Quick Answer: Planning a TDY in Aurora? For FY2027, the GSA lodging cap for Denver/Aurora is $170 a night from November through March and $227 in October and April through September. Hotels or Buckley's Rocky Mountain Lodge suit short trips. Orders that run for months, or turn into a PCS, can cost far less in a nearby apartment.
A TDY in Aurora almost always points to Buckley Space Force Base, and housing is the first thing to sort out. A week in a hotel at the per diem cap is simple. Three or six months is a different budget. Oslo on 6th is a studio community on East 6th Avenue serving service members, DoD civilians and defense contractors near Buckley, and you can see what Oslo on 6th offers before you price anything else.
What to Look For in TDY Housing Near Buckley Space Force Base
Good housing for a TDY in Aurora keeps you inside your lodging allowance and close to the gate you'll use every day. Parking, laundry and pet rules matter too. Still, if a place fails on cost or commute, nothing else will rescue it, so check those two points before you book more than a few nights.
Distance to the Gate
Buckley's newcomer guidance routes drivers off I-225 at Exit 9 for 6th Avenue and lists 18500 East Sixth Avenue as the address for the 6th Avenue Gate. Oslo on 6th sits at 14200 East 6th Avenue, on that same road west of the gate. Denver International Airport is roughly 15 miles from the base, according to Military OneSource check-in guidance for Buckley, which helps when travel days bookend the trip.
Lease Length Versus Your Orders
Orders change. A 60-day TDY becomes 120 days, or a TDY quietly turns into a PCS. Before you sign anything, line up the lease term against the longest realistic version of your orders. Oslo on 6th's posted floor plans currently list 14 to 15 month terms, so ask the leasing team which term options are open for your dates and how they handle military orders.
Base Lodging First, If You Qualify
The Rocky Mountain Lodge is in Building 331 at 345 S. Beaver Creek St. on base. Military OneSource lists eligibility for active-duty members E1 to O6, retirees, DoD employees and travelers on tour-of-duty status, among others. Book early. Buckley's own check-in guidance warns that space may fill quickly.
How Far Does TDY Per Diem Go in Aurora?
FY2027 per diem for Denver/Aurora runs October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027 and covers Denver, Adams, Arapahoe and Jefferson counties. Lodging tops out at $227 a night in peak months and drops to $170 from November through March. Meals and incidentals are $92 a day, or $69 on first and last travel days.
Long stays change the payout. Under DoD's long-term TDY policy, as explained by Air Force Reserve Command, trips of 31 to 180 days at one location pay a flat 75 percent of the locality rate for lodging and M&IE, and approved trips over 180 days pay 55 percent. On a winter assignment, 75 percent of $170 plus $92 works out to $196.50 a day. Here's how the lodging options compare, using the GSA FY2027 rates for ZIP 80011:
| Lodging Option | Posted Rate | 30 Nights, Winter | Best Fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel at GSA lodging cap | $170/night Nov to Mar; $227/night Oct, Apr to Sep | $5,100 | TDYs under 31 days |
| Rocky Mountain Lodge visitor quarters (on base) | $134/night Nov to Mar; $161/night Oct, Apr to Sep | $4,020 | Eligible travelers, space available |
| Oslo on 6th studio | Base rent from $850/month; current all-in special from $1,050/month with internet | $1,050 (all-in starting price) | Long TDYs and TDY-to-PCS moves |
| Monthly gap: winter hotel cap vs. Oslo all-in | Per month | $4,050 | Assignments of several months |
One honest caveat. An apartment isn't a hotel: you'll cover a $500 deposit, any utilities beyond what's included, and furniture if you arrive with nothing. Confirm with your finance office how your orders treat lodging before you commit.
When Does an Apartment in Aurora Beat a Hotel?
For a TDY in Aurora, an apartment usually wins once the stay passes the 31-day mark and the flat rate kicks in, or when the TDY is likely to roll into a PCS. Below that line, a hotel's flexibility is worth the premium. Above it, monthly rent costs a fraction of 30 hotel nights.
Cheap Apartments in Aurora CO, by the Numbers
Most people start with a quick apt Aurora search, and citywide averages run higher than many expect. As of February 2026, Rentometer put the average Aurora apartment at $1,323 for a studio and $1,563 for one bedroom. RentCafe's citywide average sat at $1,793 in June 2026, so figures shift by provider.
Bringing family on an extended assignment? A 2 bedroom apartment in Aurora averaged about $1,802 in that same Rentometer data. Solo travelers weighing 1 bedroom apartments Aurora CO listings against a studio can save several hundred dollars a month by going smaller. At Oslo on 6th, posted base rents for available studios ran from $850 to $1,000 a month as of October 22, 2026. Browse current studio floor plans and move-in dates to see what lines up with your report date.
Pet-Friendly Apartments Aurora CO Travelers Can Actually Use
Pets complicate a TDY in Aurora fast. Buckley's check-in guidance tells travelers arriving with pets to confirm a pet-friendly room with base lodging or line up a local kennel. Oslo on 6th accepts domestic dogs and cats, up to two per home, with a $300 non-refundable pet deposit and $35 monthly pet rent per pet. Every household registers through PetScreening before move-in.
On-site, there's a fitness center, a laundry facility and 24-hour package lockers, plus a built-in desk in each studio for paperwork after duty hours. Take a look through the photo gallery and virtual tour.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Buckley Space Force Base the same as Buckley AFB?
Yes. Buckley Air Force Base was renamed Buckley Space Force Base, so older orders, maps and listings may still say Buckley AFB, and plenty of people search for it as Buckly AFB. It's the same installation in Aurora, Colorado, ZIP 80011, with Space Base Delta 2 as its host unit.
2. What is the per diem rate for a TDY in Aurora in 2027?
For FY2027, GSA sets Denver/Aurora lodging at $227 a night in October and April through September, and $170 a night from November through March. M&IE is $92 per full day and $69 on the first and last day. DoD TDYs longer than 30 days at one location pay a reduced flat rate.
3. What are the best apartments in Aurora CO for a long TDY?
The right pick depends on your orders, but a strong option usually checks these boxes:
- A short drive to the Buckley gate you'll use daily
- Monthly cost well under your flat-rate lodging allowance
- Lease terms that cover the longest realistic version of your orders
- A pet policy that works for your dog or cat
4. Can I stay on base during a TDY at Buckley?
Often, yes. The Rocky Mountain Lodge serves eligible travelers, including service members and DoD employees on duty travel. Military OneSource lists visitor quarters at $134 a night from November through March and $161 in October and April through September. Rooms book up, so reserve as soon as your orders land.
5. What does an Aurora CO apartment complex need from TDY applicants?
Expect standard screening: income verification, rental history and credit. Colorado law lets renters provide a portable tenant screening report, and Oslo on 6th accepts qualifying reports without charging an application fee for them. Its current special also lists no application or admin fees. Have your orders and proof of income ready.
Making Your TDY in Aurora Work
A TDY in Aurora doesn't have to drain your allowance. Short trips belong in a hotel or on base. Longer ones, especially orders that might turn into a PCS, are worth pricing against an apartment on the 6th Avenue corridor, the same road as Buckley's 6th Avenue Gate. Check our map and directions to Oslo on 6th, call the leasing team at (720) 647-7500, and match your lease to your orders before you report.
