Origin
Campion, CO
Morning in Campion on Tuesday
Local time
7:23 AM
MDT
Current temp
33°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Campion, CO to Thornton, CO
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
47m
Distance
39.8 mi
64 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 44m
★
6 AM
0h 48m
8 AM
0h 56m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 50m
3 PM
0h 51m
5 PM
0h 55m
8 PM
0h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Campion, CO
Cedric Fauntleroy
Thornton, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 39.6-mile drive from Campion to Thornton, Colorado, will take you about 42 minutes to complete. As both locations are in the Mountain West region, you'll stay within familiar territory. The route is estimated to cost around $6 for fuel, making it a budget-friendly trip. With its short duration, this drive is perfect for a single day trip, requiring no overnight stays. The road profile suggests a turn-heavy local drive, so be prepared for frequent changes in direction rather than long, straight stretches. It's a straightforward journey with minimal complexity.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 22.3 mi | 22m |
| North Valley Highway | 7.6 mi | 8m |
| East Highway 56 | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| North 1st Street | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| East County Road 8 | 1 mi | 1m |
| Thornton Parkway | 1 mi | 2m |
| South Highway 287 | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Dorothy Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 22.3 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Campion, CO and Thornton, CO.
1
Start on CR 14
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
42nd Street Southeast
2
Take the ramp
194 ft
·
5 sec
3
Merge onto US 287
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
South Highway 287
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
5
Keep slight right at fork
450 ft
·
12 sec
6
Continue on North 1st Street
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
North 1st Street
7
Enter roundabout onto CO 56
233 ft
·
13 sec
·
East County Road 8
8
Continue on CO 56
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East County Road 8
9
Continue on CO 56
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
East Highway 56
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 25 South: Denver
11
Merge onto I 25
22 mi
·
22 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 25
0.6 mi
·
36 sec
·
North Valley Highway
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
7.0 mi
·
8 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 220
Toward Thornton Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
116 ft
·
4 sec
Toward Thornton Parkway East
16
Turn left onto Thornton Parkway
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Thornton Parkway
Use the left / straight lanes.
17
Turn right onto Dorothy Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
·
Dorothy Boulevard
Use the right lane.
18
Turn right
116 ft
·
8 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 39.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.9 miles from Campion, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 39.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.1 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
31.3 mi into trip
|
~35m 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 right lanes.
7
38.3 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the exit toward Thornton Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 220
Toward Thornton Parkway
6
38.5 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Thornton Parkway East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Thornton Parkway East
6
39.5 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
Dorothy Boulevard
Turn right onto Dorothy Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.00 one way
$11.99 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $6.35 | $12.70 |
| premium | $4.39 | $6.89 | $13.77 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.79 | $17.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.18 | $1.91 |
| Efficient EV | 10 | 0 | $3.48 | $1.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.9 | 0 | $5.57 | $2.55 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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 Tuesday
Local time
7:23 AM
MDT
Current temp
36°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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
47m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a fairly dynamic driving experience on this route, characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive.' You'll be navigating a mix of local roads, including Highway 287, North 1st Street, and East County Road 8. With a 0% highway share, this isn't about cruising on interstates; instead, anticipate engaging with smaller roads and more frequent intersections. While there isn't a specific longest uninterrupted stretch noted, the nature of the route implies you'll be making regular adjustments. The drive will likely feel more urban or suburban as you approach Thornton.
Only 14% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.3 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 1.1 miles in.
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 13 decision points packed into just 39.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 47m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 31.3 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 38.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 47m. Total distance: 39.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.3 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Thornton, CO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 31.3 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 38.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Thornton, CO before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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