How far is Thornton, CO from Nederland, CO?

The driving distance from Thornton, CO to Nederland, CO is about 37.8 miles (60.8 km), with a travel time of about 01h 03m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 29.3 miles (47.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 07m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM MDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
37.8 mi
01h 03m
Flight
29.28 mi
47.12 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Thornton.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
29.28 mi
Kilometers
47.12 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
37.8 mi
Kilometers
60.83 km
Drive Time
01h 03m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 01h 03m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Nederland
Sun, Apr 19, 4:41 AM MDT
Return by in Thornton
Sun, Apr 19, 5:44 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Thornton
2026-04-19T03:37
Arrive Nederland
Sun, Apr 19, 4:41 AM MDT
Route Timing
01h 03m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM MDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:04 AM to 11:04 AM MDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:22 PM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Thornton
9:30 PM MDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Boulder
CO

The most populous city in Boulder County, Colorado.

From Thornton
18.9 mi
00h 31m
To Nederland
18.9 mi
00h 31m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
70°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
3 to 8 mph S
Destination
52°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
6 to 10 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Thornton and Nederland.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Thornton and Nederland.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    23 m · 12 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Dorothy Boulevard

    1165 ft · 59 sec · Dorothy Boulevard

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Thornton Parkway

    2 mi · 4 min · Thornton Parkway

  4. 4

    Continue on West 92nd Avenue

    2.5 mi · 6 min · West 92nd Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Sheridan Boulevard

    1076 ft · 24 sec · Sheridan Boulevard

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight right toward US 36 West: Boulder

    1742 ft · 36 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on US 36 West

    876 ft · 23 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Denver–Boulder Turnpike

    1.5 km · 1 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike

    1.9 mi · 2 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike

    2.1 mi · 2 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike

    2.9 mi · 3 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike

    2.4 mi · 3 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike

    2.2 mi · 3 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike

    1.7 mi · 2 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward Baseline Road

    1636 ft · 42 sec

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Baseline Road

    1640 ft · 47 sec · Baseline Road

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Broadway

    1.5 mi · 4 min · Broadway

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Canyon Boulevard

    1.4 km · 2 min · Canyon Boulevard

  19. 19

    Continue on Boulder Canyon Drive

    15.2 mi · 27 min · Boulder Canyon Drive

  20. 20

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward North Bridge Street

    37 m · 2 sec · North Bridge Street

  21. 21

    Exit the roundabout onto North Bridge Street

    125 m · 12 sec · North Bridge Street

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Bridge Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Thornton and Nederland.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
22 steps
15 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
58.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Boulder Canyon Drive
15.2 mi · 40%
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
14.1 mi · 37%
West 92nd Avenue
2.5 mi · 7%
Thornton Parkway
2.03 mi · 5%
Broadway
1.46 mi · 4%
Canyon Boulevard
0.86 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Boulder Canyon Drive

Continue on Boulder Canyon Drive

15.2 mi · 00h 27m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 03m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+8.5 mi
29.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Boulder
00h 31m from Thornton
Leave By
4:22 PM MDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Thornton and Sunny near Nederland.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Thornton to Nederland?

The road trip is about 37.8 miles (60.8 km) and usually takes 01h 03m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Boulder is a useful midpoint, sitting about 18.9 miles from Thornton and 18.9 miles from Nederland.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 29.3 miles (47.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 8.5 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM MDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:22 PM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.92 one way or $9.84 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 11.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Thornton and Sunny near Nederland.

Stop Ideas Near Boulder

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Boulder, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Boulder.

BUS

Boulder, Colorado

5 mi away
30th & Diagonal Highway
BUS

Longmont, Colorado

22 mi away
623 Main St.
RAIL

Union Station

37 mi away
1701 Wynkoop Street
BUS

Denver (Bus Station), Colorado

38 mi away
1055 19th Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Thornton and Nederland. Straight-line distance: 29.28 mi (47.12 km).

Thornton

#1 Thornton

The seventh most populous city in Colorado.

Population148,113
Coordinates39.8680400, -104.9719200
Altitude1631
CountryUnited States
Nederland

#2 Nederland

Town in Colorado, United States

Population1,557
Coordinates39.9613800, -105.5108300
Altitude2508
CountryUnited States
Start: Thornton (-104.97192, 39.86804)
End: Nederland (-105.51083, 39.96138)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 61 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 15m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 56m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 45m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.33 gal
5.05 L · about $4.92
Round trip
$9.84
2.66 gal · 10.1 L
Estimated CO2
11.8 kg one way
Round trip: 23.6 kg / 52 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.70 $4.92 $9.84
Mid-grade $4.08 $5.43 $10.86
Premium $4.39 $5.84 $11.68
Diesel $4.74 $6.30 $12.60

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Colorado · Apr 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Thornton and Nederland. The current time is 03:37:15.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.