If you are planning to head from Aurora to Yuma, you are looking at a 142.6-mile journey across the Colorado landscape. Expect to spend about 2 hours and 41 minutes behind the wheel for this trip. Because it is a manageable distance, you can easily complete the drive in one day without needing an overnight stay. Budgeting around $22 for fuel will cover your transit across these Mountain West locations. While this route avoids major interstates, it offers a straightforward path for those looking to traverse the region. It serves as a practical, direct connection between the two cities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
71.3 miles from Aurora, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Heartland Expressway
72.6 mi
1h 12m
West 1st Street
27.7 mi
34m
US Highway 34
21.2 mi
24m
Peña Boulevard
6.5 mi
7m
E-470
6.4 mi
6m
I 225
1.1 mi
1m
US Highway 6
0.8 mi
1m
North Potomac Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Heartland Expressway
— 72.6 mi, about 1h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Aurora, CO and Yuma, 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 right at fork
0.7 mi·57 sec
Exit 12BToward I 70 East: LimonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 70
0.6 mi·45 sec·Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto Peña Boulevard
6.5 mi·7 min·Peña Boulevard
Exit 284Toward Denver International AirportUse the straight / right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·13 sec
Exit 6Toward E470 Toll: Fort CollinsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·53 sec
Exit 6BToward E470 Toll North: Fort CollinsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 6BToward E470 Toll NorthUse the straight / right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·56 sec
16
Merge onto E470
6.4 mi·6 min·E-470
Use the slight right lane.
17
Take the exit
1.1 mi·1 min
Exit 35Toward I 76 East: Fort MorganUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto I 76
73 mi·1 hr 12 min·Heartland Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit onto US 6
0.2 mi·23 sec·US 6
Toward US 34, US 6: Akron, Yuma, Wray
20
Turn right onto I 76 Business; US 34 Spur
0.8 mi·1 min·US Highway 6
Use the left lane.
21
At end of road, turn left onto US 34
21 mi·24 min·US Highway 34
Use the left lane.
22
Continue on US 34
28 mi·34 min·West 1st Street
23
Turn left onto South Ash Street
0.3 mi·59 sec·South Ash Street
24
Arrive at destination
South Ash Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a turn-heavy route, give yourself plenty of time to navigate local intersections safely. Plan for at least one stop during the 2-hour and 41-minute drive to stretch your legs and refresh, as the constant turning can be more mentally taxing than a straight highway shot. Because you aren't utilizing major interstates, keep an eye on your fuel levels before you depart Aurora, as finding service stations may be less convenient once you leave the suburban grid. Aim to leave during daylight hours to ensure you have maximum visibility for the numerous turns along the way. Flexibility is your best asset here, so don't feel rushed to reach Yuma in a single push if you need extra breaks.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 71.3 miles from Aurora, CO, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.6 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 31 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.3 miles or 1h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Yuma, 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 142.6 miles and 2h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 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 Heartland Expressway for about 72.6 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 11.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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.
8
2.8 mi into trip|~5m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 70 East: Limon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 12B
Toward I 70 East: Limon
8
4.1 mi into trip|~7m in|Peña Boulevard
Keep slight right at fork onto Peña Boulevard toward Denver International Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 284
Toward Denver International Airport
8
10.7 mi into trip|~15m in
Keep slight left at fork toward E470 Toll North: Fort Collins
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 6B
Toward E470 Toll North: Fort Collins
8
11.3 mi into trip|~16m in
Keep slight right at fork toward E470 Toll North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 6B
Toward E470 Toll North
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.49 one way
$42.97 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$22.75
$45.50
premium
$4.39
$24.67
$49.34
diesel
$5.61
$31.48
$62.97
Estimated Tolls: $0.77
E-470
(6.4 mi)$0.77
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.8
0
$14.97
$6.84
Efficient EV
35.7
0
$12.48
$5.70
EV Truck/SUV
57
0
$19.96
$9.13
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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 18, 2026
Origin
Aurora, CO
Late night
in Aurora on Sunday
Local time
1:48 AM
MDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Yuma, CO
Late night
in Yuma on Sunday
Local time
1:48 AM
MDT
Current temp
58°F
Sunny
NW 15 to 20 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 18 at 9:19AM MDT until April 18 at 7:00PM MDT by NWS Goodland KS
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued April 18 at 7:53AM MDT until April 19 at 8:00AM MDT by NWS Pueblo CO
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
11 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 41m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 trip is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive, favoring surface streets over high-speed transit. You will navigate via Toledo Street, East 10th Avenue, and North Potomac Street rather than relying on heavy highway infrastructure. With a 0% highway share, the experience is strictly local, requiring your full attention on navigating turns rather than cruising at interstate speeds. You should anticipate a consistent, winding pace that differs significantly from a typical highway commute. The road's personality remains steady and focused on local navigation throughout the duration of the 142.6-mile trek.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 72.6 mi on Heartland Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Heartland Expressway and West 1st Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near East 17th Place.
Driving Effort10/10
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 19 significant decision points across 142.6 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 1.2 miles (East 17th Place): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (Peña Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Between Aurora, CO and Yuma, CO, road signs point toward E470 Toll: Fort Collins, E470 Toll North: Fort Collins, E470 Toll North and Wray.
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 2h 41m. Total distance: 142.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (67%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 72.6 miles on Heartland Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.77 in tolls one way, starting with E-470. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 Yuma, 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: at 1.2 miles (East 17th Place): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (Peña Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Yuma, CO before heading back.
