How far is Thornton, CO from Lamar, CO?

The driving distance from Thornton, CO to Lamar, CO is about 209.5 miles (337.1 km), with a travel time of about 04h 01m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 176.3 miles (283.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 02m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
209.46 mi
04h 01m
Flight
176.3 mi
283.73 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Thornton.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
176.3 mi
Kilometers
283.73 km
Flight Time
00h 21m

Driving Distance

Road route
209.46 mi
Kilometers
337.1 km
Drive Time
04h 01m

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 04h 01m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lamar
Thu, Apr 23, 2:15 AM MDT
Return by in Thornton
Thu, Apr 23, 6:16 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Thornton
2026-04-22T22:14
Arrive Lamar
Thu, Apr 23, 2:15 AM MDT
Route Timing
04h 01m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:01 AM to 12:01 PM MDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:58 AM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Thornton
9:00 PM MDT
Early departure recommended

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
Hugo
CO

Town in Colorado, United States

From Thornton
104.7 mi
02h 00m
To Lamar
104.8 mi
02h 00m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
7 to 20 mph SSW
Destination
92°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
10 to 25 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    1.3 km · 1 min · North Valley Highway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight left toward I 270 East: Aurora, Limon

    3003 ft · 1 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight right onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    6.7 mi · 9 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway

    3.8 mi · 5 min · Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway

    2.4 mi · 3 min · Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway

  11. 11

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    76.6 mi · 1 hr 17 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward US 40, US 287: Hugo, Kit Carson

    1744 ft · 45 sec

  13. 13

    Turn right

    62.3 mi · 1 hr 14 min

  14. 14

    Continue straight

    17.5 mi · 21 min

  15. 15

    Continue on West 15th Street

    29.8 mi · 35 min · West 15th Street

  16. 16

    Continue straight

    5.9 mi · 9 min

  17. 17

    Turn right onto West Elm Street

    133 m · 19 sec · West Elm Street

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Elm Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
18 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
3 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
83.3 mi · 40%
West 15th Street
35.7 mi · 17%
US 40
17.9 mi · 9%
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
6.17 mi · 3%
North Valley Highway
2.01 mi · 1%
Thornton Parkway
0.98 mi
Longest Stretch

Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

76.6 mi · 01h 17m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 01m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 02m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+33.2 mi
176.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Hugo
02h 00m from Thornton
Leave By
8:58 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Thornton and Sunny near Lamar.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 209.5 miles (337.1 km) and usually takes 04h 01m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Hugo is a useful midpoint, sitting about 104.7 miles from Thornton and 104.8 miles from Lamar.

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

The direct path is about 176.3 miles (283.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 33.2 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 8:00 AM MDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:58 AM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $27.33 one way or $54.66 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 65.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Thornton and Sunny near Lamar.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Thornton and Lamar. Straight-line distance: 176.3 mi (283.73 km).

Thornton

#1 Thornton

The seventh most populous city in Colorado.

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

#2 Lamar

City in Colorado

Population7,641
Coordinates38.0872300, -102.6207500
Altitude1103
CountryUnited States
Start: Thornton (-104.97192, 39.86804)
End: Lamar (-102.62075, 38.08723)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 337 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 58m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 14m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 11m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 29m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 59m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 36m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.39 gal
27.98 L · about $27.33
Round trip
$54.66
14.78 gal · 55.96 L
Estimated CO2
65.7 kg one way
Round trip: 131.3 kg / 289 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.70 $27.33 $54.66
Mid-grade $4.08 $30.18 $60.36
Premium $4.39 $32.45 $64.90
Diesel $4.74 $35.01 $70.01

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

There is no time difference between Thornton and Lamar. The current time is 22:14:54.

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.