Aurora, CO to Springfield, CO is 243.5 miles and takes about 4h 42m via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, US 287, and US 40, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Colorado, traversing the Mountain West region. It's a straightforward, single-day journey for those looking to cover ground efficiently. Expect a generally practical driving experience without significant detours. This route is best suited for travelers prioritizing directness over extensive sightseeing.
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
121.7 miles from Aurora, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
74.5 mi
1h 14m
US 287
62.5 mi
1h 13m
US 40
62.3 mi
1h 13m
West 15th Street
29.8 mi
35m
US 50
8 mi
13m
East Colfax Avenue
4.7 mi
7m
North Potomac Street
0.6 mi
1m
I 70 Business
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 74.5 mi, about 1h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Aurora, CO and Springfield, 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
Turn right onto I 70 Business; US 40; US 287
4.7 mi·7 min·East Colfax Avenue
Use the right lane.
6
Turn left onto I 70 Business; US 40; US 287
0.2 mi·26 sec·North Picadilly Road
7
Take the ramp onto I 70 Business; US 40; US 287
0.3 mi·34 sec·I 70 Business; US 40; US 287
Toward I 70 east
8
Merge onto I 70
74 mi·1 hr 14 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Exit 363Toward US 40, US 287: Hugo, Kit CarsonUse the slight right lane.
10
Turn right onto US 40; US 287
62 mi·1 hr 13 min·US 40; US 287
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on US 287; CR 40
18 mi·20 min·US 287; CR 40
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on US 287; CO 96
30 mi·35 min·West 15th Street
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on US 50; US 287
8.0 mi·13 min·US 50; US 287
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 287; US 385
1.6 mi·1 min·US 287; US 385
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Continue on US 287; US 385
43 mi·50 min·US 287; US 385
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn left onto East 6th Avenue
0.1 mi·28 sec·East 6th Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
East 6th Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 42m drive time, starting in the morning allows ample time to reach Springfield, CO, well before evening. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing your breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer 74.5-mile stretch on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, as services can be spaced out. The estimated fuel cost of $37 is a helpful budget point for planning. This is a manageable one-day trip, so you can afford to depart when convenient.
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 121.7 miles from Aurora, CO, or about 2h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 74.5 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 54 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 121.7 miles or 2h 14m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Springfield, 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 243.5 miles and 4h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 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 Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 74.5 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 80.5 — 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
5
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|North Potomac Street
Turn left onto North Potomac Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
0.8 mi into trip|~2m in|I 70 Business; US 40; US 287 / East Colfax Avenue
Turn right onto I 70 Business; US 40; US 287 / East Colfax Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
6 mi into trip|~11m in|I 70 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Merge onto I 70 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
80.5 mi into trip|~1h 25m in
Take the exit toward US 40, US 287: Hugo, Kit Carson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 363
Toward US 40, US 287: Hugo, Kit Carson
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.69 one way
$73.38 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg85 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$38.84
$77.69
premium
$4.39
$42.12
$84.25
diesel
$5.61
$53.76
$107.52
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 85.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
73.1
0
$25.57
$11.69
Efficient EV
60.9
0
$21.31
$9.74
EV Truck/SUV
97.4
1
$34.09
$15.58
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 15, 2026
Origin
Aurora, CO
Late night
in Aurora on Sunday
Local time
1:54 AM
MDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Springfield, CO
Late night
in Springfield on Sunday
Local time
1:54 AM
MDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
78°F
Limon, CO
122 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
38 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
4h 42m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive offers a mixed experience, with 55% of the journey on highways. You'll spend a significant portion on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, including one stretch of 74.5 miles without major interruptions. While the highways provide efficiency, the route also incorporates other US highways, suggesting a transition to potentially less congested, two-lane stretches as you progress. The overall feel is one of steady travel across the landscape, balancing speed with a more grounded road experience.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 74.5 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Toledo Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 42m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Toledo Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (North Potomac Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles (I 70 Business; US 40; US 287 / East Colfax Avenue): 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 Springfield, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Kit Carson 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."
The longest stretch is about 74.5 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Toledo Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (North Potomac Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles (I 70 Business; US 40; US 287 / East Colfax Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Springfield, CO, but most travelers stay overnight.
