Bike path access
0 mi from route
Trip from Ouray, CO to Thornton, CO
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 47m
Distance
339.4 mi
546 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$52
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 35m
★
6 AM
6h 47m
8 AM
7h 11m
10 AM
6h 55m
12 PM
6h 53m
3 PM
6h 57m
5 PM
7h 10m
8 PM
6h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ouray, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Thornton, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Ouray to Thornton is 339.4 miles and takes about 6h 47m via I 70 BUS, US 50, and Main Street, with a fuel budget near $51 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Colorado, traversing the Mountain West region from start to finish. With 84% of the drive on highways, it's a predominantly straightforward transit. It's a solid option if you need to get from the Ouray area to Thornton efficiently within a single day.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
169.7 miles from Ouray, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 32m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 70 BUS | 234.5 mi | 4h 24m |
| US 50 | 43.5 mi | 52m |
| Main Street | 36.3 mi | 49m |
| 32 Road | 5.4 mi | 9m |
| Heartland Expressway | 5.1 mi | 5m |
| North Townsend Avenue | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| G Road | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| North Valley Highway | 2.2 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 70 BUS
— 234.5 mi, about 4h 24m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 18 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,726 veh/hr typical · worst 2,309
Quietest
2 AM
~95 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ouray, CO and Thornton, CO.
1
Start on 6th Avenue
12 ft
·
2 sec
·
6th Avenue
2
Turn right onto US 550
36 mi
·
49 min
·
Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Continue on US 550
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
North Townsend Avenue
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on US 50
17 mi
·
20 min
·
US 50
5
Turn left onto Confluence Drive
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Confluence Drive
Use the left lane.
6
Turn left onto West 5th Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
West 5th Street
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on G Road
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
G Road
8
Continue on G Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
G Road
9
Continue on G50 Road
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
G50 Road
10
At end of road, turn left onto US 50
15 mi
·
17 min
·
US 50
11
Continue on US 50
12 mi
·
14 min
·
US 50
12
Continue on CO 141
5.4 mi
·
9 min
·
32 Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Turn right onto I 70 BUS; US 6
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
I 70 BUS; US 6
14
Continue on I 70 BUS; US 6
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 70 BUS; US 6
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 BUS
233 mi
·
4 hr 22 min
·
I 70 BUS
Toward I 70 East: Denver
Use the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 76
5.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Heartland Expressway
Exit 269B
Toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
Use the left lane.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 5
Toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs
Use the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight left at fork
1.4 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 25 North: Fort Collins
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto I 25
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Valley Highway
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the slight right lane.
21
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 220
Toward Thornton Parkway
Use the slight right lane.
22
Turn right onto Thornton Parkway
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Thornton Parkway
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
23
Turn right onto Dorothy Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
·
Dorothy Boulevard
Use the right lane.
24
Turn right
116 ft
·
8 sec
25
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 47m estimated drive time and 339.4 miles, leaving in the morning is your best bet to complete this trip in one day. Plan for one stop to break up the drive, which should be ample for a trip of this length. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before entering longer stretches, as the fuel cost is estimated at $51. The route is mostly highway, so pay attention to signage when you begin to transition off of I 70 BUS and onto local roads like Main Street as you near Thornton.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 169.7 miles from Ouray, CO, or about 3h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 234.5 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 75 miles or 1h 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 169.7 miles or 3h 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Thornton, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ouray, 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 Ouray, CO
This is one driving day of about 339.4 miles and 6h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 75 miles from Ouray, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 70 BUS for about 234.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
170 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 75 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 169.7 miles from Ouray, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 70 BUS if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 234.5 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Grizzly Creek
0 mi from route
CDOT Rest Area: Bair Ranch
0 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
CDOT Rest Area: No Name
0.1 mi from route
CDOT Rest Area: Edwards
0.1 mi from route
CDOT Rest Area: Vail Pass
0.1 mi from route
Golden Gate Gas
0.1 mi from route
CDOT Rest Area: Hanging Lake
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
CDOT Rest Area: Rifle
0.3 mi from route
Edwards Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Rest Area
1.5 mi from route
Water World
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2.1 mi from route
~5 min detour
Federal Heights, Colorado
+13034277873
Visit websiteBachelor Syracuse Mine Tour
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
2.6 mi from route
~6 min detour
Ouray, Colorado
