"How long is the commute?" is usually the third question we get about The Aurora Highlands, right after "what builders are there" and "how big are the lots". The answer depends entirely on where you're going. Here's the practical breakdown for the destinations most buyers ask about.
The geography matters
The Aurora Highlands sits in northeast Aurora, immediately south of E-470 and east of Tower Road. Three major roads define the commute pattern:
- E-470: the tolled beltway that wraps the eastern and southern edge of metro Denver. From The Aurora Highlands, E-470 is the fastest connection to DIA (north on E-470) and the Tech Center / DTC (south on E-470).
- I-70: the east-west spine of metro Denver, accessed via E-470 or via the I-70 / Tower Road interchange to the north. Best route to downtown Denver and to anywhere west of the city.
- Tower Road: the major north-south arterial that runs along the community's western edge, connecting to I-70 and (further south) to the Aurora Reservoir and the Southeast E-470 corridor.
Each commute below assumes a typical weekday morning peak. Off-peak times are 15-25% faster.
To Denver International Airport (DIA)
Distance: roughly 5-6 miles.
Typical drive time: 10-15 minutes via E-470 North to Peña Boulevard.
Toll cost: approximately $1.50-$2.00 each way with an ExpressToll account.
This is the shortest commute in the community and the reason a meaningful share of Aurora Highlands buyers work in aviation, hospitality (the Gaylord Rockies), aerospace, or government roles at DIA. The drive is consistent in weather because E-470 is well-plowed and well-traveled.
The A-Line commuter rail also runs between downtown Denver and DIA. The closest A-Line station to The Aurora Highlands is at 40th & Airport (a 10-15 minute drive from the community), which makes it less convenient than living closer to a station but still usable for occasional downtown trips when you want to leave the car at home.
To Anschutz Medical Campus / Children's Hospital Colorado
Distance: roughly 12 miles.
Typical drive time: 20-25 minutes via E-470 South to I-70 West and Colfax/Peoria.
Toll cost: approximately $3 each way.
Anschutz is one of the larger employers within practical commute range. The drive uses E-470 for the bulk of the trip and surface streets only at the end, which keeps travel times predictable. Healthcare buyers from Anschutz and the connected Children's Hospital make up a notable share of buyers at the community.
To Downtown Denver
Distance: roughly 20 miles.
Typical drive time: 30-40 minutes via I-70 West, depending on traffic.
Alternative: A-Line commuter rail from 40th & Airport in 35-40 minutes including the drive to the station.
Downtown is the longest of the everyday commutes from The Aurora Highlands. If you work downtown three or more days a week, this commute is the single biggest trade-off of choosing the community over something closer in (Stapleton/Central Park, Lowry, or the older Denver neighborhoods). If you work from home most days and only go in for occasional meetings, the trade-off feels smaller.
To the Denver Tech Center (DTC)
Distance: roughly 25 miles.
Typical drive time: 35-45 minutes via E-470 South to I-25 / Belleview.
Toll cost: approximately $6-$7 each way.
This is the toll-heavy commute. E-470 wraps around the south side of metro Denver and connects directly into I-25 at the south end of the Tech Center. It's the route that makes The Aurora Highlands viable for DTC workers who'd otherwise consider Parker or Castle Rock, but the daily tolls add up — figure roughly $250-$300/month if you commute five days a week.
Tower Road: the local arterial
For trips that don't use E-470 — groceries at the King Soopers near 56th, errands in Green Valley Ranch, school pickup — you'll be on Tower Road. Tower has been getting wider as the surrounding communities build out, but it still has stretches that bottleneck at peak times, especially the I-70 interchange. Build an extra 5-10 minutes into any trip that uses Tower at rush hour.
Working from home: the wildcard
The honest answer for the buyers we talk to: most of them work hybrid. Two to three days in the office, two to three days from home. That changes the commute math substantially — a 35-minute one-way commute three days a week is 3.5 hours of driving, not 17.5. For hybrid workers, The Aurora Highlands competes well against closer-in neighborhoods that cost meaningfully more per square foot.
For five-days-a-week-in-the-office buyers headed downtown or to DTC, the commute is real and we'll usually have an honest conversation about whether the community is the right fit before walking sales offices.
What we'd ask before deciding on the commute
- How many days a week, in your actual schedule (not the schedule you wish you had), are you in the office?
- What's your destination — downtown, Anschutz, DIA, DTC, or somewhere else? The math changes substantially by destination.
- Are you a tolls-bother-me person or a tolls-don't-bother-me person? E-470 commutes only work financially if the tolls are acceptable.
- Do you ever need to travel for work? If yes, the 10-minute drive to DIA is one of the genuine practical upsides of living here.
If you want to test-drive the commute before you buy, we'll often suggest doing it once at peak time and once midday before you sign a contract. It's the fastest way to know whether the community fits your life.
Drive times reflect typical weekday peak conditions in May 2026. Actual times vary with weather, construction, and traffic incidents. Toll costs are approximate and depend on your ExpressToll account status. Verify current rates at the Colorado E-470 authority.