How far is Brighton, CO from Aurora, CO?
The driving distance from Brighton, CO to Aurora, CO is about 27.3 miles (44 km), with a travel time of about 00h 30m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 17.7 miles (28.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 01m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM MDT.
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.
This is an easy same-day return drive.
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 00h 30m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
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.
The most populous city in Adams County, Colorado.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Rain And Snow Showers
Rain And Snow Showers
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Brighton and Aurora.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brighton and Aurora.
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1
Start on Bush Street
126 m · 15 sec · Bush Street
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2
Turn right onto South Main Street
584 ft · 25 sec · South Main Street
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3
Turn left onto West Bridge Street
130 m · 9 sec · West Bridge Street
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4
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward West Bridge Street
43 m · 2 sec · West Bridge Street
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5
Exit the roundabout onto West Bridge Street
81 m · 5 sec · West Bridge Street
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6
Enter the roundabout and take exit 4 toward US 85 south
93 m · 5 sec
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7
Exit the roundabout onto US 85 south
1087 ft · 30 sec
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8
Merge slight left onto CanAm Highway
8.2 mi · 10 min · CanAm Highway
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9
Merge slight right onto Heartland Expressway
2.4 mi · 3 min · Heartland Expressway
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10
Take the exit slight right toward US 6 West, US 85 South: Commerce City
3.7 mi · 5 min
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11
Take the exit slight right toward I 270 East: Limon
1071 ft · 36 sec
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12
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
3.5 mi · 5 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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13
Merge slight left onto Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
2.5 mi · 3 min · Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
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14
Take the exit slight right toward I 225 South: Aurora, Colorado Springs
1.5 km · 1 min
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15
Continue straight
2.2 mi · 3 min
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16
Take the exit slight right toward CO 30: 6th Avenue
1772 ft · 40 sec
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17
Turn right onto East 6th Avenue
1504 ft · 31 sec · East 6th Avenue
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18
Turn right onto Vaughn Street
78 m · 13 sec · Vaughn Street
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19
Turn right onto North Zion Street
155 m · 28 sec · North Zion Street
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20
Turn left onto North Vaughn Street
990 ft · 43 sec · North Vaughn Street
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21
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · North Vaughn Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Brighton and Aurora.
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.
CanAm Highway
Merge slight left onto CanAm Highway
8.2 mi · 00h 10m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Rain And Snow Showers leaving Brighton and Rain And Snow Showers near Aurora.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Brighton to Aurora?
The road trip is about 27.3 miles (44 km) and usually takes 00h 30m 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?
Commerce City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 12.6 miles from Brighton and 14.7 miles from Aurora.
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 9.6 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 7:28 PM MDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.55 one way or $7.10 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 8.5 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Rain And Snow Showers around Brighton and Rain And Snow Showers near Aurora.
Stop Ideas Near Commerce City
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Fairplay Park
Denver City Council
Lafayette City Hall
Municipal Court Park
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Commerce City.
Denver (Bus Station), Colorado
Union Station
Boulder, Colorado
Longmont, Colorado
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Brighton and Aurora. Straight-line distance: 17.68 mi (28.46 km).
#1 Brighton
A city in Adams County, Colorado.
| Population | 40,783 |
| Coordinates | 39.9852600, -104.8205300 |
| Altitude | 1519 |
| Country | United States |
#2 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 |
End: Vaughn Street (-104.831848, 39.729486)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 44 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 54m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 40m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 32m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 27m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 23m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 20m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.70 | $3.55 | $7.10 |
| Mid-grade | $4.08 | $3.92 | $7.84 |
| Premium | $4.39 | $4.22 | $8.43 |
| Diesel | $4.74 | $4.55 | $9.10 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.