Road Tripping From Aurora To Estes Park

Are you planning a trip to Estes Park from Aurora? This beautiful mountain resort town is nestled in the heart of the Rockies and provides a perfect getaway from busy city life. However, before you pack your bags, it's important to know how long it'll take you to get there, depending on the route you choose and the traffic conditions. In this post, we'll take a look at the fastest and slowest routes, their distances, and the estimated driving time.

Fastest Route: Via I-25 and US-36 W

This is the quickest and most direct route from Aurora to Estes Park which is approximately 74 miles away. It takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to drive without stopping. The journey is quite straight forward as you'll be taking I-25 northbound until you reach Boulder when you connect to the US-36 West. From there, it's a scenic drive all the way to Estes Park. However, this route is usually busy during peak travel times, especially during the weekends, which may add an extra 20-30 minutes to your journey time.

Slowest Route: Via US-287 North

This route posits a highly scenic drive from Aurora to Estes Park that is approximately 89 miles away. The route takes you through the heart of Boulder, past the university campus, and through the foothills of the Rockies. The stunning scenery aside, the winding roads coupled with the 45 MPH speed limit could add significant time to your journey time, which is usually around 2 hours and 15 minutes. However, it's worth noting that there are numerous unique stops along this route, such as the historic downtown Longmont, Lyons, and Boulder Valley Ranch.

Alternative Route: Via I-25 and CO-66 W

This route starts the same way as the fastest route but instead of turning off onto US-36 West, you continue north until you get onto CO-66 West. This route is about as long as the fastest route but may save you a few minutes of driving time if the traffic is jammed up on US-36. This route also takes you through Lyons and ends up in Estes Park.

Traffic Time and Calculations

If you're heading out of Aurora during peak traffic hours, it's important to note that traffic can add up to 30-45 minutes to your journey time. If you want to avoid traffic, your best bet is traveling during off-peak hours, which are typically before 6:30 am and after 10:30 am. You can also use the Google Maps app to check the traffic conditions along your route before starting your journey.

In conclusion, the duration of your trip from Aurora to Estes Park would depend on the route you take, traffic conditions, and the time of the day you travel. Consider the above-highlighted routes and choose the one that works best for you. We hope this information comes in handy when planning your next road trip. Happy travels!