Origin
Thornton, CO
Late night in Thornton on Sunday
Local time
2:01 AM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Thornton, CO to Cañon City, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 38m
Distance
125.2 mi
201 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 28m
★
6 AM
2h 39m
8 AM
3h 0m
10 AM
2h 46m
12 PM
2h 44m
3 PM
2h 47m
5 PM
2h 59m
8 PM
2h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Thornton, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Cañon City, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Thornton to Cañon City is 125.2 miles and takes about 2h 38m via North Valley Highway, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Colorado, traversing the Mountain West region. Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than an open highway experience. With a relatively short duration and a manageable fuel cost, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion. It's a practical option if you're looking for a straightforward trip between these two Colorado locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
62.6 miles from Thornton, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 12m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Valley Highway | 71.3 mi | 1h 19m |
| South Nevada Avenue | 30.6 mi | 40m |
| 3rd Street | 9.5 mi | 16m |
| Monument Valley Freeway | 7.8 mi | 9m |
| Royal Gorge Boulevard | 3.7 mi | 7m |
| Thornton Parkway | 1 mi | 2m |
| Dorothy Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South 4th Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
North Valley Highway
— 71.3 mi, about 1h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Thornton, CO and Cañon City, 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
70 mi
·
1 hr 18 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Continue on I 25
7.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Monument Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 140
Toward CO 115 South: Tejon Street, Nevada Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn right onto CO 115
31 mi
·
40 min
·
South Nevada Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn right onto CR 123
9.5 mi
·
16 min
·
3rd Street
Use the right lane.
11
At end of road, turn left onto Mackenzie Avenue
126 ft
·
7 sec
·
Mackenzie Avenue
12
Turn right onto US 50
3.7 mi
·
7 min
·
Royal Gorge Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn right onto South 4th Street
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
South 4th Street
14
Turn right onto Macon Avenue
90 ft
·
4 sec
·
Macon Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
Macon Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 38m estimated drive time, you can comfortably complete this trip in one day. Departing Thornton in the morning allows ample time to reach Cañon City without feeling rushed. While there's only one suggested stop, the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile means you'll likely encounter towns or services more frequently than on a pure highway route, so don't hesitate to pull over if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially before embarking on the longest stretch of 71.3 miles on North Valley Highway, as services might be less frequent on these local roads.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 62.6 miles from Thornton, CO, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 71.3 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 28 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.6 miles or 1h 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cañon City, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Thornton, 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 Thornton, CO
This is one driving day of about 125.2 miles and 2h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Thornton, 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 North Valley Highway for about 71.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
63 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 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 62.6 miles from Thornton, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before North Valley Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 71.3 miles.
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 and 80.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Dorothy Boulevard
Turn left onto Dorothy Boulevard
Navigation decision point
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
80.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward CO 115 South: Tejon Street, Nevada Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 140
Toward CO 115 South: Tejon Street, Nevada Avenu...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.86 one way
$37.73 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
44 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $19.97 | $39.95 |
| premium | $4.39 | $21.66 | $43.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $27.64 | $55.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 37.6 | 0 | $13.15 | $6.01 |
| Efficient EV | 31.3 | 0 | $10.96 | $5.01 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 50.1 | 0 | $17.53 | $8.01 |
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (66% 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
Cañon City, CO
Late night in Cañon City on Sunday
Local time
2:01 AM
MDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
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
32 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
2h 38m 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,' with only 7% of the journey on highways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 71.3 miles on North Valley Highway, meaning you'll be navigating local roads and intersections for a significant portion of the trip. Be prepared for frequent changes in speed and direction as you transition between different local roads like South Nevada Avenue and 3rd Street. This isn't a high-speed interstate cruise, so plan for a more engaged driving experience.
Only 7% 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: 71.3 mi on North Valley Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Dorothy Boulevard.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 125.2 miles you will encounter 12 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: near the start (Dorothy Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Thornton Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 38m. Total distance: 125.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (7%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 71.3 miles on North Valley Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Dorothy Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Thornton Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Cañon City, 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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