Origin
Boulder, CO
Evening in Boulder on Sunday
Local time
5:15 PM
MDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Boulder, CO to Thornton, CO
Drive Time
30m
Distance
25.8 mi
42 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 28m
★
6 AM
0h 31m
8 AM
0h 36m
10 AM
0h 32m
12 PM
0h 32m
3 PM
0h 33m
5 PM
0h 36m
8 PM
0h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Boulder, CO
Dmitriy Piskarev
Thornton, CO
Robert So
Trip Overview
The drive from Boulder, CO to Thornton, CO covers 25.8 miles and takes about 30m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 19th Street, Arapahoe Avenue, 28th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.91 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
12.9 miles from Boulder, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 15m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 30m drive with frequent turns across 25.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
19th Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Boulder, CO to Thornton, CO is easy. At 30m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Boulder, CO to Thornton, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 19th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Arapahoe Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 28th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Denver–Boulder Turnpike | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| CO 95 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Sheridan Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West 92nd Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Thornton Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
19th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Boulder, CO and Thornton, CO.
1
Start on the route
89 ft
·
7 sec
·
the route
2
Turn right onto 19th Street
144 ft
·
14 sec
·
19th Street
3
Turn left onto Arapahoe Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Arapahoe Avenue
4
Turn right onto 28th Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
28th Street
5
Turn straight onto Denver–Boulder Turnpike
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
6
Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
7
Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
8
Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
9
Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
10
Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
11
Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike
0.8 mi
·
53 sec
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
12
Take the exit slight right toward CO 95 South: Sheridan Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
CO 95 South: Sheridan Boulevard
13
Turn sharp left onto Sheridan Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Sheridan Boulevard
14
Turn straight
305 ft
·
11 sec
15
Turn straight onto West 92nd Avenue
2.5 mi
·
5 min
·
West 92nd Avenue
16
Continue on Thornton Parkway
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Thornton Parkway
17
Turn right onto Dorothy Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
·
Dorothy Boulevard
18
Turn right
118 ft
·
9 sec
19
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 12.9 miles from Boulder, CO, or about 15m into the drive.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 25.8 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 12.9 miles or 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Thornton, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Boulder, CO so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Boulder, CO
This is one driving day of about 25.8 miles and 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Boulder, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 12.9 mi from Boulder, CO · 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
13 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 25.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 12.9 miles from Boulder, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Thornton, CO
The final approach into Thornton, CO usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Thornton, CO.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.91 one way
$7.82 round trip
$3.85/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.08 | $4.15 | $8.30 |
| premium | $4.43 | $4.50 | $9.01 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $5.73 | $11.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.71 | $1.24 |
| Efficient EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.26 | $1.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.3 | 0 | $3.61 | $1.65 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Thornton, CO
Evening in Thornton on Sunday
Local time
5:15 PM
MDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
26 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
30m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Boulder, CO to Thornton, CO covers 25.8 miles and takes about 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 19th Street, Arapahoe Avenue, 28th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 12.9 miles from Boulder, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.91 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Boulder, CO to Thornton, CO is easy. At 30m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Boulder, CO to Thornton, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Boulder, CO to Thornton, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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