Origin
Thornton, CO
Evening in Thornton on Sunday
Local time
7:35 PM
MDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Thornton, CO to Acres Green, CO
Drive Time
40m
Distance
28 mi
45 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 37m
★
6 AM
0h 41m
8 AM
0h 48m
10 AM
0h 43m
12 PM
0h 43m
3 PM
0h 44m
5 PM
0h 47m
8 PM
0h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Thornton, CO
Robert So
Acres Green, CO
Sam McCool
Trip Overview
If you are traveling from Thornton to Acres Green, you are looking at a 28-mile trip that typically takes about 40 minutes to complete. This journey is perfectly suited for a single-day outing, as it is short enough that you will not need an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $4 on fuel for the entire trip, making it a very budget-friendly transit across the Mountain West region. Navigating this path involves transitioning through Thornton Parkway and East County Line Road to connect your points. Because the drive is straightforward, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule rather than worrying about long-haul logistics.
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
14 miles from Thornton, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 20m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged throughout the 28-mile span. While you spend some time on major arteries like the North Valley Highway, only about 3% of your journey is on designated highways. You will spend the bulk of your time, specifically 24.1 miles, navigating the North Valley Highway stretch. The road’s personality is defined by its local, maneuver-intensive nature rather than a long, monotonous interstate grind. By focusing on these technical local roads, you get a direct look at the terrain as you move between Thornton and Acres Green.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Valley Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 24.1 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 0.2 miles in near Thornton Parkway.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 28 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Thornton Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Thornton Parkway
At end of road, turn left onto Thornton Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
6
1.2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Turn left toward I 25 South: Colorado Springs
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward I 25 South: Colorado Springs
6
2.8 mi into trip
|
~5m 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 none lane.
7
25.6 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Take the exit toward County Line Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 195
Toward County Line Road
6
27.2 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
Acres Green Drive
Turn left onto Acres Green Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Valley Highway | 24.1 mi | 30m |
| East County Line Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Thornton Parkway | 1 mi | 2m |
| Acres Green Drive | 0.8 mi | 3m |
| Dorothy Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
North Valley Highway
— 24.1 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Thornton, CO and Acres Green, CO.
1
Start on this road
76 ft
·
12 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Dorothy Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
58 sec
·
Dorothy Boulevard
3
At end of road, turn left onto Thornton Parkway
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Thornton Parkway
Use the none lane.
4
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 25 South: Colorado Springs
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
Merge onto I 25
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the none lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
23 mi
·
29 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the none lane.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 195
Toward County Line Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn slight right
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward West County Line Road
9
Turn straight onto CR 50
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East County Line Road
Use the none lane.
10
Turn left onto Acres Green Drive
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Acres Green Drive
Use the none lane.
11
Continue on Acres Green Drive
451 ft
·
19 sec
·
Acres Green Drive
12
Arrive at destination
Acres Green Drive
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick 40-minute drive, you have the advantage of choosing a departure time that avoids peak traffic patterns. You will not need to plan for any formal stops, as the distance is short enough to cover in one go. Keep in mind that because this is a turn-heavy route, staying alert at intersections is more important than managing long-distance fatigue. Budgeting $4 for fuel should keep you covered, but it is always wise to ensure your tank is topped off before you head out. A helpful tip for this specific trek is to prioritize your route navigation early, as the transition between local roads and the North Valley Highway requires frequent turns.
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 14 miles from Thornton, CO, or about 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24.1 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 28 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 14 miles or 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Acres Green, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Thornton, 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 Thornton, CO
This is one driving day of about 28 miles and 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Thornton, 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.
The longest stretch is on North Valley Highway for about 24.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 14 mi from Thornton, CO · 20m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
14 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 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 14 miles from Thornton, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Acres Green, CO
The final approach into Acres Green, 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 Acres Green, 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
$4.24 one way
$8.49 round trip
$3.85/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.08 | $4.50 | $9.00 |
| premium | $4.43 | $4.89 | $9.77 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $6.22 | $12.44 |
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: 9.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.94 | $1.34 |
| Efficient EV | 7 | 0 | $2.45 | $1.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.92 | $1.79 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Acres Green, CO
Evening in Acres Green on Sunday
Local time
7:35 PM
MDT
Current temp
42°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
24 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
40m 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 Thornton, CO to Acres Green, CO covers 28 miles and takes about 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Valley Highway, East County Line Road, Thornton Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 14 miles from Thornton, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.24 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 demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 28 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Thornton Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Thornton, CO to Acres Green, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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