How far is Thornton, CO from Loma, CO?

The driving distance from Thornton, CO to Loma, CO is about 266.5 miles (428.9 km), with a travel time of about 04h 59m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 209.9 miles (337.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 58m 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
266.53 mi
04h 59m
Flight
209.88 mi
337.77 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
209.88 mi
Kilometers
337.77 km
Flight Time
00h 25m

Driving Distance

Road route
266.53 mi
Kilometers
428.94 km
Drive Time
04h 59m

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 59m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Loma
Thu, Oct 15, 7:43 PM MDT
Return by in Thornton
Fri, Oct 16, 12:42 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Thornton
2026-10-15T14:44
Arrive Loma
Thu, Oct 15, 7:43 PM MDT
Route Timing
04h 59m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:59 AM to 12:59 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
7:02 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
Eagle
CO

Human settlement in Eagle County, Colorado, United States of America

From Thornton
133.1 mi
02h 29m
To Loma
133.4 mi
02h 29m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
54°F
Today

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 8:00 AM MDT
Wind
12 to 18 mph N
Destination
63°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    254.8 mi · 4 hr 41 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward CO 139: Loma, Rangely

    1258 ft · 35 sec

  11. 11

    Turn right onto 13 Road

    1.2 mi · 2 min · 13 Road

  12. 12

    Turn left onto M 1/4 Road

    19 m · 3 sec · M 1/4 Road

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · M 1/4 Road

Car Route Details

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

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
13 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
3 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
4.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Heartland Expressway
260 mi · 98%
North Valley Highway
2.66 mi · 1%
13 Road
1.18 mi
Thornton Parkway
0.98 mi
I 76 West
0.91 mi
I 25 South
0.37 mi
Longest Stretch

Heartland Expressway

Merge slight left

255 mi · 04h 41m

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 59m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+56.6 mi
209.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Eagle
02h 29m from Thornton
Leave By
7:02 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Thornton and Mostly Sunny near Loma.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 266.5 miles (428.9 km) and usually takes 04h 59m 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?

Eagle is a useful midpoint, sitting about 133.1 miles from Thornton and 133.4 miles from Loma.

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

The direct path is about 209.9 miles (337.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 56.6 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 7:02 AM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $40.66 one way or $81.31 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 83.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Thornton and Mostly Sunny near Loma.

Stop Ideas Near Eagle

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Eagle, 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 Eagle.

BUS

Vail, Colorado

41 mi away
241 South Frontage Road East
RAIL

Glenwood Springs

44 mi away
413 7th Street
BUS

Frisco, Colorado

63 mi away
1010 Meadow Drive
BUS

Fairplay, CO

86 mi away
620 US Highway 285

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Thornton and Loma. Straight-line distance: 209.88 mi (337.77 km).

Thornton

#1 Thornton

The seventh most populous city in Colorado.

Population148,113
Coordinates39.8680400, -104.9719200
Altitude1631
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Loma

Situated in the high desert of western Colorado's Grand Valley at an elevation of 4,508 feet, this unincorporated community lies within Mesa County along the Colorado River.

Population0
Coordinates39.1958100, -108.8131600
Altitude1374
CountryUnited States
Start: Thornton (-104.97192, 39.86804)
End: Loma (-108.81316, 39.19581)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 429 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 52m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 39m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 19m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 26m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 48m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 19m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.4 gal
35.6 L · about $40.66
Round trip
$81.31
18.8 gal · 71.2 L
Estimated CO2
83.5 kg one way
Round trip: 167.1 kg / 368 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.33 $40.66 $81.31
Mid-grade $4.72 $44.36 $88.72
Premium $5.06 $47.59 $95.18
Diesel $6.52 $61.26 $122.52

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 · Oct 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Thornton and Loma. The current time is 14:44:27.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.