Origin
Thornton, CO
Evening in Thornton on Thursday
Local time
8:06 PM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Thornton, CO to Dove Valley, CO
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
40m
Distance
27.8 mi
45 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 37m
★
6 AM
0h 40m
8 AM
0h 47m
10 AM
0h 42m
12 PM
0h 42m
3 PM
0h 43m
5 PM
0h 47m
8 PM
0h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Thornton, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Dove Valley, CO
Regan Dsouza
Trip Overview
This quick 27.8-mile drive from Thornton to Dove Valley, Colorado, is easily manageable in about 40 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily navigate North Valley Highway and East Arapahoe Road, with a brief stint on Broncos Parkway. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $4, this journey offers a straightforward local experience without requiring an overnight stay. The route, entirely within the Mountain West region of Colorado, is characterized by its frequent turns, so be prepared for a more engaged driving experience. It's a practical option for those needing to cover a short distance efficiently.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 40m. Total distance: 27.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with a relatively low highway share of only 8%. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 22 miles along North Valley Highway, offering a brief period of more consistent travel before you start navigating local roads again. As you progress, the road will likely transition between these main arteries, demanding your attention due to the frequent changes in direction. This isn't a high-speed interstate cruise, but rather an engaged, local navigation experience.
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 22 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.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 27.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 40m.
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 8 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 left / straight lanes.
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 straight / slight left lanes.
7
23.6 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
CO 88
Take the exit onto CO 88 toward CO 88: Arapahoe Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 197
Toward CO 88: Arapahoe Road
6
23.8 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
CO 88; CR 42 / East Arapahoe Road
At end of road, turn left onto CO 88; CR 42 / East Arapahoe Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Valley Highway | 22 mi | 28m |
| East Arapahoe Road | 2 mi | 3m |
| Broncos Parkway | 1 mi | 1m |
| Thornton Parkway | 1 mi | 2m |
| South Peoria Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| CO 88 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Dorothy Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Potomac Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
North Valley Highway
— 22 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Thornton, CO and Dove Valley, 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 left / straight lanes.
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
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
21 mi
·
26 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Take the exit onto CO 88
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
CO 88
Exit 197
Toward CO 88: Arapahoe Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
At end of road, turn left onto CO 88; CR 42
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
East Arapahoe Road
Use the left / right lanes.
9
Continue on CO 88; CR 42
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
East Arapahoe Road
Use the left lane.
10
Turn right onto South Peoria Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South Peoria Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Continue on Broncos Parkway
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Broncos Parkway
Use the straight lane.
12
Arrive at destination
South Potomac Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.19 one way
$8.38 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $4.43 | $8.87 |
| premium | $4.39 | $4.81 | $9.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.14 | $12.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.3 | 0 | $2.92 | $1.33 |
| Efficient EV | 7 | 0 | $2.43 | $1.11 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.89 | $1.78 |
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
Dove Valley, CO
Evening in Dove Valley on Thursday
Local time
8:06 PM
MDT
Current temp
61°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
15 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
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 Dove Valley, CO covers 27.8 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 Arapahoe Road, Broncos Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 13.9 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 $4.19 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 8 decision points packed into just 27.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 40m.
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 Dove Valley, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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