Origin
Sheridan, CO
Afternoon in Sheridan on Thursday
Local time
2:34 PM
MDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sheridan, CO to Thornton, CO
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
28m
Distance
19 mi
31 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 26m
★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 33m
10 AM
0h 30m
12 PM
0h 30m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 33m
8 PM
0h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sheridan, CO
RDNE Stock project
Thornton, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Sheridan, CO to Thornton, CO covers 19 miles and takes about 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 285 North, West Hampden Avenue, US 85 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.86 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 28m. Total distance: 19 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 28m drive with frequent turns across 19 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.
US 285 North 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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Sheridan, CO to Thornton, CO is easy. At 28m 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 Sheridan, CO to Thornton, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 285 North | — | — |
| West Hampden Avenue | — | — |
| US 85 | — | — |
| US 85 North | — | — |
| South Santa Fe Drive | — | — |
| I 25 North | — | — |
| South Valley Highway | — | — |
| North Valley Highway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
US 285 North
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sheridan, CO and Thornton, CO.
1
Start on South Federal Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
South Federal Boulevard
2
Take the ramp straight toward US 285 North
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
US 285 North
3
Merge slight left onto West Hampden Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Hampden Avenue
4
Take the exit slight right toward US 85
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
US 85
5
Keep slight left to continue on US 85 North
249 ft
·
15 sec
·
US 85 North
6
Turn left onto US 85 North
105 ft
·
6 sec
·
US 85 North
7
Merge slight right onto South Santa Fe Drive
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
South Santa Fe Drive
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 25 North: Fort Collins
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 25 North: Fort Collins
9
Merge slight left onto South Valley Highway
10 mi
·
13 min
·
South Valley Highway
10
Keep slight right to continue on North Valley Highway
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
North Valley Highway
11
Take the exit slight right toward Thornton Parkway
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
Thornton Parkway
12
Turn right onto Thornton Parkway
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Thornton Parkway
13
Turn right onto Dorothy Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
·
Dorothy Boulevard
14
Turn right
118 ft
·
9 sec
15
Arrive at your destination
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.86 one way
$5.73 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $3.03 | $6.06 |
| premium | $4.39 | $3.29 | $6.57 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.19 | $8.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.7 | 0 | $1.99 | $0.91 |
| Efficient EV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.66 | $0.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.6 | 0 | $2.66 | $1.22 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Afternoon in Thornton on Thursday
Local time
2:34 PM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
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
31 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
28m 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 Sheridan, CO to Thornton, CO covers 19 miles and takes about 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 285 North, West Hampden Avenue, US 85. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 9.5 miles from Sheridan, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.86 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 Sheridan, CO to Thornton, CO is easy. At 28m 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 Sheridan, CO to Thornton, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Sheridan, CO to Thornton, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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