Spanning 143.8 miles across the Mountain West, your trip from Yuma to Aurora is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 16 minutes. Because this is a relatively short distance, you can easily complete the entire drive in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $22 on fuel for the trek, making it a budget-friendly option for your schedule. You will navigate a mix of West 8th Avenue, Highway 34, and Highway 6 to reach your destination. This route serves as a functional transition between the rural landscape of Yuma and the metropolitan environment of Aurora, offering a practical way to traverse this portion of Colorado.
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
71.9 miles from Yuma, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 76
73.2 mi
1h 13m
West 8th Avenue
27.7 mi
34m
US Highway 34
21.2 mi
24m
E-470
6.9 mi
6m
Peña Boulevard
6.6 mi
8m
I 225
2.2 mi
2m
US Highway 6
1 mi
1m
East 6th Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 76
— 73.2 mi, about 1h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Yuma, CO and Aurora, CO.
1
Start on South Ash Street
0.3 mi·1 min·South Ash Street
2
Turn right onto US 34
28 mi·34 min·West 8th Avenue
3
Continue on US 34
21 mi·24 min·US Highway 34
4
Turn right onto I 76 Business; US 34 Spur
1.0 mi·1 min·US Highway 6
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·18 sec
6
Merge onto I 76
73 mi·1 hr 13 min·I 76
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
1.0 mi·2 min
Exit 18Toward E470 Toll South: LimonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto E470
6.9 mi·6 min·E-470
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·17 sec
Exit 28Toward Denver International Airport, Pena BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 28BToward Peña Boulevard WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto Peña Boulevard
6.6 mi·8 min·Peña Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 70
0.1 mi·8 sec·Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·35 sec
Exit 282Toward I 225 South: Aurora, Colorado Springs, Peoria StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
1.3 mi·2 min
Exit 282Toward I 225 South: Aurora, Colorado Springs
15
Continue on I 225
2.2 mi·2 min·I 225
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 9Toward CO 30: 6th AvenueUse the slight right lane.
17
Turn right onto CO 30
0.3 mi·31 sec·East 6th Avenue
Use the right lane.
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
Trip Plan
Since this 2-hour and 16-minute trip is quite manageable, you have significant flexibility in your departure time. Aim to hit the road when local traffic is at its lightest to ensure a smooth transition into the Aurora area. Although there are no scheduled stops in the data, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $22 estimate assumes a steady pace. Given the turn-heavy nature of this route, double-check your navigation apps or physical maps before leaving Yuma to stay confident through the various highway transitions. Embracing the lack of major highway stretches allows you to focus on the road ahead without the pressure of managing long, uninterrupted stints.
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 71.9 miles from Yuma, CO, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.2 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 32 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.9 miles or 1h 23m 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 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Aurora, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Yuma, 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 Yuma, CO
This is one driving day of about 143.9 miles and 2h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Yuma, 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 I 76 for about 73.2 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 123.6 and 139.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
123.6 mi into trip|~2h 15m in
Take the exit toward E470 Toll South: Limon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 18
Toward E470 Toll South: Limon
8
131.5 mi into trip|~2h 24m in
Take the exit toward Denver International Airport, Pena Boulevard
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 28
Toward Denver International Airport, Pena Boule...
8
131.7 mi into trip|~2h 24m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Peña Boulevard West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 28B
Toward Peña Boulevard West
8
139.1 mi into trip|~2h 33m in
Take the exit toward I 225 South: Aurora, Colorado Springs, Peoria Street
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 282
Toward I 225 South: Aurora, Colorado Springs, ...
7
139.5 mi into trip|~2h 34m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 225 South: Aurora, Colorado Springs
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 282
Toward I 225 South: Aurora, Colorado Springs
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.68 one way
$43.36 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$22.96
$45.91
premium
$4.39
$24.89
$49.79
diesel
$5.61
$31.77
$63.54
Estimated Tolls: $0.83
E-470
(6.9 mi)$0.83
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
$22
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.3 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
43.2
0
$15.11
$6.91
Efficient EV
36
0
$12.59
$5.76
EV Truck/SUV
57.6
0
$20.15
$9.21
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
Yuma, CO
Night
in Yuma on Saturday
Local time
10:34 PM
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
Destination
Aurora, CO
Night
in Aurora on Saturday
Local time
10:34 PM
MDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
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
11 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
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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that feels quite different from the typical high-speed interstate experience. With a highway share of 0%, you should prepare for a route that prioritizes local roads over major freeways. Behind the wheel, you will encounter a steady rhythm of navigation rather than a monotonous, long-distance grind. The road requires your full attention as you transition between the various highways, keeping the pace consistent throughout the 143.8-mile journey. Since there are no major highway stretches, you will find the drive demands a more active driving style compared to a standard cross-country haul.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 73.2 mi on I 76.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 76 and West 8th Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 123.6 miles in.
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 16 significant decision points across 143.9 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 123.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 131.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 131.7 miles: 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 Yuma, CO and Aurora, CO, road signs point toward E470 Toll South: Limon, Denver International Airport and Peña Boulevard West.
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: 143.9 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 (68%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 73.2 miles on I 76. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.83 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 Aurora, 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 123.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 131.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 131.7 miles: 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.
