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Colorado, United States

Aurora

Gateway to the Rockies; Sunrise of Colorado

Overall
6.1
Connector Score
7.7
Per day
$213 from $140
Season
Peak: Summer and ski season for Denver

Best for:OutdoorsBeaches

  • Drive
  • Bus
  • Airport
Directions

Best connected to Fort Collins 1 h 15 min by car

Overview

Just east of Denver and mostly overlooked by visitors, Aurora is where a lot of the metro area actually lives. It is a large, diverse suburban city of about 410,000 people at roughly 5,470 feet, with families from Ethiopia, Vietnam, Korea, Latin America and many other places. Neighborhoods range from newer subdivisions like Aurora Highlands and Tallyn's Reach to the medical campus around Fitzsimons.

There is not a signature attraction, but there is plenty to do. Aurora Reservoir has a swimming beach and paddling, Cherry Creek State Park is popular for hiking and biking, and Stanley Marketplace is the go-to for food and drink. The Rockies and downtown Denver are a short drive away. Housing costs more than the national average but is a bit gentler than Denver itself. Watch for crime along parts of East Colfax, vehicle theft, hail, and the altitude, which can leave newcomers short of breath.

Trip planning at a glance

Peak season
Summer (June-Aug) and ski season for Denver
Nearest airport
Denver International Airport (DEN), 25 minutes from central Aurora

Highlights

  • Aurora Reservoir (beach and paddling)
  • Cherry Creek State Park
  • Aurora Fox Arts Center
  • Anschutz Medical Campus area
  • Plains Conservation Center
  • Aurora History Museum
  • Aurora Sports Park
  • Fitzsimons and Stanley Marketplace
  • day trips to Denver and Rocky Mountains

Best connected to

Arvada

Colorado, United States ·

5.8
Distance
25 mi · 40 km
Drive
35 min

adds lakes & rivers and wineries & breweries

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Scores

Out of 10. Open any score to see how it’s worked out. “Data-based” scores come from published figures; “Hey! En Route estimate” scores are worked out from what we know about the city; “Hey! En Route rating” scores were set by our editors.

6.1/10Good
  • Connector Score7.7

    16 worthwhile cities within three hours; reachable by road, intercity bus, air, and local transit; lodging and sights for an overnight stop. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Safety2.9

    About 948 violent crimes per 100,000 people a year; the US average is about 370. Data-based

  • Affordability3.8

    Cost of living index about 127, where the national average is 100. Data-based

  • Transportation8.0

    Reachable by: road, intercity bus, air, and local transit. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Car-free friendliness5.0

    Intercity train or bus, plus local transit and walkability. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Walkability5.8

    Estimated from city size and transit; no walkable downtown noted. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Things to do6.0

    Known for 6 kinds of attraction, with 7 annual events listed. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Food & dining6.3

    A known food scene, weighted by city size. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Places to stay6.6

    Lodging at budget, mid-range and luxury prices. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Nature & outdoors7.5

    Known for beaches, mountains & hiking, national & state parks. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Scenic value7.0

    From its landscape: coast, mountains, lakes and parks. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Family friendliness5.1

    Zoos, aquariums, theme parks and museums, weighted by safety. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Solo-traveler friendliness4.1

    Safety, getting around without a car, hostels, and things to do. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Nightlife4.2

    Estimated from city size and live music. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Remote-work friendliness6.2

    City size, affordability, cafés and connections. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Road-trip convenience6.5

    16 worthwhile cities within three hours’ drive, plus parking, EV charging and RV options. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Train-trip convenience1.0

    No intercity train service noted. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Bus-trip convenience6.2

    Intercity buses, with 3 nearby cities reachable by bus. Hey! En Route estimate

City info

Country
United States
State / province
Colorado
Population
410,053
Metro area
3,092,037
Area
424 km²
Density
968 / km²
Elevation
1668 m
Currency
USD
Local time
4:44 pm UTC-06:00
Power
Type A/B, 120V 60Hz
Drives on the
Right
Visitor info
visitaurora.com
Known as
Gateway to the Rockies; Sunrise of Colorado
Founded
1891 platted (as Fletcher); 1903 incorporated as town; 1928 reincorporated as city
Languages
English; Spanish; Amharic, Vietnamese, Korean, and many others (highly diverse)
Airports
Denver International Airport (DEN) borders Aurora, about 20-25 minutes from central Aurora; no commercial airport within city; Colorado Springs (COS) about 80 miles south
Tipping
Restaurants 18-20% for table service; bars $1-2 per drink or 15-20% of tab; rideshare/taxi 15-20%; hotel housekeeping $3-5 per night, bellhop $2 per bag; ski or hair services 15-20%

