How far is Thornton, CO from Ridgway, CO?
The driving distance from Thornton, CO to Ridgway, CO is about 330.2 miles (531.4 km), with a travel time of about 06h 33m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 190.9 miles (307.3 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 06m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 06h 33m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
City in Colorado
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Thornton and Ridgway.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Thornton and Ridgway.
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1
Start on the route
23 m · 12 sec
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2
Turn left onto Dorothy Boulevard
1165 ft · 59 sec · Dorothy Boulevard
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3
At the end of the road, turn left onto Thornton Parkway
1.6 km · 2 min · Thornton Parkway
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4
Turn left onto I 25 South: Colorado Springs
1973 ft · 40 sec
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5
Merge slight left onto North Valley Highway
1.2 mi · 2 min · North Valley Highway
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6
Keep slight right to continue on North Valley Highway
1.5 mi · 2 min · North Valley Highway
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7
Take the exit slight right toward I 76 West: Arvada, Grand Junction
1.5 km · 2 min
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8
Merge slight left onto Heartland Expressway
5.2 mi · 6 min · Heartland Expressway
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9
Merge slight left
232.9 mi · 4 hr 18 min
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10
Take the exit slight right toward I 70 Business, US 6, US 50: Clifton, Grand Junction, Delta
1.6 mi · 3 min
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11
Continue straight
1290 ft · 32 sec
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12
Turn left onto 32 Road
5.4 mi · 9 min · 32 Road
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13
At the end of the road, turn left onto United States Highway 50
11.7 mi · 15 min · United States Highway 50
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14
Continue straight
14.8 mi · 17 min
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15
Turn right onto G50 Road
2.2 mi · 3 min · G50 Road
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16
Continue on G Road
1.1 km · 1 min · G Road
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17
Continue on G Road
1.6 mi · 3 min · G Road
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18
Continue on West 5th Street
1068 ft · 30 sec · West 5th Street
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19
Turn right onto Confluence Drive
1.3 km · 1 min · Confluence Drive
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20
Take the exit slight right
767 ft · 15 sec
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21
Merge slight left onto Main Street
20.8 mi · 27 min · Main Street
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22
Continue on South Townsend Avenue
26.1 mi · 35 min · South Townsend Avenue
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23
Turn right onto Sherman Street
1.2 km · 2 min · Sherman Street
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24
Turn right onto North Charlotte Street
559 ft · 37 sec · North Charlotte Street
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25
Turn left
25 m · 5 sec
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26
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Thornton and Ridgway.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Heartland Expressway
Merge slight left
233 mi · 04h 18m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Sunny leaving Thornton and Sunny near Ridgway.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Thornton to Ridgway?
The road trip is about 330.2 miles (531.4 km) and usually takes 06h 33m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Glenwood Springs is a useful midpoint, sitting about 165 miles from Thornton and 165.2 miles from Ridgway.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 190.9 miles (307.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 139.3 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 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $43.08 one way or $86.16 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 103.5 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Thornton and Sunny near Ridgway.
Stop Ideas Near Glenwood Springs
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Glenwood Springs.
Glenwood Springs
Vail, Colorado
Frisco, Colorado
Gunnison-Downtown, CO
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Thornton and Ridgway. Straight-line distance: 190.98 mi (307.35 km).
#1 Thornton
The seventh most populous city in Colorado.
| Population | 148,113 |
| Coordinates | 39.8680400, -104.9719200 |
| Altitude | 1631 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Ridgway
Human settlement in Ouray County, Colorado, United States of America
| Population | 1,039 |
| Coordinates | 38.1527700, -107.7617300 |
| Altitude | 2148 |
| Country | United States |
End: Ridgway (-107.76173, 38.15277)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 531 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 11h 00m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 15m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 36m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 30m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 43m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 07m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.70 | $43.08 | $86.16 |
| Mid-grade | $4.08 | $47.58 | $95.16 |
| Premium | $4.39 | $51.16 | $102.31 |
| Diesel | $4.74 | $55.19 | $110.37 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.