How far is Thornton, CO from Gypsum, CO?

The driving distance from Thornton, CO to Gypsum, CO is about 140.4 miles (225.9 km), with a travel time of about 02h 45m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 106.3 miles (171 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 30m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM MDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
140.37 mi
02h 45m
Flight
106.26 mi
171.01 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Thornton.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
106.26 mi
Kilometers
171.01 km
Flight Time
00h 12m

Driving Distance

Road route
140.37 mi
Kilometers
225.9 km
Drive Time
02h 45m

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 02h 45m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Gypsum
Thu, May 21, 3:00 PM MDT
Return by in Thornton
Thu, May 21, 5:45 PM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Thornton
2026-05-21T12:15
Arrive Gypsum
Thu, May 21, 3:00 PM MDT
Route Timing
02h 45m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM MDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:45 AM to 12:45 PM MDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
1:00 PM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Thornton
9:30 PM MDT
Morning start is best

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
Dillon
CO

Town in Colorado, USA

From Thornton
70.1 mi
01h 22m
To Gypsum
70.3 mi
01h 22m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
67°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, May 21 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
0 to 6 mph NE
Destination
63°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Thu, May 21 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
0 to 15 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    1.6 km · 2 min · Thornton Parkway

  4. 4

    Turn left onto I 25 South: Colorado Springs

    1973 ft · 40 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto North Valley Highway

    1.2 mi · 2 min · North Valley Highway

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on North Valley Highway

    1.5 mi · 2 min · North Valley Highway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 76 West: Arvada, Grand Junction

    1.5 km · 2 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Heartland Expressway

    5.2 mi · 6 min · Heartland Expressway

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    129.2 mi · 2 hr 28 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward Gypsum

    1662 ft · 41 sec

  11. 11

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Trail Gulch Road

    53 m · 3 sec · Trail Gulch Road

  12. 12

    Exit the roundabout onto Trail Gulch Road

    681 ft · 12 sec · Trail Gulch Road

  13. 13

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    59 m · 3 sec

  14. 14

    Exit the roundabout

    1748 ft · 30 sec

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Grand Avenue

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
15 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
3 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Heartland Expressway
135 mi · 96%
North Valley Highway
2.66 mi · 2%
Thornton Parkway
0.98 mi · 1%
I 76 West
0.91 mi · 1%
Trail Gulch Road
0.53 mi
I 25 South
0.37 mi
Longest Stretch

Heartland Expressway

Merge slight left

129 mi · 02h 28m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
02h 45m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+34.1 mi
106.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Dillon
01h 22m from Thornton
Leave By
1:00 PM MDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Thornton and Partly Sunny near Gypsum.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 140.4 miles (225.9 km) and usually takes 02h 45m 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?

Dillon is a useful midpoint, sitting about 70.1 miles from Thornton and 70.3 miles from Gypsum.

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

The direct path is about 106.3 miles (171 km), while the road route adds roughly 34.1 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 1:00 PM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $18.31 one way or $36.61 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 44 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Thornton and Partly Sunny near Gypsum.

Stop Ideas Near Dillon

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Dillon, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

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

BUS

Frisco, Colorado

7 mi away
1010 Meadow Drive
BUS

Vail, Colorado

26 mi away
241 South Frontage Road East
RAIL

Fraser – Winter Park

40 mi away
205 Fraser Avenue
BUS

Fairplay, CO

45 mi away
620 US Highway 285

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Thornton and Gypsum. Straight-line distance: 106.26 mi (171.01 km).

Thornton

#1 Thornton

The seventh most populous city in Colorado.

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

#2 Gypsum

Town of the United States

Population7,304
Coordinates39.6469300, -106.9517100
Altitude1924
CountryUnited States
Start: Thornton (-104.97192, 39.86804)
End: Gypsum (-106.95171, 39.64693)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 226 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 40m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 30m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 48m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 20m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 00m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 45m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.95 gal
18.75 L · about $18.31
Round trip
$36.61
9.9 gal · 37.5 L
Estimated CO2
44 kg one way
Round trip: 88 kg / 194 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.70 $18.31 $36.61
Mid-grade $4.08 $20.22 $40.43
Premium $4.39 $21.74 $43.47
Diesel $4.74 $23.45 $46.90

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 · May 21, 2026

There is no time difference between Thornton and Gypsum. The current time is 12:15:16.

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.