Overview
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.
1 things to do · 2 places to eat · 2 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Thornton
Water World
"America's biggest, America's best" water park. Hours of fun to be had. The park is run by the city of Thornton.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 90°F; winter lows dip to about 18°F. Very hot (Jul) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: May and Jul. (climate data from nearby Denver)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- BJC Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport, Denver — 9 mi away. Directions
- DEN Denver International Airport, Denver — 15 mi away (major hub). Directions
See this Colorado travel map. Colorado is on Mountain Standard Time (UTC-07) in the winter and on Mountain Daylight Time (UTC-06) in the summer.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Thornton municipal website.
Get in
See this Colorado travel map. Colorado is on Mountain Standard Time (UTC-07) in the winter and on Mountain Daylight Time (UTC-06) in the summer.
By air
Do
Thornton has aggressively pursued recreation programs with nearly 1,000 acres of land developed or designated for public parks. The numerous lighted tennis courts, athletic fields, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, recreation centers and gymnasiums offer recreation opportunities for people of all ages and activity levels.
Buy
There is not a mall in Thornton, although there are "Strip Malls" throughout the city. Thornton has the traditional chain stores including; Target, K-mart, Wal-mart (times 2), Lowe's, Home Depot and so on.
Eat
Eat Cinzzetti's Italian Market
Must try Italian Buffet! A+ quality food cook in front of you!
Eat La Botana Restaurant
Home cooked Mexican food at a great price. Just ask for a number "5"!
Sleep
Nearby
Westminster
City / town · 12 listings · 6 mi away
Broomfield
City / town · 4 listings · 6 mi away
Brighton
City / town · 3 listings · 9 mi away
Arvada
City / town · 49 listings · 10 mi away
Denver
City / town · 177 listings · 11 mi away
Aurora
City / town · 30 listings · 14 mi away
Lakewood
City / town · 27 listings · 16 mi away
Golden
City / town · 32 listings · 17 mi away
My experience
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