Thornton, CO to Cripple Creek, CO is 120.6 miles and takes about 2h 41m via North Valley Highway and South State Highway 67, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Mountain West region, moving from one Colorado destination to another. The route offers a mix of highway and surface roads, making it suitable for a single-day excursion. Consider this drive if you're looking for a straightforward trip with a moderate amount of driving.
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
60.3 miles from Thornton, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North Valley Highway
71.3 mi
1h 19m
South State Highway 67
18.1 mi
31m
Midland Expressway
15.7 mi
23m
US 24
6.5 mi
9m
Monument Valley Freeway
3.3 mi
3m
West Fillmore Street
1.4 mi
2m
Thornton Parkway
1 mi
2m
North 31st Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
North Valley Highway
— 71.3 mi, about 1h 19m
Traffic on I-25
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~5,060 veh/hr typical
Quietest
1 AM
~401 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Thornton, CO and Cripple Creek, 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 SpringsUse 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
3.3 mi·3 min·Monument Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Exit 145Toward Fillmore StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
232 ft·7 sec
Toward Fillmore Street WestUse the slight right lane.
10
Continue on West Fillmore Street
1.4 mi·2 min·West Fillmore Street
11
Continue on Fontmore Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Fontmore Road
12
Continue on West Fontanero Street
0.3 mi·33 sec·West Fontanero Street
13
Turn left onto North 31st Street
0.7 mi·1 min·North 31st Street
14
Turn sharp right onto US 24
0.2 mi·20 sec·West Cimarron Street
15
Continue on US 24
16 mi·23 min·Midland Expressway
16
Keep slight right at fork onto US 24; CO 67
6.5 mi·9 min·US 24; CO 67
17
Turn left onto CO 67
18 mi·31 min·South State Highway 67
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on CO 67
0.1 mi·20 sec·North 5th Street
19
Turn right onto East Golden Avenue
0.2 mi·38 sec·East Golden Avenue
20
At end of road, turn left onto North 3rd Street
0.2 mi·45 sec·North 3rd Street
21
Turn right onto CO 67
0.1 mi·29 sec·East Bennett Avenue
22
Arrive at destination
CO 67
Trip Plan
For this 120.6-mile drive, leaving in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight, especially since it's a single-day trip. With a duration of around 2 hours and 41 minutes, you'll have ample time for a brief stop if needed, though the longest stretch between potential services is 71.3 miles on North Valley Highway. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $21, and refueling options might become less frequent as you move away from major highways. Planning for this transition from highway to surface roads will help you manage expectations for speed and road conditions.
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 60.3 miles from Thornton, CO, or about 1h 9m 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 27 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.3 miles or 1h 9m 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 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cripple Creek, 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 120.6 miles and 2h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 76.3 — 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
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.
7
76.2 mi into trip|~1h 27m in
Take the exit toward Fillmore Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 145
Toward Fillmore Street
8
76.3 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Fillmore Street West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Fillmore Street West
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.65 one way
$41.31 round trip
$4.35/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.59
$21.79
$43.59
premium
$4.93
$23.41
$46.83
diesel
$5.35
$25.40
$50.80
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.2
0
$12.66
$5.79
Efficient EV
30.2
0
$10.55
$4.82
EV Truck/SUV
48.2
0
$16.88
$7.72
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Forecast as of May 25, 2026
Origin
Thornton, CO
Afternoon
in Thornton on Wednesday
Local time
1:47 PM
MDT
Current temp
55°F
Partly Cloudy
SW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Cripple Creek, CO
Afternoon
in Cripple Creek on Wednesday
Local time
1:47 PM
MDT
Current temp
42°F
Partly Cloudy
NE 5 mph3% chanceLive 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
13 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
2h 41m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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.
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
National Monument
Beneath a grassy mountain valley in central Colorado lies one of the richest and most diverse fossil deposits in the world. Petrified redwood stumps up to 14 feet wide and thousands of detailed fossil...
7 mi from route
~16 min detour
$10
near mile 103.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 37% of this 120.6-mile drive is on highways. You'll encounter a long stretch of 71.3 miles on North Valley Highway before transitioning to other roads. Expect to see a shift from more developed areas to potentially more open terrain as you move between highway and surface road sections. The transition point where highway driving ends will likely be noticeable.
37% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 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?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 120.6 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 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.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
9,754 ft5,204 ft
Total Climb
5,160 ft
Total Descent
1,053 ft
Highest Point
9,754 ft
~111.9 mi in
Elevation Range
4,550 ft
Notable High Points
6,996 ft at ~60.3 miles+208 ft prominence
9,754 ft at ~111.9 miles+299 ft prominence
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 Cripple Creek, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Fillmore Street West along the way.
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.
Cripple Creek is a small town in Colorado. It is a town steeped in gold mining history, still very much in evidence from the old mine ruins dotted about everywhere. In fact, it promotes itself as "the world's greatest gold camp". In addition, the town is now a major casino destination, as 57% of the residents of Colorado voted to permit this town to have casinos ("controlled gambling") in order to breathe back life into it after it declined in tourism value from the 80s. Today it is a bustling, lively and exciting town that begs exploration of its turn-of-the-20th-century buildings which have been immaculately maintained and makes for brilliant photo opportunities. Watch out though - burros (wild donkeys) roam the streets at large, with the blessing of the townsfolk (except, of course, when the burros are munching up a local garden).
Top landmarks
•Cripple Creek Historic District — historic district in Colorado, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 41m. Total distance: 120.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (37%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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.
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 Cripple Creek, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 — Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Cripple Creek, CO before heading back.
