Origin
Castlewood, CO
Late night in Castlewood on Tuesday
Local time
3:18 AM
MDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Castlewood, CO to Aurora, CO
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
21m
Distance
14.7 mi
24 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 19m
★
6 AM
0h 21m
8 AM
0h 25m
10 AM
0h 23m
12 PM
0h 22m
3 PM
0h 23m
5 PM
0h 25m
8 PM
0h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Castlewood, CO
Liudmyla Shalimova
Aurora, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 14.7-mile drive from Castlewood to Aurora, Colorado, is easily manageable in just 21 minutes, making it a perfect choice for a quick day trip. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $2, you won't break the bank on this journey. The route primarily utilizes I 225 and local roads like South Valley Highway and East Arapahoe Road, offering a mixed driving experience. As both the origin and destination are within the Mountain West region, you'll experience consistent scenery. This short distance means you can easily plan your departure and arrival times without needing an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 225 | 8.5 mi | 9m |
| South Valley Highway | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| East Arapahoe Road | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| South Quebec Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| East 6th Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North Vaughn Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Fremont Drive | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Zion Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 225
— 8.5 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Castlewood, CO and Aurora, CO.
1
Start on East Fremont Drive
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
East Fremont Drive
2
Turn right onto East Hinsdale Avenue
497 ft
·
24 sec
·
East Hinsdale Avenue
3
At end of road, turn right onto South Quebec Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Quebec Street
4
Turn right onto CR 42
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
East Arapahoe Road
Use the right lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward I 25 North: Denver
6
Merge onto I 25
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
South Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
Exit 200
Toward I 225 North: Aurora, Limon
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 225
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
·
I 225
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 225
8.4 mi
·
9 min
·
I 225
Toward I 225 North: Limon
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 9
Toward CO 30: 6th Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
141 ft
·
5 sec
Toward CO 30: Colorado National Guard, Lowry Campus, 6th Avenue
12
Turn left onto CO 30
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
East 6th Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Turn right onto Vaughn Street
257 ft
·
12 sec
·
Vaughn Street
14
Turn right onto North Zion Street
509 ft
·
27 sec
·
North Zion Street
15
Turn left onto North Vaughn Street
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
North Vaughn Street
16
Arrive at destination
North Vaughn Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 13.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
CR 42 / East Arapahoe Road
Turn right onto CR 42 / East Arapahoe Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
5 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the exit toward I 225 North: Aurora, Limon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 200
Toward I 225 North: Aurora, Limon
7
5.2 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 225
Keep slight left at fork onto I 225 toward I 225 North: Limon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 225 North: Limon
7
13.7 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward CO 30: 6th Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 9
Toward CO 30: 6th Avenue
7
13.9 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CO 30: Colorado National Guard, Lowry Campus, 6th Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward CO 30: Colorado National Guard, Lowry Ca...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.21 one way
$4.43 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $2.35 | $4.69 |
| premium | $4.39 | $2.54 | $5.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.25 | $6.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.4 | 0 | $1.54 | $0.71 |
| Efficient EV | 3.7 | 0 | $1.29 | $0.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.9 | 0 | $2.06 | $0.94 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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.
Destination
Aurora, CO
Late night in Aurora on Tuesday
Local time
3:18 AM
MDT
Current temp
36°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
22 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
21m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed drive on this 14.7-mile route, with 58% of it on highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 8.5 miles along I 225, providing a chance to maintain a steady pace. The transition from the highway to South Valley Highway and East Arapahoe Road will introduce more local traffic and potentially slower speeds as you approach your destination. This blend means you'll experience both faster highway cruising and more typical urban road conditions.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8.5 mi on I 225.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near CR 42 / East Arapahoe Road.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 14.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 21m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (CR 42 / East Arapahoe Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.2 miles (I 225): 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Castlewood, CO and Aurora, CO, road signs point toward Limon and Lowry Campus.
Limon
5 mi in
|
~8m
Lowry Campus
13.9 mi in
|
~18m
About the Cities
Arriving 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 21m. Total distance: 14.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (58%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 8.5 miles on I 225. 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 Aurora, CO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (CR 42 / East Arapahoe Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.2 miles (I 225): 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 Aurora, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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