Origin
Thornton, CO
Evening in Thornton on Sunday
Local time
5:06 PM
MDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Thornton, CO to Brush, CO
Drive Time
1h 31m
Distance
84.3 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 24m
★
6 AM
1h 31m
8 AM
1h 45m
10 AM
1h 36m
12 PM
1h 35m
3 PM
1h 37m
5 PM
1h 44m
8 PM
1h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Thornton, CO
Robert So
Brush, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a straightforward trip across Colorado, the 84.3-mile journey from Thornton to Brush is an efficient option. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 31 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $13, it is an economical route that requires no overnight stops. You will transition from the suburban Mountain West environment of Thornton toward the more rural plains of Brush. Because the route is compact, you have the flexibility to head out early or late depending on your schedule. It is a practical, no-nonsense path that gets you to your destination with minimal fuss.
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 Thornton, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 95% of your travel occurring on major thoroughfares. You will navigate via Thornton Parkway and East 88th Avenue before settling into the Heartland Expressway for the bulk of your journey. In fact, you can anticipate a significant, uninterrupted stretch of 78.7 miles on the expressway, which sets the pace for the majority of the drive. While you start by navigating local road systems, the experience quickly shifts into a consistent, high-speed cruise. The lack of required stops allows you to maintain a steady rhythm, making the 1.5-hour duration pass quite quickly.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Heartland Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 78.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Heartland Expressway and Thornton Parkway. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Thornton Parkway.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 84.3 miles you will encounter 11 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: at 0.2 miles (Thornton Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (East 88th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Thornton Parkway
At end of road, turn right onto Thornton Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
6
2.9 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
East 88th Avenue
Turn left onto East 88th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
4.5 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the ramp toward I 76 East: Brush
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 76 East: Brush
7
6.4 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
I 76 / Heartland Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76 / Heartland Expressway toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
6
83.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 29m in
|
CO 71 / Colorado Avenue
Turn right onto CO 71 / Colorado Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Heartland Expressway | 78.7 mi | 1h 19m |
| Thornton Parkway | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| East 88th Avenue | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Colorado Boulevard | 1 mi | 1m |
| Colorado Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Dorothy Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Clayton Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Howard Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Heartland Expressway
— 78.7 mi, about 1h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Thornton, CO and Brush, CO.
1
Start on this road
76 ft
·
12 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Dorothy Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
55 sec
·
Dorothy Boulevard
3
At end of road, turn right onto Thornton Parkway
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Thornton Parkway
Use the none lane.
4
Turn right onto Colorado Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Colorado Boulevard
Use the right lane.
5
Turn left onto East 88th Avenue
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
East 88th Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward I 76 East: Brush
Use the left lane.
7
Merge onto I 76; US 6; US 85
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Heartland Expressway
Use the none lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
77 mi
·
1 hr 17 min
·
Heartland Expressway
Toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward CO 71: Brush, Snyder
10
Turn right onto CO 71
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Colorado Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn right onto Howard Street
398 ft
·
15 sec
·
Howard Street
12
Turn left onto Clayton Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Clayton Street
13
Arrive at destination
Clayton Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have the advantage of total schedule flexibility. To make the most of your trip, try to time your departure to avoid peak commuter traffic when exiting the Thornton area. Because you will be spending nearly the entire time on highways, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you leave to avoid mid-route detours. Keep in mind that with zero mandatory stops, you have the freedom to decide exactly where and when to take a break if you need to stretch your legs. A great strategy is to keep your snacks and supplies handy in the car, as the 78.7-mile stretch on the Heartland Expressway is designed for continuous driving.
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 Thornton, CO, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.7 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 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.2 miles or 47m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brush, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Thornton, 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 Thornton, CO
This is one driving day of about 84.3 miles and 1h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Thornton, 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 Heartland Expressway for about 78.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 42.2 mi from Thornton, CO · 47m 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 Thornton, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Heartland Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 78.7 miles.
Arriving in Brush, CO
The final approach into Brush, 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 Brush, 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
$12.77 one way
$25.55 round trip
$3.85/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.08 | $13.55 | $27.11 |
| premium | $4.43 | $14.71 | $29.43 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $18.73 | $37.46 |
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 · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.3 | 0 | $8.85 | $4.05 |
| Efficient EV | 21.1 | 0 | $7.38 | $3.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.7 | 0 | $11.80 | $5.40 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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
Brush, CO
Evening in Brush on Sunday
Local time
5:06 PM
MDT
Current temp
36°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 cooler 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 Thornton, CO to Brush, CO covers 84.3 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 Heartland Expressway, 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 Thornton, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.77 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 84.3 miles you will encounter 11 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: at 0.2 miles (Thornton Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (East 88th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Thornton, CO to Brush, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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