Origin
Thornton, CO
Late night in Thornton on Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
MDT
Current temp
36°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Thornton, CO to Yuma, 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
2h 32m
Distance
135.6 mi
218 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 23m
★
6 AM
2h 33m
8 AM
2h 53m
10 AM
2h 40m
12 PM
2h 38m
3 PM
2h 41m
5 PM
2h 52m
8 PM
2h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Thornton, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Yuma, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Thornton to Yuma is 135.6 miles and takes about 2 hours 32 minutes via Heartland Expressway and US Highway 34, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Colorado, moving from the Mountain West region towards its eastern plains. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip that's ideal for a single day. Expect a practical journey with minimal fuss, perfect for when you need to get from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
67.8 miles from Thornton, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 13m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Heartland Expressway | 80.8 mi | 1h 21m |
| West 1st Street | 27.7 mi | 34m |
| US Highway 34 | 21.2 mi | 24m |
| Thornton Parkway | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| East 88th Avenue | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Colorado Boulevard | 1 mi | 1m |
| US Highway 6 | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| South Ash Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Heartland Expressway
— 80.8 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Thornton, CO and Yuma, 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 straight 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
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
79 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
Heartland Expressway
Toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto US 6
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
US 6
Toward US 34, US 6: Akron, Yuma, Wray
10
Turn right onto I 76 Business; US 34 Spur
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
US Highway 6
Use the left lane.
11
At end of road, turn left onto US 34
21 mi
·
24 min
·
US Highway 34
Use the left lane.
12
Continue on US 34
28 mi
·
34 min
·
West 1st Street
13
Turn left onto South Ash Street
0.3 mi
·
59 sec
·
South Ash Street
14
Arrive at destination
South Ash Street
Trip Plan
Given this is a 1-day trip of just over 2.5 hours, you have plenty of flexibility for your departure time. Consider leaving in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for any unexpected delays. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $20, planning your fuel fill-up before hitting the longest stretch on the Heartland Expressway would be wise. Keep an eye on the weather as you head east, as plains conditions can change rapidly.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 67.8 miles from Thornton, CO, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.8 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 30 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67.8 miles or 1h 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Yuma, 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 135.6 miles and 2h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Thornton, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Heartland Expressway for about 80.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
68 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 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 67.8 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 80.8 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 86.4 — 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 right onto Thornton Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight 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
86.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
|
US 34 / US Highway 34
At end of road, turn left onto US 34 / US Highway 34
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.43 one way
$40.86 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
47 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $21.63 | $43.26 |
| premium | $4.39 | $23.46 | $46.92 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $29.94 | $59.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 40.7 | 0 | $14.24 | $6.51 |
| Efficient EV | 33.9 | 0 | $11.86 | $5.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 54.2 | 0 | $18.98 | $8.68 |
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 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
Yuma, CO
Late night in Yuma on Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
MDT
Current temp
58°F
Sunny
NW 15 to 20 mph
0% chance
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
22 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
2h 32m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 77% of it utilizing major roadways like the Heartland Expressway and US Highway 34. You'll experience a significant uninterrupted stretch of 80.8 miles on the Heartland Expressway, offering a consistent pace. While largely high-speed, the initial segment on West 1st Street provides a brief transition. The overall character is one of steady progress on well-maintained roads, minimizing complex navigation.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80.8 mi on Heartland Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Heartland Expressway and West 1st Street. 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.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 135.6 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.
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 Yuma, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Wray along the way.
Wray
85.4 mi in
|
~1h 30m
|
via US 6
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 32m. Total distance: 135.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 80.8 miles on Heartland Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Yuma, 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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