CDOT Rest Area: Bair Ranch
0 mi from route
Trip from Aurora, CO to Snowmass Village, CO
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 27m
Distance
210.5 mi
339 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 14m
★
6 AM
4h 27m
8 AM
4h 54m
10 AM
4h 37m
12 PM
4h 34m
3 PM
4h 38m
5 PM
4h 53m
8 PM
4h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Aurora, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Snowmass Village, CO
Chris F
Trip Overview
Aurora, CO to Snowmass Village, CO is 210.5 miles and takes about 4h 27m via Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $34 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 drive primarily on surface roads after leaving the main highway. It's a manageable one-day trip, so you have flexibility in your departure time.
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
105.2 miles from Aurora, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 5m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway | 151.8 mi | 2h 55m |
| Glen Avenue | 24.6 mi | 40m |
| Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway | 14.3 mi | 16m |
| CO 82 | 8.7 mi | 14m |
| Brush Creek Road | 4.2 mi | 7m |
| Midland Avenue | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| I 225 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| North Potomac Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
— 151.8 mi, about 2h 55m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,757 veh/hr typical · worst 3,477
Quietest
2 AM
~218 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
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 Snowmass Village, 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 North
Use 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 12A
Toward I 70 West: Denver
Use 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
25 mi
·
40 min
·
Glen Avenue
Use the left lane.
24
Continue on CO 82
8.1 mi
·
13 min
·
CO 82
Use the straight lane.
25
Continue on CO 82
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
CO 82
Use the straight lane.
26
Turn right onto CR 10
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Brush Creek Road
27
Enter roundabout onto Brush Creek Road
105 ft
·
2 sec
·
Brush Creek Road
28
Continue on Brush Creek Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Brush Creek Road
29
Turn left onto Owl Creek Road
473 ft
·
11 sec
·
Owl Creek Road
30
Arrive at destination
Owl Creek Road
Trip Plan
Since this drive is under five hours, you can easily complete it in a single day. Leaving Aurora in the morning will give you ample time to reach Snowmass Village with daylight to spare. While there's only one recommended stop, consider breaking up the 151.8-mile stretch on the Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway for a quick stretch if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $34, and plan your refueling accordingly, especially before heading onto the longer surface road sections.
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 105.2 miles from Aurora, CO, or about 2h 5m 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 46 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.2 miles or 2h 5m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Snowmass Village, 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 210.5 miles and 4h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
105 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 46 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 105.2 miles from Aurora, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 151.8 miles.
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.
CDOT Rest Area: Edwards
0 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
CDOT Rest Area: No Name
0.1 mi from route
Grizzly Creek
0.1 mi from route
CDOT Rest Area: Hanging Lake
0.1 mi from route
CDOT Rest Area: Vail Pass
0.1 mi from route
Edwards Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Sapp Brothers Travel Center
0.4 mi from route
TA
0.9 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
1.8 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 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
$36.05 one way
$72.10 round trip
$4.35/gal
25.4 MPG avg
74 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.59 | $38.04 | $76.08 |
| premium | $4.93 | $40.87 | $81.73 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $44.34 | $88.68 |
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: 73.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 63.2 | 0 | $22.10 | $10.10 |
| Efficient EV | 52.6 | 0 | $18.42 | $8.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 84.2 | 1 | $29.47 | $13.47 |
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 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.
Origin
Aurora, CO
Afternoon in Aurora on Wednesday
Local time
1:06 PM
MDT
Current temp
56°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSE 6 to 10 mph
28% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Snowmass Village, CO
Afternoon in Snowmass Village on Wednesday
Local time
1:06 PM
MDT
Current temp
47°F
Partly Cloudy
SW 5 mph
3% chance
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
9 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
4h 27m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route features a highway share of 5%, meaning most of your time will be spent on surface roads. You'll experience a 151.8-mile stretch on the Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway, which is the longest continuous segment. After this highway portion concludes, you'll transition to surface roads for the remainder of the drive. Be prepared for potentially more frequent intersections and varied speed limits as you move off the main highway.
Only 5% 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: 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 Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 210.5 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: 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.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
10,184 ft
5,360 ft
Total Climb
7,134 ft
Total Descent
4,344 ft
Highest Point
10,184 ft
~75.2 mi in
Elevation Range
4,824 ft
Notable High Points
10,184 ft at ~75.2 miles
+503 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Snowmass Village, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Aspen along the way.
Aspen
170.1 mi in
|
~3h 19m
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
Arriving in Snowmass Village, CO
Full guide →Founded 1910
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 4h 27m. Total distance: 210.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
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.
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 Snowmass Village, 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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Snowmass Village, CO, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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