Origin
Brush, CO
Evening in Brush on Sunday
Local time
5:06 PM
MDT
Current temp
36°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Brush, CO to Thornton, CO
Drive Time
1h 31m
Distance
84.4 mi
136 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 25m
★
6 AM
1h 32m
8 AM
1h 46m
10 AM
1h 37m
12 PM
1h 35m
3 PM
1h 37m
5 PM
1h 45m
8 PM
1h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brush, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Thornton, CO
Robert So
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Brush to Thornton, you are looking at a straightforward 84.4-mile trek across Colorado’s Mountain West region. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 31 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of approximately $13, it is an economical route that avoids the need for an overnight stay. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-76 before transitioning onto local thoroughfares like East 88th Avenue and Thornton Parkway. This drive is designed for efficiency rather than exploration, serving as a direct connection between the two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
42.2 miles from Brush, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 44m into the drive .
Drive Character
This route is defined by a high-speed interstate experience, with roughly 95% of the journey spent on major highways. You will settle into a long, uninterrupted 78.6-mile stretch on I-76, which gives the drive a consistent, highway-focused personality. Because the road is so heavily weighted toward the interstate, you can expect a predictable ride as you transition from the more rural landscape of Brush into the suburban environment of Thornton. While the pace is fast and efficient, be prepared for the shift from open highway driving to the navigation of local roads like Thornton Parkway once you near your destination.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 76 is the longest continuous segment at about 78.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 76 and Thornton Parkway. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Emerson Street.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 84.4 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Emerson Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (CO 71 / Colorado Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 79.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Emerson Street
Turn left onto West Emerson Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CO 71 / Colorado Avenue
Turn left onto CO 71 / Colorado Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
79.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
Take the exit toward 88th Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 10
Toward 88th Avenue
6
81.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
|
Colorado Boulevard
Turn right onto Colorado Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
84.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 30m in
|
Dorothy Boulevard
Turn left onto Dorothy Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 76 | 78.6 mi | 1h 19m |
| Thornton Parkway | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| East 88th Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Colorado Boulevard | 1 mi | 1m |
| Colorado Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Dorothy Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Emerson Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Clayton Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 76
— 78.6 mi, about 1h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brush, CO and Thornton, CO.
1
Start on Clayton Street
185 ft
·
12 sec
·
Clayton Street
2
Turn left onto West Emerson Street
418 ft
·
25 sec
·
West Emerson Street
3
Turn left onto CO 71
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Colorado Avenue
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
5
Merge onto I 76
79 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
I 76
Use the none lane.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 10
Toward 88th Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
7
Turn right onto East 88th Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
East 88th Avenue
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
8
Turn right onto Colorado Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Colorado Boulevard
Use the right lane.
9
Turn left onto Thornton Parkway
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Thornton Parkway
Use the left lane.
10
Turn left onto Dorothy Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
·
Dorothy Boulevard
Use the left lane.
11
Turn right
116 ft
·
8 sec
12
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours is always a smart move. Because the journey takes less than two hours, you likely won't need to plan for any formal stops along the way. Keep in mind that your fuel costs will hover around $13, so topping off your tank in Brush ensures you won't need to worry about finding a station while in the middle of your 78.6-mile highway stretch. As you approach Thornton, keep a close eye on your GPS, as the transition from I-76 to East 88th Avenue and Thornton Parkway requires navigating local exits that can come up quickly.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 42.2 miles from Brush, CO, or about 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.6 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 80 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.2 miles or 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Thornton, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Brush, CO so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Brush, CO
This is one driving day of about 84.4 miles and 1h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Brush, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 76 for about 78.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 42.2 mi from Brush, CO · 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
42 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 42.2 miles from Brush, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 76 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 78.6 miles.
Arriving in Thornton, CO
The final approach into Thornton, CO usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Thornton, CO.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.79 one way
$25.58 round trip
$3.85/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.08 | $13.57 | $27.14 |
| premium | $4.43 | $14.73 | $29.46 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $18.75 | $37.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.3 | 0 | $8.86 | $4.05 |
| Efficient EV | 21.1 | 0 | $7.39 | $3.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.8 | 0 | $11.82 | $5.40 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Thornton, CO
Evening in Thornton on Sunday
Local time
5:06 PM
MDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
30 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 31m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Brush, CO to Thornton, CO covers 84.4 miles and takes about 1h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 76, Thornton Parkway, East 88th Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 42.2 miles from Brush, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.79 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 84.4 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Emerson Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (CO 71 / Colorado Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 79.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Brush, CO to Thornton, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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