 mi·59 min·Government Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Turn left onto CO 64
55 mi·1 hr 28 min·CO 64
Use the left lane.
20
Arrive at destination
CO 64
Trip Plan
Plan for a single, well-timed stop to break up the 6-hour and 20-minute drive, which helps manage the fatigue that can set in on technical local roads. Because the route relies on local streets rather than highways, verify your navigation before departing to ensure you stay on track through the turn-heavy sections. Leaving early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid mid-day traffic and ensure you arrive in Rangely with plenty of daylight to spare. Keep your $44 fuel budget in mind when planning your stop, as refueling opportunities on local backroads can be less frequent than on major interstates. Flexibility is your greatest asset here, so take advantage of the slower pace to enjoy the regional transition.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 145.2 miles from Aurora, CO, or about 2h 51m 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 64 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 145.2 miles or 2h 51m 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 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rangely, 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 290.4 miles and 6h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 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 13
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
$43.75 one way
$87.51 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg102 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$46.33
$92.65
premium
$4.39
$50.24
$100.47
diesel
$5.61
$64.12
$128.23
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
87.1
1
$30.49
$13.94
Efficient EV
72.6
0
$25.41
$11.62
EV Truck/SUV
116.2
1
$40.66
$18.59
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (67% 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
7:23 PM
MDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Rangely, CO
Evening
in Rangely on Saturday
Local time
7:23 PM
MDT
Current temp
74°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
27 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
6h 20m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a hands-on driving experience as this route consists of 0% highway travel, placing you firmly on local roads for the entire 290.4-mile duration. The personality of this trip is defined by its turn-heavy nature, requiring your full attention as you navigate through various local segments. You will not find long, uninterrupted stretches of straight pavement here; instead, the road demands a steady pace and constant engagement behind the wheel. The transition from the urban atmosphere of Aurora into the heart of the Mountain West creates a unique, localized feel that stays consistent from start to finish.
Only 20% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 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 13 significant decision points across 290.4 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: 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 Rangely, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Meeker 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."
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 20m. Total distance: 290.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 20m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
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.
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 Rangely, 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: 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.3 hours each way, a round trip means 12.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Rangely, CO before the return drive.
