How far is Leadville, CO from Thornton, CO?
The driving distance from Leadville, CO to Thornton, CO is about 107.4 miles (172.8 km), with a travel time of about 01h 56m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 82.3 miles (132.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 52m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM MDT.
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.
This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.
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 01h 56m.
A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.
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.
Human settlement in Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Leadville and Thornton.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Leadville and Thornton.
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1
Start on Harrison Avenue
39 m · 6 sec · Harrison Avenue
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2
Turn left onto West 9th Street
16 m · 2 sec · West 9th Street
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3
Turn slight right onto Harrison Avenue
88 m · 16 sec · Harrison Avenue
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4
Turn right onto East 10th Street
634 ft · 33 sec · East 10th Street
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5
Turn left onto Poplar Street
1.5 km · 2 min · Poplar Street
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6
Continue straight
22.1 mi · 28 min
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7
Take the exit slight right toward I 70 East
1738 ft · 33 sec
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8
Merge slight left onto Grand Army of the Republic Highway
73.4 mi · 1 hr 28 min · Grand Army of the Republic Highway
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9
Keep slight left to continue on Heartland Expressway
5.1 mi · 6 min · Heartland Expressway
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10
Take the exit slight right toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs
1098 ft · 21 sec
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11
Keep slight left to continue on I 25 North: Fort Collins
1.4 mi · 3 min
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12
Merge slight left onto North Valley Highway
1.4 km · 1 min · North Valley Highway
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13
Keep slight right to continue on North Valley Highway
1.3 mi · 2 min · North Valley Highway
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14
Take the exit slight right toward Thornton Parkway
2280 ft · 43 sec
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15
Turn right onto Thornton Parkway
1.4 km · 2 min · Thornton Parkway
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16
Turn right onto Dorothy Boulevard
1077 ft · 51 sec · Dorothy Boulevard
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17
Turn right
36 m · 9 sec
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18
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Leadville and Thornton.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Merge slight left onto Grand Army of the Republic Highway
73.4 mi · 01h 28m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Mostly Sunny leaving Leadville and Sunny near Thornton.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Leadville to Thornton?
The road trip is about 107.4 miles (172.8 km) and usually takes 01h 56m 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?
Silver Plume is a useful midpoint, sitting about 53.6 miles from Leadville and 53.7 miles from Thornton.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 82.3 miles (132.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 25.1 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 2:38 PM MDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $14.02 one way or $28.03 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 33.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Leadville and Sunny near Thornton.
Stop Ideas Near Silver Plume
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 Silver Plume.
Fraser – Winter Park
Frisco, Colorado
Pine Junction, CO
Granby
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Leadville and Thornton. Straight-line distance: 82.26 mi (132.39 km).
#1 Leadville
Statutory city and county seat of Lake County, Colorado, United States
| Population | 2,773 |
| Coordinates | 39.2508200, -106.2925200 |
| Altitude | 3097 |
| 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: 173 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 03h 34m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 02h 41m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 02h 08m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 01h 47m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 01h 32m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 01h 20m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.70 | $14.02 | $28.03 |
| Mid-grade | $4.08 | $15.48 | $30.96 |
| Premium | $4.39 | $16.64 | $33.28 |
| Diesel | $4.74 | $17.95 | $35.91 |
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.