Origin
Superior, CO
Morning in Superior on Saturday
Local time
8:53 AM
MDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Superior, CO to Thornton, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
24m
Distance
14.8 mi
24 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 22m
★
6 AM
0h 25m
8 AM
0h 29m
10 AM
0h 26m
12 PM
0h 26m
3 PM
0h 26m
5 PM
0h 29m
8 PM
0h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Superior, CO
Gustavo Galeano Maz
Thornton, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Superior, CO to Thornton, CO covers 14.8 miles and takes about 24m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Denver–Boulder Turnpike, West 92nd Avenue, Thornton Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 8.7 miles on Denver–Boulder Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.23 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 24m. Total distance: 14.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 24m highway drive covering 14.8 miles, with most of the trip on Denver–Boulder Turnpike and West 92nd Avenue. The longest continuous stretch is about 8.7 miles on Denver–Boulder Turnpike.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Denver–Boulder Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 8.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Denver–Boulder Turnpike and West 92nd Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near CO 170 / Marshall Road.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 14.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 24m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (CO 170 / Marshall Road): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.3 miles (CO 170 / McCaslin Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
CO 170 / Marshall Road
At end of road, turn right onto CO 170 / Marshall Road
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
CO 170 / McCaslin Boulevard
Turn left onto CO 170 / McCaslin Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
9.4 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward CO 95 South: Sheridan Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward CO 95 South: Sheridan Boulevard
5
9.7 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
CO 95 / Sheridan Boulevard
Turn sharp left onto CO 95 / Sheridan Boulevard
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
14.6 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
Dorothy Boulevard
Turn right onto Dorothy Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Denver–Boulder Turnpike | 8.7 mi | 9m |
| West 92nd Avenue | 2.5 mi | 5m |
| Thornton Parkway | 2 mi | 4m |
| Sheridan Boulevard | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Dorothy Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Marshall Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| McCaslin Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
— 8.7 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Superior, CO and Thornton, CO.
1
Start on this road
142 ft
·
15 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
2nd Avenue
3
At end of road, turn right onto CO 170
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Marshall Road
4
Turn left onto CO 170
368 ft
·
23 sec
·
McCaslin Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward US 36 East: Denver
6
Merge onto US 36
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36
0.8 mi
·
53 sec
·
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward CO 95 South: Sheridan Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn sharp left onto CO 95
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Sheridan Boulevard
Use the left lane.
13
Turn straight
306 ft
·
11 sec
14
Turn straight onto West 92nd Avenue
2.5 mi
·
5 min
·
West 92nd Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Continue on Thornton Parkway
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Thornton Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Turn right onto Dorothy Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
·
Dorothy Boulevard
Use the right lane.
17
Turn right
116 ft
·
8 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.23 one way
$4.46 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $2.36 | $4.72 |
| premium | $4.39 | $2.56 | $5.12 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.27 | $6.54 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.61
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
(8.7 mi)
$0.61
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Tolls
$1
Total
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.4 | 0 | $1.55 | $0.71 |
| Efficient EV | 3.7 | 0 | $1.30 | $0.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.9 | 0 | $2.07 | $0.95 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Morning in Thornton on Saturday
Local time
8:53 AM
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
1 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
24m 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 Superior, CO to Thornton, CO covers 14.8 miles and takes about 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Denver–Boulder Turnpike, West 92nd Avenue, Thornton Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 7.4 miles from Superior, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.23 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 14 decision points packed into just 14.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 24m.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (CO 170 / Marshall Road): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.3 miles (CO 170 / McCaslin Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Superior, CO to Thornton, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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