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About this data

Population: Census Vintage 2025 (QuickFacts); metro: Denver-Aurora-Centennial MSA, Census Vintage 2025, shared with Denver. Area and elevation from Wikipedia (163.59 sq mi; 5,471 ft). Crime figures from AreaVibes; HomeSnacks figures reflect an older population and may lag. 1BR rent, hotel rates, tipping, budgets, and event months are approximations not verified against live sources; Aurora event dates in particular should be confirmed

Last verified September 25, 2026 · Source: Research spreadsheet · Editorial ·

Neighborhoods

7 areas to know, and who each one suits.

Stanley Marketplace

Foodie

    Original Aurora

    Gritty

      Southlands

      Shopping

        Fitzsimons

        Medical

          Aurora Highlands

          New

            Tallyn's Reach

            Suburban

              Lowry-adjacent

              Family

                Where to base yourself

                • Near DEN airport for convenience
                • Stanley Marketplace/Anschutz area for medical stays
                • Southlands for shopping
                • Denver Union Station for nightlife. Tiers: budget chain motels along I-70/Peoria
                • mid-range Hyatt/Hilton/Marriott near DEN
                • upscale in downtown Denver and Cherry Creek

                Suburbs and neighboring towns

                Denver (8 mi; car, RTD light rail R Line, bus); Centennial (10 mi; car, RTD bus); Greenwood Village (10 mi; car, RTD bus); Parker (12 mi; car, RTD bus, check routes); Commerce City (10 mi; car, RTD bus); Brighton (20 mi; car, RTD bus, check routes); Foxfield (10 mi; car); Cherry Hills Village (15 mi; car)

                What a visit costs

                Per person per day, with a room shared by two. Change anything below to fit your trip.

                Budget

                $140/day

                Lodging about $100 a night

                Mid-range

                $213/day

                Lodging about $175 a night

                Luxury

                $371/day

                Lodging about $325 a night

                Budget calculator

                Vehicle
                mpg

                These are estimates from typical prices, not quotes. Real costs vary with season, events, booking time and your own habits; taxes and fees are approximate.

                Cost of living

                For longer stays and relocation.

                Cost of living index
                127 (national average = 100)
                Typical 1-bedroom rent
                $1,550 a month
                Median home price
                $463,000
                Research notes

                Index about 127 (US=100, HomeSnacks); typical 1BR rent about $1,500-1,600; median rent about $1,835 across unit types

                Real estate

                Buying or renting long-term: prices, trends and the rules.

                Median home

                $463,000

                Mortgage calculator

                Median home price about $463,000 (HomeSnacks); median rent about $1,835; market has cooled with flat to slightly declining prices

                Research notes on prices and seasons

                Budget $80-120; mid-range $130-220; luxury $230-420 per night; peak season summer (June-Aug) and ski season for Denver; rough daily visitor budget excluding lodging $90-160

                Where to stay

                Which part of town suits which kind of trip.

                • Near DEN airport for convenience
                • Stanley Marketplace/Anschutz area for medical stays
                • Southlands for shopping
                • Denver Union Station for nightlife. Tiers: budget chain motels along I-70/Peoria
                • mid-range Hyatt/Hilton/Marriott near DEN
                • upscale in downtown Denver and Cherry Creek

                Places to stay

                8 listings in Aurora, ranked by traveller reviews. Featured listings are marked.

                Top sights

                • Aurora Reservoir (beach and paddling)
                • Cherry Creek State Park
                • Aurora Fox Arts Center
                • Anschutz Medical Campus area
                • Plains Conservation Center
                • Aurora History Museum
                • Aurora Sports Park
                • Fitzsimons and Stanley Marketplace
                • day trips to Denver and Rocky Mountains

                Known for: BeachesMountains & hikingNational & state parksMuseums & galleriesHistoric sitesFood scene

                Things to do

                7 listings in Aurora, ranked by traveller reviews. Featured listings are marked.

                See what’s on: events and festivals

                Known for: Food scene

                Food & nightlife

                9 listings in Aurora, ranked by traveller reviews. Featured listings are marked.

                Events

                Dated events will appear here as they’re added.

                Every year

                • Aurora Fest (summer)
                • Global Fest (late summer)
                • Aurora Fox Arts Center theater season (Sept-June)
                • Independence Day fireworks celebrations (July)
                • Fall Harvest and Halloween community events (Oct)
                • Colorado Mile of Aurora sports events
                • confirm specific dates on calendar

                Official events calendar ↗

                Safety information is a guide from public data and our research, not a guarantee. Conditions change; check local news and official advice before you go.

