How far is Aurora, CO from Orchard Mesa, CO?
The driving distance from Aurora, CO to Orchard Mesa, CO is about 259.6 miles (417.8 km), with a travel time of about 05h 01m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 204.2 miles (328.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 02m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 05h 01m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
Location in Colorado, USA
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Aurora and Orchard Mesa.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Aurora and Orchard Mesa.
-
1
Start on North Vaughn Street
24 m · 6 sec · North Vaughn Street
-
2
Turn right onto Toledo Street
1120 ft · 49 sec · Toledo Street
-
3
Turn slight right onto East 10th Avenue
78 m · 16 sec · East 10th Avenue
-
4
Turn left onto North Potomac Street
3014 ft · 1 min · North Potomac Street
-
5
Continue on North Fitzsimons Parkway
1624 ft · 41 sec · North Fitzsimons Parkway
-
6
Turn right onto East 17th Place
998 ft · 29 sec · East 17th Place
-
7
Take the ramp left toward I 225 North
2044 ft · 52 sec
-
8
Merge slight left
1.1 mi · 1 min
-
9
Keep slight left to continue on I 70 West: Denver
1.2 km · 1 min
-
10
Keep slight left to continue on I 70 West: Denver
1917 ft · 47 sec
-
11
Merge slight left onto Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
2.1 mi · 3 min · Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
-
12
Keep slight left to continue on Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
149.7 mi · 2 hr 53 min · Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
-
13
Continue on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
80.8 mi · 1 hr 26 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
-
14
Continue on Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
13.2 mi · 14 min · Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
-
15
Take the exit slight right toward I 70 Business, US 6, US 50: Clifton, Grand Junction, Delta
1.6 mi · 3 min
-
16
Continue straight
4.2 mi · 7 min
-
17
Continue straight
2 mi · 4 min
-
18
Turn left onto South 5th Street
2 mi · 4 min · South 5th Street
-
19
Turn left onto 27 Road
10 m · 1 sec · 27 Road
-
20
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · 27 Road
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Aurora and Orchard Mesa.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
Keep slight left to continue on Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
150 mi · 02h 53m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Mostly Sunny leaving Aurora and Sunny near Orchard Mesa.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Aurora to Orchard Mesa?
The road trip is about 259.6 miles (417.8 km) and usually takes 05h 01m 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?
Edwards is a useful midpoint, sitting about 129.6 miles from Aurora and 130 miles from Orchard Mesa.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 204.2 miles (328.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 55.4 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 6:58 AM MDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $33.87 one way or $67.75 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 81.4 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Aurora and Sunny near Orchard Mesa.
Stop Ideas Near Edwards
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Edwards.
Vail, Colorado
Frisco, Colorado
Glenwood Springs
Fairplay, CO
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Aurora and Orchard Mesa. Straight-line distance: 204.24 mi (328.69 km).
#1 Aurora
The third most populous city in Colorado and the center of the Denver metropolitan area.
| Population | 387,377 |
| Coordinates | 39.7294300, -104.8319200 |
| Altitude | 1648 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Orchard Mesa
Census-designated place in Mesa County, Colorado
| Population | 6,836 |
| Coordinates | 39.0430400, -108.5523200 |
| Altitude | 1417 |
| Country | United States |
End: Orchard Mesa (-108.55232, 39.04304)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 418 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 08h 39m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 06h 29m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 11m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 19m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 42m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 14m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.70 | $33.87 | $67.75 |
| Mid-grade | $4.08 | $37.41 | $74.82 |
| Premium | $4.39 | $40.22 | $80.44 |
| Diesel | $4.74 | $43.39 | $86.78 |
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 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.