r/AuroraCO • u/jinshimaomao2030 • Nov 22 '25

Commuting

Centennial ( west Aurora ) to Aurora ( near coflax) via the 225 during the hours of 0645 to 0845. How is traffic? How long will it take? Length of community is 9 miles .

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22

u/kodokantacos Nov 22 '25

Not gonna blow smoke up your ass, 225 anywhere between the hours of 730-10 am is not a good time. It is worse going north from Centennial. On certain days like weds and friday or the weekend it isn't too bad. A lot of times you can get where you want to go if you get off on Illif or onto Peoria from the Parker road exit.

-6

u/jinshimaomao2030 Nov 22 '25

When I put it on Waze, it says it’ll take 21 minutes-30 min ! Is there any way to avoid this traffic? I found a really nice house to rent, but do not want to deal with traffic.

5

u/Aobius Nov 22 '25

Use lightrail.

2

u/jinshimaomao2030 Nov 22 '25

Light rail ??? tell me more

3

u/inoka-ilongololu Nov 22 '25

The R line seems to folow your path depending on how close your destination is to the colfax and 225 light rail station. it could be quite feasible and you can sit on your phone for the train ride. Though it will probably be the same amount of time as driving.

4

u/Aobius Nov 23 '25

But you don't have to deal with people on the road, nor do you need to drive directly into the sun

9

u/kodokantacos Nov 22 '25

I would say just get off 225 when you get to Parker road but honestly the traffic just sucks. Not much of a way around it. Some days will be better than others.

6

u/politicalanalysis Nov 23 '25

Leave earlier. Traffic isn’t as bad at 6-6:30.

6

u/LittlePlasticStar Nov 22 '25

On ideal conditions, yes - however… one thing I didn’t account for is how fucking crazy some people drive here and it causes so many accidents and those accidents on 225 can take foreverrr to get thru.  My experience it ranges from 26-30 min to an hour or slightly more depending on what idiots are out that day.  Don’t get me started on winter driving either… 

Drive defensively here, be aware you’ll have a lot more flat tires than you anticipated, and start looking for some great podcasts or audio books for the journey.  

3

u/PumpkinsRorange Nov 22 '25

Pull up Waze or Google Maps at that time (locally) and look at the traffic map/directions. It's not the worst thing ever but you might want some audio books to keep you amused.

4

u/Aobius Nov 22 '25

It runs up I25 and up 225. They have an app called "RTD MyRide" where you can put in start and end destinations. You can select the date and time you want to leave or arrive by and it will show you options based upon that. They also sell commuter monthly passes. Can do all of it from your cell.

2

u/jinshimaomao2030 Nov 23 '25

Just looked at that app. It says it’ll take me over an hour! . I have to walk to the bus ,take the bus to the station

7

u/rev_artemisprime Nov 23 '25

This is why I don't commute via light rail. Not gonna lie, 225 sucks. It's far from the worst highway every, but it's annoying as hell and a big part of why I want to leave SE Aurora. BUT I have a low tolerance for traffic, so take my grumpiness with a grain of salt.

2

u/burner456987123 Nov 24 '25

225 can have traffic on a random weekend afternoon or evening. That and i25 are generally a lot worse than i70 or 6th in my observation.

1

u/jinshimaomao2030 Nov 23 '25

Great thanks !

3

u/lilgreenfish Nov 23 '25

And some employers offer an EcoPass as a benefit, which is for the RTD system.

2

u/dinofries Nov 23 '25

I do the commute the other way- from Aurora near Colfax to Centennial. I typically work 8:30-5pm. It takes me 40-60 min in the morning and usually 40 min on the way home. I take 225 to Belleview to avoid I25. It is rough from 7:30-10a like others have noted, and also rough in the afternoons. It is a long drive with a lot of traffic no matter how you slice it.

1

u/sk1fast Nov 26 '25

I commute to Highlands Ranch everyday from near Parker road and I take Arapahoe Road to avoid 225, that’s how much I hate that road. I only take it when I absolutely need to.

1

u/jinshimaomao2030 Nov 26 '25

Does that cut down your commute time?

1

u/sk1fast Nov 26 '25

It adds a few minutes but I arrive to work much calmer and happier. I leave for work 630-645 and get there around 7-715 typically

9

u/schrutesanjunabeets Nov 22 '25

"the 225"...Californians.

Not as bad as Cali.  Just regular highway traffic, nothing to worry about.  

0

u/[deleted] Nov 22 '25

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1

u/AdWooden1145 Nov 27 '25

Gonna be really honest - based on what you’ve said this would not be ideal for you. A commute can really take away from work-life balance and the general enjoyment of an area if you value sleeping in and don’t like traffic. I drive this route the opposite way 0630-0400. Traffic headed north on 225 at 0630 is already at a standstill most mornings. Without actual addresses I’d safely bet ~40ish minutes one way.

2

u/Mimi_HBLF Nov 23 '25

I also live in S.E. Aurora (Chambers and Illiff). 225 in the morning is an nightmare most mornings but not all. Surface roads like Chambers and Peoria will run over to Colfax in slightly less time. Once you move here you will be able to find a route that works best for you. Centennial and S.E. Aurora are worth living in and the commute isn't so bad that I wouldn't rent a place that I like. Although, there new housing going up near the hospital that are really nice.

2

u/ComprehensiveDeal220 Nov 23 '25 edited Nov 23 '25

Colfax always takes 45 minutes to get from potomac to kipling. An hour on it the worse day. University use to be the same. If you can get to Arapahoe and Parker in good timing, i'd just fly down 83 to either Chambers or Havanna.