How far is Federal Heights, CO from Aurora, CO?

The driving distance from Federal Heights, CO to Aurora, CO is about 16.5 miles (26.6 km), with a travel time of about 00h 25m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 12.2 miles (19.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 51m 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
16.52 mi
00h 25m
Flight
12.22 mi
19.66 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Federal Heights.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
12.22 mi
Kilometers
19.66 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
16.52 mi
Kilometers
26.59 km
Drive Time
00h 25m

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 25m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Aurora
Sat, Apr 18, 12:20 AM MDT
Return by in Federal Heights
Sat, Apr 18, 12:45 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Federal Heights
2026-04-17T23:54
Arrive Aurora
Sat, Apr 18, 12:20 AM MDT
Route Timing
00h 25m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM MDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:26 AM to 7:26 PM MDT

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

Leave by
7:38 PM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Federal Heights
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
Commerce City
CO

The most populous city in Adams County, Colorado.

From Federal Heights
8.3 mi
00h 12m
To Aurora
8.3 mi
00h 12m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
41°F
Friday

Snow Showers

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
14 mph NNE
Destination
48°F
Friday

Rain And Snow Showers

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
8 to 16 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Federal Heights and Aurora.

  1. 1

    Start on West 85th Avenue

    2179 ft · 2 min · West 85th Avenue

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Pecos Street

    1016 ft · 34 sec · Pecos Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto West 84th Avenue

    1 mi · 2 min · West 84th Avenue

  4. 4

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 25 South: Denver

    1743 ft · 44 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto North Valley Highway

    1.2 km · 1 min · North Valley Highway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight left toward I 270 East: Aurora, Limon

    3003 ft · 1 min

  7. 7

    Merge slight right onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    6.7 mi · 9 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway

    2.5 mi · 3 min · Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 225 South: Aurora, Colorado Springs

    1.5 km · 1 min

  10. 10

    Continue straight

    2.2 mi · 3 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward CO 30: 6th Avenue

    1772 ft · 40 sec

  12. 12

    Turn right onto East 6th Avenue

    1504 ft · 31 sec · East 6th Avenue

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Vaughn Street

    78 m · 13 sec · Vaughn Street

  14. 14

    Turn right onto North Zion Street

    155 m · 28 sec · North Zion Street

  15. 15

    Turn left onto North Vaughn Street

    990 ft · 43 sec · North Vaughn Street

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Vaughn Street

Car Route Details

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

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
16 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
97 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
6.68 mi · 40%
I 225 South
3.12 mi · 19%
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
2.48 mi · 15%
West 84th Avenue
1.01 mi · 6%
North Valley Highway
0.76 mi · 5%
I 270 East
0.57 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Merge slight right onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

6.68 mi · 00h 09m

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 25m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+4.3 mi
12.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Commerce City
00h 12m from Federal Heights
Leave By
7:38 PM MDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Snow Showers leaving Federal Heights 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 Federal Heights to Aurora?

The road trip is about 16.5 miles (26.6 km) and usually takes 00h 25m 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 8.3 miles from Federal Heights and 8.3 miles from Aurora.

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

The direct path is about 12.2 miles (19.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 4.3 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 7:38 PM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.14 one way or $4.29 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 5.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Snow Showers around Federal Heights 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.

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Commerce City and the surrounding midpoint area.
Fairplay Park
Scenic stop 5.5 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 5.7 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
Town Hall Arts Center
Nearby stop 13.5 mi away

Town Hall Arts Center

Littleton , CO
2450 Main St, Littleton, CO 80120
Rating 4.7/5 204 reviews Performing arts theater,Art gallery
Municipal Court Park
Scenic stop 7.3 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 Commerce City.

BUS

Denver (Bus Station), Colorado

8 mi away
1055 19th Street
RAIL

Union Station

8 mi away
1701 Wynkoop Street
BUS

Boulder, Colorado

41 mi away
30th & Diagonal Highway
BUS

Longmont, Colorado

43 mi away
623 Main St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Federal Heights and Aurora. Straight-line distance: 12.22 mi (19.66 km).

Federal Heights

#1 Federal Heights

City in Adams County, Colorado, United States

Population13,598
Coordinates39.8513700, -104.9985900
Altitude1613
CountryUnited States
Aurora

#2 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
Start: West 85th Avenue (-104.998457, 39.851525)
End: Vaughn Street (-104.831848, 39.729486)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 27 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 33m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 24m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 19m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 16m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 14m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 12m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.58 gal
2.21 L · about $2.14
Round trip
$4.29
1.16 gal · 4.42 L
Estimated CO2
5.2 kg one way
Round trip: 10.3 kg / 23 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.70 $2.14 $4.29
Mid-grade $4.08 $2.37 $4.74
Premium $4.39 $2.55 $5.09
Diesel $4.74 $2.75 $5.49

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 Federal Heights and Aurora. The current time is 23:54:38.

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.