+19703250220
Visit websiteClear Creek White Water Park
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~10 min detour
Home stretch
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Golden, Colorado
Hours: Open 24 hours
+13033848000
Visit websiteFrisco Historic Park and Museum
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, ~12 min detour
Final third
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Frisco, Colorado
Hours: Closed
+19706683428
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 95.6 and 337.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
95.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 9m in
|
I 70 BUS
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 BUS toward I 70 East: Denver
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 70 East: Denver
8
328.9 mi into trip
|
~6h 31m in
|
I 76 / Heartland Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 76 / Heartland Expressway toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Exit 269B
Toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
8
334 mi into trip
|
~6h 37m in
Take the exit toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5
Toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs
7
334.2 mi into trip
|
~6h 37m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 25 North: Fort Collins
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 25 North: Fort Collins
7
337.8 mi into trip
|
~6h 43m in
Take the exit toward Thornton Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 220
Toward Thornton Parkway
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$51.75 one way
$103.50 round trip
$3.87/gal
25.4 MPG avg
119 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.12 | $55.01 | $110.02 |
| premium | $4.45 | $59.50 | $119.00 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $64.09 | $128.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$52
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$77–$102
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 118.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 101.8 | 1 | $35.64 | $16.29 |
| Efficient EV | 84.9 | 0 | $29.70 | $13.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 135.8 | 1 | $47.52 | $21.72 |
Gas CO2
119 kg
EV CO2
40 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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.
Origin
Ouray, CO
Evening in Ouray on Saturday
Local time
7:30 PM
MDT
Current temp
76°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
WNW 0 to 5 mph
83% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Thornton, CO
Evening in Thornton on Saturday
Local time
7:30 PM
MDT
Current temp
94°F
Sunny
NE 3 to 8 mph
1% chance
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
18 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
6h 47m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park
National Park
Big enough to be overwhelming, yet still intimate enough to feel the pulse of time. Come see some of the steepest cliffs, oldest rock, and craggiest spires in North America. Forces of nature and the G...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
$30
near mile 35.1
Park Closure: Long-term Closures Due to Wildfires
Colorado National Monument
National Monument
Colorado National Monument preserves one of the grand landscapes of the American West. But this treasure is much more than a monument. Towering monoliths exist within a vast plateau and canyon panoram...
13 mi from route
~31 min detour
$25
near mile 93.6
View on nps.gov
Curecanti National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
Three reservoirs and surrounding lands make up this recreation area in western Colorado. It is a landscape of tradeoffs; natural and human made features exist together. Geologic wonders are abundant f...
26 mi from route
~66 min detour
Free
near mile 23.4
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend most of your time on highways, with 84% of the 339.4 miles on high-speed roads like I 70 BUS. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 234.5 miles, also on I 70 BUS. You'll transition from highway cruising to surface streets for the final portion of your trip, indicated by the change from the highway percentage. Expect to encounter standard highway conditions for the majority of this drive.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 234.5 mi on I 70 BUS.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 BUS and US 50. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 95.6 miles in near I 70 BUS.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 339.4 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 95.6 miles (I 70 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 328.9 miles (I 76 / Heartland Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 334 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
8,980 ft
4,800 ft
Total Climb
4,180 ft
Total Descent
6,618 ft
Highest Point
8,980 ft
~266.6 mi in
Elevation Range
4,180 ft
Notable High Points
8,980 ft at ~266.6 miles
+106 ft prominence
About the Cities
Starting in Ouray, CO
Full guide →Ouray is a small town in Southwestern Colorado, magnificently situated in the San Juan Mountains and nicknamed "The Switzerland of America" for its scenery and outdoor recreational opportunities.
Arriving in Thornton, CO
Full guide →Founded 1956
Thornton is a city of about 144,000 in the Denver Metropolitan Area of the western U.S. state of Colorado. The city lies northwest of Denver in Adams and Weld counties. It is a diverse community with a strong commitment to quality of life and environmental issues.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 47m. Total distance: 339.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 47m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 234.5 miles on I 70 BUS. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 14 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 14 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 95.6 miles (I 70 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 328.9 miles (I 76 / Heartland Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 334 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park, Colorado National Monument and Curecanti National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.8 hours each way, a round trip means 13.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Thornton, CO before the return drive.
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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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