Origin
Thornton, CO
Late night in Thornton on Tuesday
Local time
2:46 AM
MDT
Current temp
36°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Thornton, CO to Applewood, 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
25m
Distance
16.2 mi
26 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 23m
★
6 AM
0h 25m
8 AM
0h 30m
10 AM
0h 27m
12 PM
0h 26m
3 PM
0h 27m
5 PM
0h 29m
8 PM
0h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Thornton, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Applewood, CO
Piotr Arnoldes
Trip Overview
Thornton to Applewood is 16.2 miles and takes about 25m via Heartland Expressway, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Mountain West region, specifically Colorado. It's primarily a highway-focused drive, making it a quick and efficient way to get between these two points. Consider this route for its straightforwardness and minimal time commitment, ideal for a day trip or a quick commute.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Heartland Expressway | 5.2 mi | 5m |
| I 70 | 4.1 mi | 4m |
| North Valley Highway | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Thornton Parkway | 1 mi | 2m |
| West 32nd Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Eldridge Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Clear Creek Drive | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Berry Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Heartland Expressway
— 5.2 mi, about 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Thornton, CO and Applewood, 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
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 216
Toward I 76 West: Arvada, Grand Junction
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 76
5.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Heartland Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 70
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 264
Toward Clear Creek Drive, 32nd Avenue, Youngfield Street
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn left onto Clear Creek Drive
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Clear Creek Drive
12
Turn right onto West 32nd Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West 32nd Avenue
13
Enter roundabout onto CR 18
151 ft
·
4 sec
·
Eldridge Street
14
Continue on CR 18
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
Eldridge Street
15
Turn right onto Berry Road
0.3 mi
·
58 sec
·
Berry Road
16
Continue on Garden Road
372 ft
·
16 sec
·
Garden Road
17
Arrive at destination
Garden Road
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 14.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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.
8
4.2 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit toward I 76 West: Arvada, Grand Junction
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 216
Toward I 76 West: Arvada, Grand Junction
8
14.4 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Take the exit toward Clear Creek Drive, 32nd Avenue, Youngfield Street
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 264
Toward Clear Creek Drive, 32nd Avenue, Youngfie...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.44 one way
$4.88 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $2.58 | $5.17 |
| premium | $4.39 | $2.80 | $5.60 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.58 | $7.15 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.9 | 0 | $1.70 | $0.78 |
| Efficient EV | 4.1 | 0 | $1.42 | $0.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.27 | $1.04 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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
Applewood, CO
Late night in Applewood on Tuesday
Local time
2:46 AM
MDT
Current temp
34°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
2 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
25m 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?
This drive is largely highway-focused, with 63% of the journey on interstates. You'll experience stretches on Heartland Expressway, I 70, and North Valley Highway. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll encounter is 5.2 miles on Heartland Expressway, offering a consistent pace. Expect a driving experience characterized by efficient travel and relatively high speeds for most of the 16.2 miles.
63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 5.2 mi on Heartland Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Heartland Expressway and I 70. 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
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 16.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 25m.
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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Thornton, CO to Applewood, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Grand Junction along the way.
Grand Junction
4.2 mi in
|
~7m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 25m. Total distance: 16.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (63%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 5.2 miles on Heartland Expressway. 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 Applewood, 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 0.2 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Applewood, 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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