How far is Aurora, CO from Brighton, CO?

The driving distance from Aurora, CO to Brighton, CO is about 24.2 miles (39 km), with a travel time of about 00h 34m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 17.7 miles (28.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 09m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM MDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
24.23 mi
00h 34m
Flight
17.68 mi
28.46 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Aurora.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
17.68 mi
Kilometers
28.46 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
24.23 mi
Kilometers
39 km
Drive Time
00h 34m

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 00h 34m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Brighton
Sat, Apr 18, 12:22 AM MDT
Return by in Aurora
Sat, Apr 18, 12:57 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Aurora
2026-04-17T23:48
Arrive Brighton
Sat, Apr 18, 12:22 AM MDT
Route Timing
00h 34m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM MDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:35 AM to 7:35 PM MDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:20 PM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Aurora
10:00 PM MDT
Flexible departure

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
Welby
CO

Census-designated place in Colorado

From Aurora
12.1 mi
00h 17m
To Brighton
12.1 mi
00h 17m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
48°F
Friday

Rain And Snow Showers

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
8 to 16 mph N
Destination
47°F
Friday

Rain And Snow Showers

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
10 to 21 mph NNE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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 right to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    3.3 mi · 4 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward US 85, CO 2 North: Vasquez Boulevard

    1448 ft · 36 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto North Vasquez Boulevard

    2.8 mi · 4 min · North Vasquez Boulevard

  15. 15

    Take the exit straight

    2948 ft · 1 min

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Heartland Expressway

    2.7 mi · 3 min · Heartland Expressway

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on CanAm Highway

    8.1 mi · 10 min · CanAm Highway

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward CO 7: Brighton

    1198 ft · 33 sec

  19. 19

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward West Bridge Street

    15 m · 1 sec · West Bridge Street

  20. 20

    Exit the roundabout onto West Bridge Street

    126 m · 14 sec · West Bridge Street

  21. 21

    Turn right onto South Main Street

    584 ft · 23 sec · South Main Street

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Bush Street

    126 m · 11 sec · Bush Street

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Bush Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
23 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
4 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
95 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
CanAm Highway
8.11 mi · 33%
North Vasquez Boulevard
3.39 mi · 14%
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
3.28 mi · 14%
Heartland Expressway
2.65 mi · 11%
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
2.09 mi · 9%
I 225 North
1.47 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

CanAm Highway

Keep slight left to continue on CanAm Highway

8.11 mi · 00h 10m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 34m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 10m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+6.5 mi
17.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Welby
00h 17m from Aurora
Leave By
7:20 PM MDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Rain And Snow Showers leaving Aurora and Rain And Snow Showers near Brighton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 24.2 miles (39 km) and usually takes 00h 34m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Welby is a useful midpoint, sitting about 12.1 miles from Aurora and 12.1 miles from Brighton.

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

The direct path is about 17.7 miles (28.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 6.5 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM MDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:20 PM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.18 one way or $6.36 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 7.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain And Snow Showers around Aurora and Rain And Snow Showers near Brighton.

Stop Ideas Near Welby

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Welby and the surrounding midpoint area.
Fairplay Park
Scenic stop 8.5 mi away

Fairplay Park

Aurora , CO
2200 Altura Blvd, Aurora, CO 80011
Rating 4.2/5 125 reviews Tourist attraction,Park
Denver City Council
Meeting point 7.7 mi away

Denver City Council

Denver , CO
1437 Bannock St rm 451, Denver, CO 80202
Rating 3.6/5 92 reviews City government office,County government office
Lafayette City Hall
Nearby stop 13.6 mi away

Lafayette City Hall

Lafayette , CO
1290 S Public Rd, Lafayette, CO 80026
Rating 5.0/5 2 reviews City administration
Municipal Court Park
Scenic stop 5.4 mi away

Municipal Court Park

Westminster , CO
3025 W 76th Ave, Westminster, CO 80030
Rating 3.8/5 94 reviews Park

Transit and Meeting Points

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

BUS

Denver (Bus Station), Colorado

10 mi away
1055 19th Street
RAIL

Union Station

10 mi away
1701 Wynkoop Street
BUS

Boulder, Colorado

37 mi away
30th & Diagonal Highway
BUS

Longmont, Colorado

39 mi away
623 Main St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Aurora and Brighton. Straight-line distance: 17.68 mi (28.46 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
Brighton

#2 Brighton

A city in Adams County, Colorado.

Population40,783
Coordinates39.9852600, -104.8205300
Altitude1519
CountryUnited States
Start: Aurora (-104.83192, 39.72943)
End: Brighton (-104.82053, 39.98526)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 39 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 48m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 36m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 29m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 24m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 20m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 18m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.86 gal
3.24 L · about $3.18
Round trip
$6.36
1.72 gal · 6.48 L
Estimated CO2
7.6 kg one way
Round trip: 15.3 kg / 34 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.70 $3.18 $6.36
Mid-grade $4.08 $3.51 $7.02
Premium $4.39 $3.78 $7.55
Diesel $4.74 $4.07 $8.15

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Aurora and Brighton. The current time is 23:48:07.

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.