Origin
Thornton, CO
Late night in Thornton on Sunday
Local time
1:55 AM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Thornton, CO to Byers, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
56m
Distance
47.2 mi
76 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
0h 51m
★
6 AM
0h 56m
8 AM
1h 5m
10 AM
0h 59m
12 PM
0h 58m
3 PM
1h 0m
5 PM
1h 5m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Thornton, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Byers, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Thornton to Byers is 47.2 miles and takes about 56 minutes via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a short, same-day trip entirely within Colorado's Mountain West region. Expect a local drive feel with several turns, making it a straightforward journey for a quick excursion. Given its brevity, this route is ideal for those looking for an easy drive without a significant time commitment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 36 mi | 38m |
| Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway | 6.2 mi | 7m |
| North Valley Highway | 2 mi | 2m |
| Thornton Parkway | 1 mi | 2m |
| US 36 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| CO 36 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Dorothy Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 36 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Thornton, CO and Byers, 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
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Valley Highway
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 217B
Toward I 270 East: Aurora, Limon
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
8
Merge onto I 270
6.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 70
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on I 70
29 mi
·
29 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit onto US 36
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
US 36
Exit 316
Toward US 36 East: Byers
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn right onto CO 36
0.2 mi
·
47 sec
·
North Main Street
Use the right lane.
14
Turn right onto CO 36
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
CO 36
15
Arrive at destination
CO 36
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 23.6 miles from Thornton, 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 46.3 — 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
8
3.6 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward I 270 East: Aurora, Limon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 217B
Toward I 270 East: Aurora, Limon
6
14.6 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
I 70 / Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70 / Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
46.3 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
US 36
Take the exit onto US 36 toward US 36 East: Byers
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 316
Toward US 36 East: Byers
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.11 one way
$14.22 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $7.53 | $15.06 |
| premium | $4.39 | $8.17 | $16.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.42 | $20.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.96 | $2.27 |
| Efficient EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.13 | $1.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.9 | 0 | $6.61 | $3.02 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Byers, CO
Late night in Byers on Sunday
Local time
1:55 AM
MDT
Current temp
79°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
33 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
56m 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 route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll encounter more frequent changes in direction than on a simple highway cruise. While you'll spend a good portion of the time on major roads like the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway, and North Valley Highway, the overall highway share is about 30%, suggesting a significant amount of local road navigation. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 36 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, offering a brief period of consistent travel before more turns appear.
Only 3% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36 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 0.2 miles in near Thornton Parkway.
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 12 decision points packed into just 47.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 56m.
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 3.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Byers, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Limon along the way.
Limon
3.6 mi in
|
~6m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 56m. Total distance: 47.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
56m 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 36 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 Byers, 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 3.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Byers, 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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