Origin
Thornton, CO
Late night in Thornton on Tuesday
Local time
2:50 AM
MDT
Current temp
36°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Thornton, CO to Indian Hills, CO
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
40m
Distance
29.8 mi
48 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 37m
★
6 AM
0h 41m
8 AM
0h 48m
10 AM
0h 43m
12 PM
0h 43m
3 PM
0h 44m
5 PM
0h 47m
8 PM
0h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Thornton, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Indian Hills, CO
Jacob Moore
Trip Overview
This 29.8-mile drive from Thornton, CO, to Indian Hills, CO, is a straightforward 40-minute journey. Primarily utilizing I-70 and CO-470, this route is almost entirely highway driving, making it perfect for a single-day trip. With an estimated fuel cost of just $4, it's an economical option for exploring the Mountain West region. The drive offers a quick transition from the Denver metropolitan area into the foothills. You won't need to worry about overnight stays, as the short duration allows for plenty of flexibility in your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 70 | 8.7 mi | 9m |
| Heartland Expressway | 5.2 mi | 5m |
| CO 470 | 5.1 mi | 5m |
| US 285 | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| North Valley Highway | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Thornton Parkway | 1 mi | 2m |
| Parmalee Gulch Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Dorothy Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 8.7 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Thornton, CO and Indian Hills, CO.
1
Start on this road
76 ft
·
12 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Dorothy Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
58 sec
·
Dorothy Boulevard
3
At end of road, turn left onto Thornton Parkway
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Thornton Parkway
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 25 South: Colorado Springs
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
Merge onto I 25
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
North Valley Highway
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 216
Toward I 76 West: Arvada, Grand Junction
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 76
5.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Heartland Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 70
8.7 mi
·
9 min
·
I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 260
Toward CO 470 East: Colorado Springs
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto CO 470
5.1 mi
·
5 min
·
CO 470
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 5A
Toward US 285 South: Fairplay
Use the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto US 285
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
US 285
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn right onto CH 120
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Parmalee Gulch Road
15
Turn left onto Santa Clara Road
465 ft
·
20 sec
·
Santa Clara Road
16
Continue on Santa Clara Road
298 ft
·
13 sec
·
Santa Clara Road
17
Keep slight left at fork onto Hiawatha Trail
173 ft
·
7 sec
·
Hiawatha Trail
18
Arrive at destination
Hiawatha Trail
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 24.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Thornton Parkway
At end of road, turn left onto Thornton Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
1.2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Turn left toward I 25 South: Colorado Springs
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward I 25 South: Colorado Springs
8
4.2 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit toward I 76 West: Arvada, Grand Junction
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 216
Toward I 76 West: Arvada, Grand Junction
7
19 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Take the exit toward CO 470 East: Colorado Springs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 260
Toward CO 470 East: Colorado Springs
7
24.7 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward US 285 South: Fairplay
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5A
Toward US 285 South: Fairplay
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.49 one way
$8.98 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $4.75 | $9.51 |
| premium | $4.39 | $5.16 | $10.31 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.58 | $13.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.9 | 0 | $3.13 | $1.43 |
| Efficient EV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.61 | $1.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.17 | $1.91 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Indian Hills, CO
Late night in Indian Hills on Tuesday
Local time
2:50 AM
MDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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
40m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for 80% of this 40-minute trip. You'll spend a good portion of your time on I-70, including an uninterrupted stretch of 8.7 miles. The Heartland Expressway and CO-470 will also contribute to the predominantly high-speed driving. This route is designed for efficient travel rather than winding scenic byways. The roads are well-maintained and designed for steady progress, making it easy to cover the distance quickly and comfortably.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8.7 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and Heartland Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Thornton Parkway.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 29.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 40m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Thornton Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Thornton, CO to Indian Hills, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Grand Junction along the way.
Grand Junction
4.2 mi in
|
~7m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 40m. Total distance: 29.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 8.7 miles on I 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Indian Hills, CO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Thornton Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Indian Hills, CO before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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