How far is Thornton, CO from Louisville, CO?

The driving distance from Thornton, CO to Louisville, CO is about 18.1 miles (29.2 km), with a travel time of about 00h 26m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 11.4 miles (18.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 52m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM MDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
18.13 mi
00h 26m
Flight
11.37 mi
18.3 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Thornton.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
11.37 mi
Kilometers
18.3 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
18.13 mi
Kilometers
29.17 km
Drive Time
00h 26m

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 00h 26m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Louisville
Sat, Apr 18, 11:41 PM MDT
Return by in Thornton
Sun, Apr 19, 12:07 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Thornton
2026-04-18T23:15
Arrive Louisville
Sat, Apr 18, 11:41 PM MDT
Route Timing
00h 26m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM MDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:26 AM to 7:26 PM MDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:38 PM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Thornton
10:00 PM MDT
Flexible departure

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
Lafayette
CO

City in Colorado

From Thornton
9.1 mi
00h 13m
To Louisville
9.1 mi
00h 13m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
56°F
Saturday

Slight Chance Snow Showers

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NW
Destination
55°F
Saturday

Slight Chance Snow Showers

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
6 to 12 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    1755 ft · 44 sec · Thornton Parkway

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Washington Street

    1.6 km · 2 min · Washington Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto East 104th Avenue

    2512 ft · 57 sec · East 104th Avenue

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 25 North

    1401 ft · 26 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto North Valley Highway

    1.1 mi · 1 min · North Valley Highway

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on North Valley Highway

    4.6 mi · 5 min · North Valley Highway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward NW, E 470 Toll: Broomfield, Limon

    1919 ft · 33 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on Northwest Parkway West Toll

    1.4 km · 2 min

  11. 11

    Continue on Northwest Parkway

    4.8 mi · 5 min · Northwest Parkway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward US 287: Dillon Road

    1760 ft · 33 sec

  13. 13

    Turn straight onto West Dillon Road

    1206 ft · 35 sec · West Dillon Road

  14. 14

    Turn right onto South 112th Street

    1.4 km · 1 min · South 112th Street

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Empire Road

    2 mi · 3 min · Empire Road

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Courtesy Road

    1749 ft · 43 sec · Courtesy Road

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Pine Street

    825 ft · 27 sec · Pine Street

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Front Street

    105 m · 15 sec · Front Street

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Spruce Street

    98 m · 14 sec · Spruce Street

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Spruce Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
20 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
110.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
North Valley Highway
5.77 mi · 32%
Northwest Parkway
4.8 mi · 26%
Empire Road
1.97 mi · 11%
Washington Street
0.99 mi · 5%
South 112th Street
0.9 mi · 5%
Northwest Parkway West Toll
0.86 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Northwest Parkway

Continue on Northwest Parkway

4.8 mi · 00h 05m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 26m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+6.7 mi
11.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lafayette
00h 13m from Thornton
Leave By
7:38 PM MDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Snow Showers leaving Thornton and Slight Chance Snow Showers near Louisville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 18.1 miles (29.2 km) and usually takes 00h 26m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Lafayette is a useful midpoint, sitting about 9.1 miles from Thornton and 9.1 miles from Louisville.

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

The direct path is about 11.4 miles (18.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 6.7 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM MDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:38 PM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.37 one way or $4.73 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 5.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Snow Showers around Thornton and Slight Chance Snow Showers near Louisville.

Stop Ideas Near Lafayette

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Lafayette and the surrounding midpoint area.
Municipal Court Park
Scenic stop 10.4 mi away

Municipal Court Park

Westminster , CO
3025 W 76th Ave, Westminster, CO 80030
Rating 3.8/5 94 reviews Park
Broomfield City Council
Meeting point 5.9 mi away

Broomfield City Council

Broomfield , CO
1 Descombes Dr, Broomfield, CO 80020
Rating 3.9/5 63 reviews City government office
Lafayette City Hall
Nearby stop 5.1 mi away

Lafayette City Hall

Lafayette , CO
1290 S Public Rd, Lafayette, CO 80026
Rating 5.0/5 2 reviews City administration
Historic Brighton City Hall
Scenic stop 9.3 mi away

Historic Brighton City Hall

Brighton , CO
22 S 4th Ave, Brighton, CO 80601
Rating 4.3/5 31 reviews Historical place,City Hall

Transit and Meeting Points

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

BUS

Boulder, Colorado

18 mi away
30th & Diagonal Highway
BUS

Longmont, Colorado

20 mi away
623 Main St.
BUS

Denver (Bus Station), Colorado

28 mi away
1055 19th Street
RAIL

Union Station

28 mi away
1701 Wynkoop Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Thornton and Louisville. Straight-line distance: 11.37 mi (18.3 km).

Thornton

#1 Thornton

The seventh most populous city in Colorado.

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

#2 Louisville

City in Colorado

Population19,060
Coordinates39.9777600, -105.1319300
Altitude1626
CountryUnited States
Start: Thornton (-104.97192, 39.86804)
End: Louisville (-105.13193, 39.97776)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 29 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 36m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 27m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 21m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 18m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 15m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 13m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.64 gal
2.42 L · about $2.37
Round trip
$4.73
1.28 gal · 4.84 L
Estimated CO2
5.7 kg one way
Round trip: 11.4 kg / 25 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.70 $2.37 $4.73
Mid-grade $4.08 $2.61 $5.23
Premium $4.39 $2.81 $5.62
Diesel $4.74 $3.03 $6.06

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Thornton and Louisville. The current time is 23:15:35.

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.