                2.9

                Poor · Data-based

                About 948 violent crimes per 100,000 people a year; the US average is about 370.

                Safety overview

                Violent crime about 948 per 100,000 (AreaVibes, 2024 FBI data), property crime about 3,104 per 100,000; vehicle theft is a notable risk; hospitals include UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, Children's Hospital Colorado Anschutz, Aurora Medical Center, and Medical Center of Aurora; altitude (about 5,470 ft) can cause mild altitude sickness, plus dry air, strong sun, hail and severe thunderstorms in spring/summer, and winter storms

                Local notes

                Specific places where extra care is worthwhile, especially at night. Most visits are trouble-free.

                Higher crime concentrated along parts of East Colfax Avenue and some nearby motel corridors, and certain northwest Aurora areas near Colfax and Peoria; use standard caution at night and avoid leaving valuables in cars. Most visitor areas are fine

                Safety & health

                Emergency numbers

                Health

                • Hospital (ER)UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital
                • Hospital (ER)Children's Hospital Colorado Anschutz
                • Hospital (ER)Aurora Medical Center
                • Hospital (ER)Medical Center of Aurora
                Official visitor information
                visitaurora.com

                Last verified September 25, 2026 · Source: Research spreadsheet · Editorial ·

                Local directory

                28 listings in Aurora, ranked by traveller reviews. Featured listings are marked.

                Nearby cities and connections

                Find the next city worth adding to your trip from Aurora: how far, how long, and how to get there.

                Golden

                Distance
                25 mi · 40 km
                Drive
                35 min

                Salina

                Kansas, United States ·

                5.8
                Distance
                481 mi · 774 km
                Drive
                9 h 7 min est.
                Bus
                likely (not verified) · 11 h 24 min
                Flight
                1 h 35 min est.
                Compare View connection

                Cody

                Wyoming, United States ·

                6.3
                Distance
                498 mi · 802 km
                Drive
                9 h 26 min est.
                Bus
                likely (not verified) · 11 h 47 min
                Flight
                1 h 36 min est.
                Compare View connection

                Wichita

                Kansas, United States ·

                6.6
                Distance
                528 mi · 849 km
                Drive
                9 h 59 min est.
                Bus
                likely (not verified) · 12 h 27 min
                Flight
                1 h 39 min est.
                Compare View connection

                Lincoln

                Nebraska, United States ·

                6.7
                Distance
                537 mi · 864 km
                Drive
                10 h 10 min est.
                Bus
                likely (not verified) · 12 h 41 min
                Flight
                1 h 40 min est.
                Compare View connection

                Vail

                Distance
                110 mi · 177 km
                Drive
                1 h 45 min

                Pueblo

                Colorado, United States ·

                6.3
                Distance
                126 mi · 203 km
                Drive
                2 h 23 min est.
                Bus
                likely (not verified) · 3 h 14 min
                Compare View connection

                Laramie

                Wyoming, United States ·

                6.6
                Distance
                150 mi · 241 km
                Drive
                2 h 50 min est.
                Bus
                likely (not verified) · 3 h 47 min
                Compare View connection

                Casper

                Wyoming, United States ·

                6.3
                Distance
                291 mi · 469 km
                Drive
                5 h 31 min est.
                Bus
                likely (not verified) · 7 h 2 min
                Compare View connection

                Times marked “est.” are estimates: drives use typical road distances at highway speeds, and train or bus times assume both cities have service. Always check a route planner and timetables before you travel.

                Route ideas

                Suggested by Hey! En Route from the best-connected next stops. Save one to your routes and make it your own.

                2-day trip

                Aurora (1 night)

                3-day trip

                Aurora (1 night) → Fort Collins (1 night)

                About 75 mi, 1 h 23 min of travel

                5-day trip

                Aurora (2 nights) → Fort Collins (1 night) → Denver (1 night)

                About 137 mi, 2 h 38 min of travel

                7-day trip

                Aurora (2 nights) → Fort Collins (1 night) → Denver (1 night) → Colorado Springs (1 night)

                About 216 mi, 4 h 20 min of travel

                10-day trip

                Aurora (2 nights) → Fort Collins (2 nights) → Denver (1 night) → Colorado Springs (1 night) → Lakewood (1 night)

                About 300 mi, 6 h 6 min of travel

                Suggested city pairs

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                Community signals

                Not enough responses yet to show a trend.

                Aurora City Circle

                For people considering Aurora, visiting soon, living there for a while, or comparing it with somewhere else.

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