Origin
Kersey, CO
Late night in Kersey on Tuesday
Local time
4:10 AM
MDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kersey, 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
1h 2m
Distance
50.9 mi
82 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Fair
3 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kersey, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Thornton, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 50.9-mile drive from Kersey to Thornton, Colorado, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 2 minutes. Primarily using I-76 and County Road 49, the route offers a mixed driving experience suitable for a single day trip. With an estimated fuel cost of $8, this short journey through the Mountain West region is budget-friendly. There are no designated stops, so you can plan your own breaks. This route is ideal for those looking for a quick and efficient transit between these two Colorado locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 76 | 23.6 mi | 24m |
| County Road 49 | 20 mi | 23m |
| Highway 34 | 2 mi | 3m |
| Thornton Parkway | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| East 88th Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Colorado Boulevard | 1 mi | 1m |
| 1st Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Dorothy Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 76
— 23.6 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kersey, CO and Thornton, CO.
1
Start on this road
109 ft
·
9 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto 3rd Street
423 ft
·
23 sec
·
3rd Street
3
Turn left onto Campbell Street
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
Campbell Street
4
Turn right onto 1st Street
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
1st Street
5
Turn left onto US 34
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Highway 34
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
Turn left onto CR 49
20 mi
·
23 min
·
County Road 49
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 76 West
8
Merge onto I 76
24 mi
·
24 min
·
I 76
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 10
Toward 88th Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn right onto East 88th Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
East 88th Avenue
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
11
Turn right onto Colorado Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Colorado Boulevard
Use the right lane.
12
Turn left onto Thornton Parkway
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Thornton Parkway
Use the left lane.
13
Turn left onto Dorothy Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
·
Dorothy Boulevard
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right
116 ft
·
8 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.4 miles from Kersey, 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 0.1 and 50.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Campbell Street
Turn left onto Campbell Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
1st Street
Turn right onto 1st Street
Navigation decision point
7
46.2 mi into trip
|
~53m in
Take the exit toward 88th Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 10
Toward 88th Avenue
6
48 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
Colorado Boulevard
Turn right onto Colorado Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
50.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
|
Dorothy Boulevard
Turn left onto Dorothy Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.67 one way
$15.34 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $8.12 | $16.24 |
| premium | $4.39 | $8.81 | $17.61 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.24 | $22.48 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.3 | 0 | $5.34 | $2.44 |
| Efficient EV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.45 | $2.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.4 | 0 | $7.13 | $3.26 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% 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
Late night in Thornton on Tuesday
Local time
4:10 AM
MDT
Current temp
36°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
33°F
Brighton, CO
25 mi in
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
23 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 2m 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?
The character of this drive is predominantly highway-based, with 54% of the journey on interstate. You'll encounter a mixed drive profile, meaning expect a blend of faster highway sections and potentially more local road segments. The longest uninterrupted stretch spans 23.6 miles on I-76, offering a period of consistent speed. As you progress, the road will transition between these different types, so be prepared for changes in speed limits and road conditions. This route doesn't present a monotonous interstate grind, but rather a varied driving experience.
54% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.6 mi on I 76.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Campbell Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 50.9 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Campbell Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 46.2 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 1h 2m. Total distance: 50.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (54%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23.6 miles on I 76. 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 0.1 miles (Campbell Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 46.2 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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