Origin
Thornton, CO
Afternoon in Thornton on Thursday
Local time
1:37 PM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Thornton, CO to Ponderosa Park, CO
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 9m
Distance
46.7 mi
75 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 4m
★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 13m
12 PM
1h 12m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Thornton, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Thornton, CO to Ponderosa Park, CO covers 46.7 miles and takes about 1h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Dorothy Boulevard, Thornton Parkway, I 25 South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.04 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 9m. Total distance: 46.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m 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 1h 9m drive with frequent turns across 46.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Dorothy Boulevard 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 Thornton, CO to Ponderosa Park, CO is easy. At 1h 9m 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 Thornton, CO to Ponderosa Park, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dorothy Boulevard | — | — |
| Thornton Parkway | — | — |
| I 25 South | — | — |
| North Valley Highway | — | — |
| CO 470 West | — | — |
| E-470 North | — | — |
| E-470 | — | — |
| CO 83 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Dorothy Boulevard
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Thornton, CO and Ponderosa Park, CO.
1
Start on the route
75 ft
·
12 sec
·
the route
2
Turn left onto Dorothy Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
59 sec
·
Dorothy Boulevard
3
At the end of the road, turn left onto Thornton Parkway
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Thornton Parkway
4
Turn left onto I 25 South: Colorado Springs
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
I 25 South: Colorado Springs
5
Merge slight left onto North Valley Highway
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
North Valley Highway
6
Keep slight right to continue on North Valley Highway
23 mi
·
29 min
·
North Valley Highway
7
Take the exit slight right toward E-470 North, CO 470 West: Limon, Grand Junction
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
E-470 North, CO 470 West: Limon, Grand Junction
8
Keep slight left to continue on E-470 North: Limon
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
E-470 North: Limon
9
Merge slight left onto E-470
4.4 mi
·
4 min
·
E-470
10
Take the exit slight right toward CO 83
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
CO 83
11
Turn slight right onto CO 83 South: Parker Road
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
CO 83 South: Parker Road
12
Merge slight left onto South Parker Road
3.9 mi
·
6 min
·
South Parker Road
13
Turn left onto Hess Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Hess Road
14
Continue on Hilltop Road
4.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Hilltop Road
15
Continue on Flintwood Road
3.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Flintwood Road
16
Turn left onto Ponderosa Lane
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Ponderosa Lane
17
Turn left onto Verdos Drive
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Verdos Drive
18
Arrive at your destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23.3 mi from Thornton, CO · 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.3 miles from Thornton, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Ponderosa Park, CO
The final approach into Ponderosa Park, CO usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.04 one way
$14.07 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $7.45 | $14.90 |
| premium | $4.39 | $8.08 | $16.16 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.31 | $20.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14 | 0 | $4.90 | $2.24 |
| Efficient EV | 11.7 | 0 | $4.09 | $1.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.7 | 0 | $6.54 | $2.99 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Ponderosa Park, CO
Afternoon in Ponderosa Park on Thursday
Local time
1:37 PM
MDT
Current temp
43°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
3 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
1h 9m 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 Ponderosa Park, CO covers 46.7 miles and takes about 1h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dorothy Boulevard, Thornton Parkway, I 25 South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 23.3 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 $7.04 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 Thornton, CO to Ponderosa Park, CO is easy. At 1h 9m 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 Thornton, CO to Ponderosa Park, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Thornton, CO to Ponderosa Park, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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