10 Driveway Apron Ideas to Elevate Your Entrance

Making the transition from your driveway to the road can be challenging if you’re unsure how to approach it. While a driveway apron idea may not be a big part of the design process, this section of the driveway is an opportunity to make your driveway stand out—or save money. Whether you’re going for wow factor, uniformity, functionality, or affordability, these driveway apron ideas will get you on the path.

Standard Concrete Apron

Concrete can be plain but durable and does the job. A broom finish is standard, but you can discuss adding decorative finishes or details in the control joints with your concrete contractor. Typical concrete aprons are poured about 4 inches thick, but if heavy waste collection trucks or other utility vehicles drive on your apron, your concrete may be more susceptible to cracking. Ideally, pour your concrete apron 6 inches thick on an 8 to 10-inch crushed stone base. If you’re thinking of replacing your driveway, doing it all at once can lower the per-square-foot cost to repave your driveway if you do more of the job at once.

Paver Apron

Even when a public walk passes through your paver driveway, installing a matching paver brick apron is a perfect finishing touch. Be aware that some areas allow municipalities to tear out your apron to work on drainage or other utilities—and they may not necessarily be obligated to replace your approach with the same materials. Aprons are often replaced with gravel, asphalt, or concrete with a broom finish. If you’re installing the whole driveway already, doing everything simultaneously can lower the driveway apron cost per square foot.

Out to the Road

In some communities, you don’t necessarily have to delineate the driveway apron as a separate piece. While some areas and existing layouts have public walks passing through your driveway to create readymade distinctions, other scenarios let you take your driveway design to the road without breaking up its overall design and layout.

Paver Border Between the Driveway and the Road

Materials like pavers naturally suit creating a perimeter border around your driveway, including where the end of the driveway apron meets the road or curb. Because pavers come in many different styles and colors, creating an attractive border to distinguish the apron from the rest of the driveway and the road should be no problem—the most difficult decision will be choosing which pavers to use.

Gravel Apron

Among the most cost-effective materials compared to concrete, pavers, and asphalt, gravel serves well as an apron. It tends to drain well and is easy to repair by simply regrading to fill in the holes and ruts that develop.

Asphalt to the Road

If you have an asphalt driveway, why not take it to the road? Asphalt is an excellent option for an apron, no matter what the rest of the driveway is made of, as it’s relatively easy to repair and reseal. It also holds up well in areas that use salt to keep roads clear in the winter and is somewhat reasonable to replace. As a bonus, it’s often among the materials that local road commissions will use to replace your apron if they do any utility work requiring demolition.

Stamped Concrete

The range of color and pattern combinations available with stamped concrete is equal to, if not surpassing, that of pavers. Stamped concrete is an excellent choice for a driveway apron. You’ll want to weigh costs and benefits, as you’ll need to clean and reseal stamped concrete every year or two. If the road has a lot of gravel, you may damage the surface if gravel or stones end up on the apron and you’re driving over it frequently. 

Also, if you live on a road that gets salted in the winter, you’ll need to be vigilant about keeping the concrete sealed, or the salt may end up peeling the concrete surface (that goes for any concrete). Finally, if you ever need to replace the driveway culvert, the apron must be replaced, too. But you're all set if you live in a subdivision or the apron is adjacent to a road with little to no loose stone.

Exposed Aggregate

Exposed aggregate concrete uses a decorative aggregate such as pea gravel rather than standard crushed stone. At just the right time, after the concrete is poured, graded, and given a preliminary finish, the surface is rinsed off to expose the aggregate inside the concrete. This process adds some cost compared to a regular broom finish, but the added visual appeal can elevate the look of a concrete slab.

Integral Color

You can pour concrete with color mixed into it, anything from red to earth tones to blues and greens (which tend to cost a bit more because of the pigment cost). The concrete can still be finished with a broom texture like a standard concrete driveway. Integral color without the stamping or patterns added can be a way to add character to your apron and driveway that’s usually more cost-effective than stamped concrete or pavers.

Swirled Trowel Finish

Whether you pour standard concrete or add integral color, you can add an interesting touch by asking your concrete contractor to add a swirled trowel finish that gives the apron the look of scales or a fan pattern, which works naturally due to the radius of the concrete finisher’s arm radius as they work across the slab. The best way to determine the options available is to discuss with a local driveway paving contractor.

Designing a Driveway Apron

It's up to you how utilitarian or ornamental you want your new driveway apron to be. Ideally, you'll be designing your apron in conjunction with concrete or masonry pros specializing in driveways. This will give you access to some great planning tools and ideas. Here's a look at the steps to put on your checklist as you design your custom driveway apron:

• Select Your Materials: Based on your personal style and the terrain on your property, you'll choose concrete, gravel, pavers, or another option. It's important to do this first because the material you choose will determine what you can do in terms of adding accent stones or applying color.

• Create Your Grid: When using stones or pavers, creating your apron is like putting a puzzle together. Every piece has to fit. A driveway pro can use 3D software or sketches to plug in your design to show you what it will look like. A template is also helpful for determining accurate pricing for the amount of materials needed to cover your apron.

• Plan the Entry: Do you want a natural-looking entry or dramatic demarcation for your driveway? Consider using landscaping to border the transition from the apron to the driveway with a garden. You can also use entry pillars with built-in lighting or an entry gate to frame your apron.

• Decide If You Want a Driveway Border: While not required, a driveway border can create visual variety and interest by integrating stone or ornate stamped concrete that's been stained or cut differently from the main driveway.