How far is Durango, CO from Thornton, CO?
The driving distance from Durango, CO to Thornton, CO is about 356.2 miles (573.2 km), with a travel time of about 06h 20m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 238.2 miles (383.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 41m 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 20m.
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.
Town in Colorado, USA
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Durango and Thornton.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Durango and Thornton.
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1
Start on Main Avenue
30 m · 13 sec · Main Avenue
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2
Turn left onto West 11th Street
605 ft · 27 sec · West 11th Street
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3
Turn left onto Camino del Rio
4.6 mi · 7 min · Camino del Rio
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4
Continue on Highway 160
52.7 mi · 1 hr 8 min · Highway 160
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5
Continue on San Juan Street
2.6 mi · 5 min · San Juan Street
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6
Continue on Pagosa Street
57.8 mi · 1 hr 21 min · Pagosa Street
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7
Continue on Grand Avenue
1 km · 2 min · Grand Avenue
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8
Turn left onto Oak Street
13.1 mi · 19 min · Oak Street
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9
Turn left onto Gunbarrel Road
23.1 mi · 33 min · Gunbarrel Road
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10
Continue on 8th Street
1780 ft · 43 sec · 8th Street
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11
Turn straight
1663 ft · 41 sec
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12
Turn straight
40.2 mi · 51 min
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13
Continue straight
11.2 mi · 18 min
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14
Continue straight
9.7 mi · 16 min
-
15
Take the exit slight right toward US 285 North
1151 ft · 22 sec
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16
Merge slight left
73.9 mi · 1 hr 34 min
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17
Continue straight
27.8 mi · 40 min
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18
Take the exit slight right toward CO 470 West: West CO 470 to I-70
1552 ft · 53 sec
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19
Merge slight left
5.3 mi · 6 min
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20
Take the exit slight right toward I 70: Grand Junction, Denver
955 ft · 16 sec
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21
Keep slight right to continue on I 70 East: Denver
1.3 km · 2 min
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22
Merge slight left
8.5 mi · 10 min
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23
Keep slight left to continue on Heartland Expressway
5.1 mi · 6 min · Heartland Expressway
-
24
Take the exit slight right toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs
1098 ft · 21 sec
-
25
Keep slight left to continue on I 25 North: Fort Collins
1.4 mi · 3 min
-
26
Merge slight left onto North Valley Highway
1.4 km · 1 min · North Valley Highway
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27
Keep slight right to continue on North Valley Highway
1.3 mi · 2 min · North Valley Highway
-
28
Take the exit slight right toward Thornton Parkway
2280 ft · 43 sec
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29
Turn right onto Thornton Parkway
1.4 km · 2 min · Thornton Parkway
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30
Turn right onto Dorothy Boulevard
1077 ft · 51 sec · Dorothy Boulevard
-
31
Turn right
36 m · 9 sec
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32
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Durango and Thornton.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
US 285 North
Merge slight left
73.9 mi · 01h 34m
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 Durango and Sunny near Thornton.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Durango to Thornton?
The road trip is about 356.2 miles (573.2 km) and usually takes 06h 20m 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?
Bonanza is a useful midpoint, sitting about 171.9 miles from Durango and 184.4 miles from Thornton.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 238.2 miles (383.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 118 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 $46.48 one way or $92.97 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 111.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Durango and Sunny near Thornton.
Stop Ideas Near Bonanza
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 Bonanza.
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Salida, CO
Buena Vista, CO
Gunnison-Downtown, CO
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Durango and Thornton. Straight-line distance: 238.24 mi (383.41 km).
#1 Durango
City in and county seat of La Plata County, Colorado, United States
| Population | 19,690 |
| Coordinates | 37.2752800, -107.8800700 |
| Altitude | 1991 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Thornton
The seventh most populous city in Colorado.
| Population | 148,113 |
| Coordinates | 39.8680400, -104.9719200 |
| Altitude | 1631 |
| Country | United States |
End: (-104.971859, 39.868064)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 573 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 11h 52m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 54m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 07h 07m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 56m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 05m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 26m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.70 | $46.48 | $92.97 |
| Mid-grade | $4.08 | $51.34 | $102.67 |
| Premium | $4.39 | $55.19 | $110.39 |
| Diesel | $4.74 | $59.54 | $119.09 |
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 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.