Quick Answer: Commuting from 6th Avenue to Anschutz Medical Campus covers roughly three miles, and most residents drive it in 10 to 15 minutes. By transit, the R Line runs north from 13th Avenue Station to Colfax and Fitzsimons stations in two stops, and a free campus shuttle meets trains at Fitzsimons on weekdays.
Oslo on 6th sits at 14200 East 6th Avenue in Aurora, which puts the hospitals, labs and lecture halls of the Fitzsimons district a few minutes north of the front door. Commuting from 6th Avenue to Anschutz Medical Campus is one of the shortest medical-district trips in the metro, and it can be done by car, by rail or by bus. Our community serves the Aurora 80011 area and the neighborhoods that feed the campus every shift.
What to Look For in Aurora Apartments Near the Anschutz Campus
Proximity does most of the work. Every mile you cut from a hospital commute is time back on both ends of a 12-hour shift, and it removes the weather risk that makes a February 6 a.m. start miserable. Look at distance first, then at parking cost, then at whether transit actually runs when your shift ends.
Distance beats amenities on a hospital schedule
The U.S. Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey puts the mean travel time to work in Aurora at 28.6 minutes. A three-mile commute to the Anschutz campus cuts that roughly in half, twice a day, five days a week. Over a year that difference is measured in days, not minutes.
Shift work sharpens the math. If you clock in at 6:45 a.m., a 12-minute drive means leaving at 6:25. A 30-minute drive from a cheaper suburb means leaving at 6:05, in the dark, on I-225.
Check the Anschutz Medical Campus map before you sign
The campus is large and your building matters. Children's Hospital Colorado, UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, the Fitzsimons Building and the research towers all sit at different points along 17th Place and Montview Boulevard. Pull up the official Anschutz Medical Campus map, find the door you will actually use, then measure from there. Our map and directions page shows the approach from 6th Avenue.
How Long Is the Drive From 6th Avenue to CU Anschutz?
Door to door, the drive is short. The usual route runs north on Sable Boulevard or Peoria Street, crosses Colfax Avenue, then picks up Montview or 17th Place into campus. Outside the morning rush it is a 10-minute trip. During peak signal timing on Colfax, budget 15.
Cost is where the options separate. CU Anschutz publishes employee full-time permit parking at $71 per month, student gated permits at $40, and the discounted East Rock Lot at $14 for students. Visitor lots run $1 per hour up to $8 for the day. Employees can also enroll in the campus RTD EcoPass program, and degree-seeking students ride on the RTD CollegePass included in tuition and fees.
| Commute option | Typical door-to-door time | Monthly cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drive with a campus permit | 10 to 15 minutes | $71 employee, $40 student gated, $14 Rock Lot | Nights, weekends, rotating shifts |
| R Line plus Fitzsimons campus shuttle | 30 to 40 minutes | $88 local fare cap, less with EcoPass or CollegePass | Weekday day shifts |
| Route 6 bus plus transfer | 35 to 45 minutes | Same RTD local fare | Car-free households |
| Bike | 15 to 25 minutes | No recurring cost | Spring through fall |
Can You Reach Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora Without a Car?
Yes. RTD's R Line was built through this corridor for exactly this reason, and it places two stations within walking distance of campus. Colfax Station is about a 10-minute walk from campus buildings. Fitzsimons Station sits north of campus on Fitzsimons Parkway and is served by a free rail shuttle.
The R Line, 13th Avenue and Aurora Metro Center Station
The closest R Line stop to 6th Avenue is 13th Avenue Station at 14110 East 13th Avenue, a short walk or quick drive north with a 262-space park-and-ride lot. From there it is one stop to Colfax and two to Fitzsimons. Southbound, the same line reaches Aurora Metro Center Station, the city's main transfer hub, where routes 3, 6, 11, 15L, 21, 130, 133 and 153 connect.
One caveat worth planning around. The CU Anschutz rail shuttle runs weekdays only, roughly 5 a.m. to 5 p.m., and does not serve Colfax Station. Night-shift and weekend staff should plan on the 10-minute walk from Colfax Station or on driving.
Getting from Aurora to Denver on the same fare
The R Line terminates at Peoria Station, where it meets the University of Colorado A Line. That single transfer turns an Aurora to Denver trip into a straightforward ride: Peoria to Union Station takes about 16 minutes, with stops including 40th and Colorado Station and Central Park along the way. The A Line also runs the other direction to Denver International Airport.
RTD local fares run $2.75 for a three-hour pass and $5.50 for a day pass. Fare capping means a MyRide account or Tap-n-Ride stops charging after $88 in local trips in a month. Youth 19 and under and active-duty U.S. military ride free with proof of eligibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Oslo on 6th from the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora?
About three miles by road. The community sits at 14200 East 6th Avenue and the campus core runs along East 17th Place, roughly 11 blocks north and a mile or so west. Most residents drive it in 10 to 15 minutes depending on Colfax signals.
Is there free parking at CU Anschutz?
Not during business hours. The campus runs a paid permit and visitor system, and rates are set by the parking office:
- Employee full-time permit: $71 per month
- Student gated permit: $40 per month
- East Rock Lot for students: $14 per month
- Carpool permit: $42 per month for two or more participants
- Visitor lots: $1 per hour, capped at $8 per day
Which R Line station is closest to Aurora housing on 6th Avenue?
13th Avenue Station, two blocks west of 13th and Sable. It is the nearest stop to the 6th Avenue corridor and has free park-and-ride parking. Note that no bus routes connect there, so you walk, bike or drive to the platform.
How do I get from Aurora to Denver Union Station by train?
Ride the R Line north to Peoria Station, then transfer to the A Line westbound. The A Line reaches Union Station in about 16 minutes from Peoria. One local fare covers the whole trip, including the transfer, as long as it starts within your pass window.
Should I rent a studio or a 1 bedroom apartment in Aurora CO for a campus commute?
It depends on how much time you actually spend at home. Residents working clinical rotations or research hours often find a well-designed studio covers their needs at a lower monthly cost. Compare layouts on our studio floor plans before deciding.
Conclusion
Commuting from 6th Avenue to Anschutz Medical Campus is short by car, workable by rail and cheap by bike for most of the year. The trade-off is straightforward: driving costs a permit but works any hour, while the R Line costs less and works best on a weekday daytime schedule. Take a look at the community first, then pick the route that fits your shift. Our photo gallery and virtual tour shows what living three miles from the Aurora campus looks like.
