How far is Thornton, CO from Superior, CO?

The driving distance from Thornton, CO to Superior, CO is about 14.7 miles (23.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 24m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 11.9 miles (19.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 49m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM MDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
14.75 mi
00h 24m
Flight
11.96 mi
19.24 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Thornton.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
11.96 mi
Kilometers
19.24 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
14.75 mi
Kilometers
23.74 km
Drive Time
00h 24m

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 00h 24m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Superior
Sat, Apr 18, 4:58 AM MDT
Return by in Thornton
Sat, Apr 18, 5:23 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Thornton
2026-04-18T04:34
Arrive Superior
Sat, Apr 18, 4:58 AM MDT
Route Timing
00h 24m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM MDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:25 AM to 7:25 PM MDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:40 PM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Thornton
10:00 PM MDT
Flexible departure

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
Broomfield
CO

A city in Broomfield County, Colorado.

From Thornton
7.4 mi
00h 12m
To Superior
7.4 mi
00h 12m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
56°F
Saturday

Slight Chance Snow Showers

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NW
Destination
53°F
Saturday

Chance Snow Showers

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
8 to 12 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    3093 ft · 40 sec · Denver–Boulder Turnpike

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward CO 170 West: McCaslin Boulevard

    1595 ft · 30 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on McCaslin Boulevard South

    66 m · 6 sec

  15. 15

    Turn slight left onto South McCaslin Boulevard

    1521 ft · 43 sec · South McCaslin Boulevard

  16. 16

    Turn right onto East Coal Creek Drive

    678 ft · 35 sec · East Coal Creek Drive

  17. 17

    Turn left onto 2nd Avenue

    539 ft · 26 sec · 2nd Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn right

    43 m · 10 sec

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
19 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
128.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Denver–Boulder Turnpike
8.4 mi · 57%
West 92nd Avenue
2.5 mi · 17%
Thornton Parkway
2.03 mi · 14%
US 36 West
0.5 mi · 3%
CO 170 West
0.3 mi · 2%
South McCaslin Boulevard
0.29 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Denver–Boulder Turnpike

Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike

2.89 mi · 00h 03m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 24m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2.8 mi
11.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Broomfield
00h 12m from Thornton
Leave By
7:40 PM MDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Snow Showers leaving Thornton and Chance Snow Showers near Superior.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 14.7 miles (23.7 km) and usually takes 00h 24m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Broomfield is a useful midpoint, sitting about 7.4 miles from Thornton and 7.4 miles from Superior.

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

The direct path is about 11.9 miles (19.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.8 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM MDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:40 PM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $1.92 one way or $3.85 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 4.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Snow Showers around Thornton and Chance Snow Showers near Superior.

Stop Ideas Near Broomfield

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Broomfield and the surrounding midpoint area.
Municipal Court Park
Scenic stop 4.7 mi away

Municipal Court Park

Westminster , CO
3025 W 76th Ave, Westminster, CO 80030
Rating 3.8/5 94 reviews Park
Denver City Council
Meeting point 11.4 mi away

Denver City Council

Denver , CO
1437 Bannock St rm 451, Denver, CO 80202
Rating 3.6/5 92 reviews City government office,County government office
Lafayette City Hall
Nearby stop 6.7 mi away

Lafayette City Hall

Lafayette , CO
1290 S Public Rd, Lafayette, CO 80026
Rating 5.0/5 2 reviews City administration

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Union Station

20 mi away
1701 Wynkoop Street
BUS

Denver (Bus Station), Colorado

21 mi away
1055 19th Street
BUS

Boulder, Colorado

23 mi away
30th & Diagonal Highway
BUS

Longmont, Colorado

28 mi away
623 Main St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Thornton and Superior. Straight-line distance: 11.96 mi (19.24 km).

Thornton

#1 Thornton

The seventh most populous city in Colorado.

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

#2 Superior

Statutory Town in Boulder and Jefferson counties in the U.

Population13,413
Coordinates39.9527600, -105.1686000
Altitude1675
CountryUnited States
Start: Thornton (-104.97192, 39.86804)
End: Superior (-105.1686, 39.95276)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 24 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 29m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 22m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 17m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 14m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 12m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 11m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.52 gal
1.97 L · about $1.92
Round trip
$3.85
1.04 gal · 3.94 L
Estimated CO2
4.6 kg one way
Round trip: 9.2 kg / 20 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.70 $1.92 $3.85
Mid-grade $4.08 $2.12 $4.25
Premium $4.39 $2.28 $4.57
Diesel $4.74 $2.46 $4.93

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Thornton and Superior. The current time is 04:34:11.

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.