Origin
Byers, CO
Evening in Byers on Wednesday
Local time
7:44 PM
MDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Byers, CO to Thornton, CO
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
56m
Distance
47.1 mi
76 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 52m
★
6 AM
0h 56m
8 AM
1h 5m
10 AM
0h 59m
12 PM
0h 59m
3 PM
1h 0m
5 PM
1h 5m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Byers, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Thornton, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Byers, CO to Thornton, CO covers 47.1 miles and takes about 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway, North Valley Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 36 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.10 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
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
23.5 miles from Byers, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 25m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 56m drive with frequent turns across 47.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 36 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 33.7 miles in near I 70 / Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway.
Route Complexity
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 47.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 56m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 33.7 miles (I 70 / Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.5 miles (I 270 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
33.7 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
I 70 / Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 / Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
36.5 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
I 270 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway toward I 270 West: Boulder
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 279A
Toward I 270 West: Boulder
6
43.1 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit toward I 25 North: Fort Collins
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 25 North: Fort Collins
6
44.3 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
I 25 / North Valley Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25 / North Valley Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
7
45.5 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Take the exit toward Thornton Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 220
Toward Thornton Parkway
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 36 mi | 38m |
| Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway | 6.2 mi | 7m |
| North Valley Highway | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| Thornton Parkway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| North Main Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| US 36 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| CO 36 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Dorothy Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 36 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Byers, CO and Thornton, CO.
1
Start on CO 36
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
CO 36
2
Turn left onto CO 36
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
3
Take the ramp onto US 36
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
US 36
Toward I 70 West
4
Merge onto I 70
29 mi
·
29 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on I 70
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270
6.6 mi
·
8 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Exit 279A
Toward I 270 West: Boulder
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 25 North: Fort Collins
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 25
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Valley Highway
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the slight right lane.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 220
Toward Thornton Parkway
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn right onto Thornton Parkway
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Thornton Parkway
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
13
Turn right onto Dorothy Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
·
Dorothy Boulevard
Use the right lane.
14
Turn right
116 ft
·
8 sec
15
Arrive at 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 23.5 miles from Byers, CO, or about 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36 miles.
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 10 miles or 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 23.5 miles or 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Thornton, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Byers, CO.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Byers, CO
This is one driving day of about 47.1 miles and 56m.
At 47.1 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 36 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23.5 mi from Byers, CO · 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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
First break window
Fuel and coffeeA short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.5 miles from Byers, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Thornton, CO
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Thornton, CO if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.10 one way
$14.19 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $7.51 | $15.03 |
| premium | $4.39 | $8.15 | $16.30 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.40 | $20.80 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.95 | $2.26 |
| Efficient EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.12 | $1.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.8 | 0 | $6.59 | $3.01 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (63% 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 Wednesday
Local time
7:44 PM
MDT
Current temp
73°F
Partly Sunny
W 9 mph
3% chance
Live forecast
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
6 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
56m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Byers, CO to Thornton, CO covers 47.1 miles and takes about 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway, North Valley Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 23.5 miles from Byers, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.10 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.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 47.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 56m.
The main spots that need attention: at 33.7 miles (I 70 / Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.5 miles (I 270 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Byers, CO to Thornton, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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