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 Meridian, 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
41m
Distance
29.4 mi
47 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Sparse
1 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 38m
★
6 AM
0h 42m
8 AM
0h 49m
10 AM
0h 44m
12 PM
0h 43m
3 PM
0h 44m
5 PM
0h 48m
8 PM
0h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Thornton, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Meridian, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 29.4-mile drive from Thornton, CO to Meridian, CO is easily manageable in about 41 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. The route utilizes a mix of main roads including North Valley Highway, Thornton Parkway, and E-470, with a significant portion on highways. With an estimated fuel cost of just $4, this is a budget-friendly excursion. The drive has a turn-heavy local feel, so plan for frequent adjustments. Since it's a brief journey within the Mountain West region, no overnight stays are necessary, offering flexibility in your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Valley Highway | 24.6 mi | 31m |
| Thornton Parkway | 1 mi | 2m |
| E-470 | 0.8 mi | <1m |
| Peoria Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Fisher Drive | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Dorothy Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Forest Lake Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
North Valley Highway
— 24.6 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Thornton, CO and Meridian, 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
23 mi
·
29 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 194
Toward E-470 North, CO 470 West: Limon, Grand Junction
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 194
Toward E-470 North: Limon
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto E470
0.8 mi
·
46 sec
·
E-470
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 2
Toward Peoria Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Exit 2
Toward Peoria Street
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward Peoria Street
13
Turn straight onto Peoria Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Peoria Street
14
Turn right onto Forest Lake Road
203 ft
·
14 sec
·
Forest Lake Road
15
Turn left onto Fisher Drive
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Fisher Drive
16
Arrive at destination
Fisher Drive
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 28.2 — 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.
8
26.2 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Take the exit toward E-470 North, CO 470 West: Limon, Grand Junction
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 194
Toward E-470 North, CO 470 West: Limon, Grand J...
8
26.4 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Keep slight left at fork toward E-470 North: Limon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 194
Toward E-470 North: Limon
7
28 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Take the exit toward Peoria Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 2
Toward Peoria Street
7
28.2 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Peoria Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 2
Toward Peoria Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.43 one way
$8.86 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $4.69 | $9.38 |
| premium | $4.39 | $5.09 | $10.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.49 | $12.98 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.09
E-470
(0.8 mi)
$0.09
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Tolls
$0
Total
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.09 | $1.41 |
| Efficient EV | 7.4 | 0 | $2.57 | $1.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.12 | $1.88 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Meridian, CO
Late night in Meridian on Tuesday
Local time
2:46 AM
MDT
Current temp
45°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
9 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
41m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, which comprises a 3% highway share. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 24.6 miles on North Valley Highway. This journey blends faster-paced highway segments with more intricate local road navigation, requiring your attention as you maneuver through different road types. The road character shifts as you progress, offering a dynamic driving experience rather than a monotonous stretch.
Only 3% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24.6 mi on North Valley Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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
10/10
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 13 decision points packed into just 29.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 41m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Thornton Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 26.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.4 miles: 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.
Between Thornton, CO and Meridian, CO, road signs point toward E-470 North, Grand Junction and E-470 North: Limon.
E-470 North
26.2 mi in
|
~35m
Grand Junction
26.2 mi in
|
~35m
E-470 North: Limon
26.4 mi in
|
~35m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 41m. Total distance: 29.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
41m 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 24.6 miles on North Valley Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.09 in tolls one way, starting with E-470. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 Meridian, 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 26.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.4 miles: 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 Meridian, 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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