How far is Thornton, CO from Springfield, CO?

The driving distance from Thornton, CO to Springfield, CO is about 256.6 miles (412.9 km), with a travel time of about 05h 02m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 212.3 miles (341.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 04m 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
256.57 mi
05h 02m
Flight
212.28 mi
341.63 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
212.28 mi
Kilometers
341.63 km
Flight Time
00h 25m

Driving Distance

Road route
256.57 mi
Kilometers
412.91 km
Drive Time
05h 02m

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 05h 02m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Springfield
Thu, Apr 16, 12:02 AM MDT
Return by in Thornton
Thu, Apr 16, 5:04 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Thornton
2026-04-15T19:00
Arrive Springfield
Thu, Apr 16, 12:02 AM MDT
Route Timing
05h 02m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:02 AM to 1:02 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
6:56 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
128.3 mi
02h 31m
To Springfield
128.3 mi
02h 31m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
68°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
6 to 12 mph WSW
Destination
38°F
Overnight

Mostly Clear

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 4:00 AM MDT
Wind
10 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    8 mi · 13 min

  17. 17

    Continue straight

    1.6 mi · 2 min

  18. 18

    Continue straight

    43.4 mi · 51 min

  19. 19

    Turn left onto East 6th Avenue

    641 ft · 28 sec · East 6th Avenue

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East 6th Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
20 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
3 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
83.3 mi · 32%
West 15th Street
82.7 mi · 32%
US 40
17.9 mi · 7%
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
6.17 mi · 2%
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
05h 02m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+44.3 mi
212.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Hugo
02h 31m from Thornton
Leave By
6:56 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Thornton and Mostly Clear near Springfield.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 256.6 miles (412.9 km) and usually takes 05h 02m 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 128.3 miles from Thornton and 128.3 miles from Springfield.

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

The direct path is about 212.3 miles (341.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 44.3 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 6:56 AM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $33.47 one way or $66.93 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 80.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Thornton and Mostly Clear near Springfield.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Thornton and Springfield. Straight-line distance: 212.28 mi (341.63 km).

Thornton

#1 Thornton

The seventh most populous city in Colorado.

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

#2 Springfield

Statutory Town in Baca County, Colorado

Population1,364
Coordinates37.4083500, -102.6143600
Altitude1329
CountryUnited States
Start: Thornton (-104.97192, 39.86804)
End: Springfield (-102.61436, 37.40835)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 413 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 32m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 24m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 07m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 16m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 39m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 12m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.05 gal
34.27 L · about $33.47
Round trip
$66.93
18.1 gal · 68.54 L
Estimated CO2
80.4 kg one way
Round trip: 160.9 kg / 355 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.70 $33.47 $66.93
Mid-grade $4.08 $36.96 $73.92
Premium $4.39 $39.74 $79.48
Diesel $4.74 $42.87 $85.74

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 16, 2026

There is no time difference between Thornton and Springfield. The current time is 19:00:05.

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.