How far is Aurora, CO from Aspen, CO?

The driving distance from Aurora, CO to Aspen, CO is about 172.5 miles (277.6 km), with a travel time of about 04h 24m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 112.3 miles (180.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 49m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
172.51 mi
04h 24m
Flight
112.26 mi
180.66 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Aurora.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
112.26 mi
Kilometers
180.66 km
Flight Time
00h 13m

Driving Distance

Road route
172.51 mi
Kilometers
277.63 km
Drive Time
04h 24m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 04h 24m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Aspen
Sat, Apr 11, 7:35 AM MDT
Return by in Aurora
Sat, Apr 11, 12:00 PM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Aurora
2026-04-11T03:10
Arrive Aspen
Sat, Apr 11, 7:35 AM MDT
Route Timing
04h 24m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:25 AM to 12:25 PM MDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:10 AM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Aurora
9:00 PM MDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Frisco
CO

Town in Summit County, Colorado, United States of America

From Aurora
86.2 mi
02h 12m
To Aspen
86.3 mi
02h 12m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Saturday

Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
6 to 13 mph SW
Destination
54°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 12:00 AM MDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Aurora and Aspen.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Aurora and Aspen.

  1. 1

    Start on North Vaughn Street

    24 m · 6 sec · North Vaughn Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Toledo Street

    1120 ft · 49 sec · Toledo Street

  3. 3

    Turn slight right onto East 10th Avenue

    78 m · 16 sec · East 10th Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn left onto North Potomac Street

    3014 ft · 1 min · North Potomac Street

  5. 5

    Continue on North Fitzsimons Parkway

    1624 ft · 41 sec · North Fitzsimons Parkway

  6. 6

    Turn right onto East 17th Place

    998 ft · 29 sec · East 17th Place

  7. 7

    Take the ramp left toward I 225 North

    2044 ft · 52 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    1.1 mi · 1 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on I 70 West: Denver

    1.2 km · 1 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 70 West: Denver

    1917 ft · 47 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway

    2.1 mi · 3 min · Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway

    84.2 mi · 1 hr 43 min · Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward CO 91 South: Copper Mountain, Leadville

    2195 ft · 42 sec

  14. 14

    Continue straight

    22.1 mi · 28 min

  15. 15

    Continue straight

    1.6 km · 2 min

  16. 16

    At the end of the road, turn right onto East 9th Street

    599 ft · 21 sec · East 9th Street

  17. 17

    Turn slight left onto Harrison Avenue

    916 ft · 37 sec · Harrison Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn right onto West 6th Street

    1.3 km · 2 min · West 6th Street

  19. 19

    Turn left onto McWethy Drive

    2541 ft · 52 sec · McWethy Drive

  20. 20

    Turn right

    13.9 mi · 18 min

  21. 21

    Turn right

    42.9 mi · 1 hr 37 min

  22. 22

    Turn right onto South Original Street

    753 ft · 26 sec · South Original Street

  23. 23

    Continue on East Main Street

    1095 ft · 41 sec · East Main Street

  24. 24

    Turn right onto North Galena Street

    45 m · 7 sec · North Galena Street

  25. 25

    Turn left

    17 m · 2 sec

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Aurora and Aspen.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
26 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
86.2 mi · 50%
CO 91 South
23.5 mi · 14%
I 225 North
1.47 mi · 1%
I 70 West
1.13 mi · 1%
West 6th Street
0.84 mi
North Potomac Street
0.57 mi
Longest Stretch

Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway

Keep slight left to continue on Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway

84.2 mi · 01h 43m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 24m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+60.2 mi
112.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Frisco
02h 12m from Aurora
Leave By
8:10 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers leaving Aurora and Showers And Thunderstorms near Aspen.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Aurora to Aspen?

The road trip is about 172.5 miles (277.6 km) and usually takes 04h 24m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Frisco is a useful midpoint, sitting about 86.2 miles from Aurora and 86.3 miles from Aspen.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 112.3 miles (180.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 60.2 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:10 AM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $18.31 one way or $36.61 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 44 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers around Aurora and Showers And Thunderstorms near Aspen.

Stop Ideas Near Frisco

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Frisco, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Frisco.

BUS

Frisco, Colorado

1 mi away
1010 Meadow Drive
BUS

Vail, Colorado

22 mi away
241 South Frontage Road East
BUS

Fairplay, CO

40 mi away
620 US Highway 285
RAIL

Fraser – Winter Park

48 mi away
205 Fraser Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Aurora and Aspen. Straight-line distance: 112.26 mi (180.66 km).

Aurora

#1 Aurora

The third most populous city in Colorado and the center of the Denver metropolitan area.

Population387,377
Coordinates39.7294300, -104.8319200
Altitude1648
CountryUnited States
Aspen

#2 Aspen

Town in Pitkin County, Colorado, USA

Population7,657
Coordinates39.1911000, -106.8175400
Altitude2405
CountryUnited States
Start: Aurora (-104.83192, 39.72943)
End: Aspen (-106.81754, 39.1911)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 278 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 44m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 18m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 27m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 52m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 27m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 09m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.95 gal
18.74 L · about $18.31
Round trip
$36.61
9.9 gal · 37.48 L
Estimated CO2
44 kg one way
Round trip: 88 kg / 194 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.70 $18.31 $36.61
Mid-grade $4.08 $20.22 $40.43
Premium $4.39 $21.74 $43.47
Diesel $4.74 $23.45 $46.90

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Colorado · Apr 11, 2026

There is no time difference between Aurora and Aspen. The current time is 03:10:02.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.