Origin
Littleton, CO
Late night in Littleton on Tuesday
Local time
3:08 AM
MDT
Current temp
35°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Littleton, 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
27m
Distance
17.3 mi
28 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 25m
★
6 AM
0h 28m
8 AM
0h 32m
10 AM
0h 29m
12 PM
0h 29m
3 PM
0h 30m
5 PM
0h 32m
8 PM
0h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Littleton, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Aurora, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 17.3-mile drive from Littleton, CO to Aurora, CO is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking only about 27 minutes. The route primarily utilizes I 225 and East/West Belleview Avenue, offering a mixed driving experience. With a projected fuel cost of just $3, this is a very budget-friendly excursion. Since both locations are within the Mountain West region of Colorado, you won't encounter significant geographical shifts. It's a straightforward journey perfect for a quick relocation or a short excursion without needing an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 225 | 8.5 mi | 9m |
| East Belleview Avenue | 4.7 mi | 8m |
| West Belleview Avenue | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| South Santa Fe Drive | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| East 6th Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North Vaughn Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Main Street | 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 Littleton, CO and Aurora, CO.
1
Start on this road
35 ft
·
4 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
157 ft
·
13 sec
3
Turn right onto South Nevada Street
176 ft
·
15 sec
·
South Nevada Street
4
Turn left onto West Main Street
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
West Main Street
5
Take the ramp
380 ft
·
10 sec
Toward US 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto US 85
0.6 mi
·
40 sec
·
South Santa Fe Drive
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward CO 88
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
520 ft
·
14 sec
Toward CO 88
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn straight onto CO 88
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
West Belleview Avenue
10
Continue on CO 88
4.7 mi
·
8 min
·
East Belleview Avenue
Use the left lane.
11
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 25 North
Use the left lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Toward I 225 North: Aurora, Limon
Use the slight right lane.
13
Continue on I 225
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
·
I 225
14
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.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 9
Toward CO 30: 6th Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork
141 ft
·
5 sec
Toward CO 30: Colorado National Guard, Lowry Campus, 6th Avenue
17
Turn left onto CO 30
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
East 6th Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
18
Turn right onto Vaughn Street
257 ft
·
12 sec
·
Vaughn Street
19
Turn right onto North Zion Street
509 ft
·
27 sec
·
North Zion Street
20
Turn left onto North Vaughn Street
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
North Vaughn Street
21
Arrive at destination
North Vaughn Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 7.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward US 85
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 85
8
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Keep slight right at fork toward CO 88
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward CO 88
7
7.1 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Turn left toward I 25 North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 25 North
8
7.4 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 225 North: Aurora, Limon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 225 North: Aurora, Limon
7
7.8 mi into trip
|
~15m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.61 one way
$5.21 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $2.76 | $5.52 |
| premium | $4.39 | $2.99 | $5.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.82 | $7.64 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.82 | $0.83 |
| Efficient EV | 4.3 | 0 | $1.51 | $0.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.9 | 0 | $2.42 | $1.11 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (67% 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
3:08 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
1 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
27m 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 drive that's roughly half highway, with 49% of the journey on interstates like I 225. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 8.5 miles on I 225, allowing for a period of consistent speed. The 'mixed drive' profile suggests you'll transition between faster highway segments and potentially some local road driving, particularly on East and West Belleview Avenue. This variation means you'll need to adjust your speed and awareness as the character of the road changes throughout the 27-minute trip.
49% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 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?
9/10
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 0.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 16 decision points packed into just 17.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 27m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.1 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.
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 Littleton, CO to Aurora, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Limon along the way.
Limon
7.4 mi in
|
~14m
About the Cities
Starting in Littleton, CO
Full guide →Littleton is a city of about 45,000 in the Denver Metropolitan Area of the western U.S. state of Colorado. The seat of Arapahoe County and also extending into adjacent Arapahoe and Douglas counties, the city lies south of Denver along the South Platte River. A former farming community, Littleton is now a residential suburb of Denver.
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 27m. Total distance: 17.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (49%). 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 0.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.1 miles: 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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