How far is Aurora, CO from Salida, CO?

The driving distance from Aurora, CO to Salida, CO is about 148.3 miles (238.7 km), with a travel time of about 03h 24m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 103.6 miles (166.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 48m 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
148.3 mi
03h 24m
Flight
103.56 mi
166.67 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
103.56 mi
Kilometers
166.67 km
Flight Time
00h 12m

Driving Distance

Road route
148.3 mi
Kilometers
238.66 km
Drive Time
03h 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 03h 24m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Salida
Sat, Apr 18, 9:54 AM MDT
Return by in Aurora
Sat, Apr 18, 1:18 PM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Aurora
2026-04-18T06:30
Arrive Salida
Sat, Apr 18, 9:54 AM MDT
Route Timing
03h 24m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:24 AM to 11:24 AM MDT

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

Leave by
10:12 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

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Montezuma
CO

Town in Colorado, USA

From Aurora
74.1 mi
01h 42m
To Salida
74.2 mi
01h 42m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
56°F
Saturday

Slight Chance Snow Showers

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
6 to 9 mph NW
Destination
54°F
Saturday

Slight Chance Snow Showers

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on North Vaughn Street

    990 ft · 45 sec · North Vaughn Street

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn right onto North Zion Street

    155 m · 27 sec · North Zion Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Vaughn Street

    78 m · 18 sec · Vaughn Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto East 6th Avenue

    1166 ft · 22 sec · East 6th Avenue

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 225 South

    1635 ft · 42 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    8.3 mi · 10 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on I 25 North: Denver

    2426 ft · 55 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto South Valley Highway

    1.4 km · 60 sec · South Valley Highway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward US 285, CO 30: Hampden Avenue

    1304 ft · 34 sec

  10. 10

    Turn left onto East Hampden Avenue

    2.8 mi · 5 min · East Hampden Avenue

  11. 11

    Continue on East Hampden Bypass

    1335 ft · 35 sec · East Hampden Bypass

  12. 12

    Continue on East Jefferson Avenue

    1.2 km · 2 min · East Jefferson Avenue

  13. 13

    Continue on West Hampden Drive

    1213 ft · 32 sec · West Hampden Drive

  14. 14

    Continue on West Hampden Avenue

    111.6 mi · 2 hr 27 min · West Hampden Avenue

  15. 15

    At the end of the road, turn left

    11.1 mi · 18 min

  16. 16

    Continue straight

    3.1 mi · 5 min

  17. 17

    Turn left

    7 mi · 10 min

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Mesa Lane

    827 ft · 24 sec · Mesa Lane

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Crestone Avenue

    847 ft · 23 sec · Crestone Avenue

  20. 20

    Continue on Crestone Avenue

    1632 ft · 47 sec · Crestone Avenue

  21. 21

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Poncha Boulevard

    92 m · 14 sec · Poncha Boulevard

  22. 22

    Turn left onto West 5th Street

    567 ft · 16 sec · West 5th Street

  23. 23

    Turn right onto I Street

    46 m · 7 sec · I Street

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · I Street

Car Route Details

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

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
24 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
16.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
West Hampden Avenue
115 mi · 77%
I 225 South
8.63 mi · 6%
East Hampden Avenue
2.78 mi · 2%
South Valley Highway
0.86 mi · 1%
East Jefferson Avenue
0.75 mi · 1%
Crestone Avenue
0.47 mi
Longest Stretch

West Hampden Avenue

Continue on West Hampden Avenue

112 mi · 02h 27m

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
03h 24m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+44.7 mi
103.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Montezuma
01h 42m from Aurora
Leave By
10:12 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Snow Showers leaving Aurora and Slight Chance Snow Showers near Salida.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 148.3 miles (238.7 km) and usually takes 03h 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?

Montezuma is a useful midpoint, sitting about 74.1 miles from Aurora and 74.2 miles from Salida.

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

The direct path is about 103.6 miles (166.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 44.7 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 10:12 AM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $19.34 one way or $38.68 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 46.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Snow Showers around Aurora and Slight Chance Snow Showers near Salida.

Stop Ideas Near Montezuma

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Montezuma, 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 Montezuma.

BUS

Frisco, Colorado

20 mi away
1010 Meadow Drive
BUS

Vail, Colorado

41 mi away
241 South Frontage Road East
RAIL

Fraser – Winter Park

41 mi away
205 Fraser Avenue
BUS

Fairplay, CO

41 mi away
620 US Highway 285

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Aurora and Salida. Straight-line distance: 103.56 mi (166.67 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
Salida

#2 Salida

City in Chaffee County, Colorado, United States

Population5,690
Coordinates38.5347200, -105.9989000
Altitude2159
CountryUnited States
Start: Aurora (-104.83192, 39.72943)
End: Salida (-105.9989, 38.53472)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 239 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 56m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 42m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 57m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 28m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 07m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 51m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.23 gal
19.81 L · about $19.34
Round trip
$38.68
10.46 gal · 39.62 L
Estimated CO2
46.5 kg one way
Round trip: 93 kg / 205 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.70 $19.34 $38.68
Mid-grade $4.08 $21.36 $42.72
Premium $4.39 $22.96 $45.93
Diesel $4.74 $24.77 $49.55

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 Salida. The current time is 06:30:08.

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.