Origin
Black Forest, CO
Evening in Black Forest on Sunday
Local time
6:11 PM
MDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Black Forest, CO to Fort Collins, CO
Drive Time
2h 16m
Distance
131.3 mi
211 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 7m
★
6 AM
2h 16m
8 AM
2h 35m
10 AM
2h 23m
12 PM
2h 21m
3 PM
2h 24m
5 PM
2h 34m
8 PM
2h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fort Collins, CO
Jacob Moore
Trip Overview
The drive from Black Forest, CO to Fort Collins, CO covers 131.3 miles and takes about 2h 16m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Shoup Road, I 25 North, Ronald Reagan Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.90 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
65.6 miles from Black Forest, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 8m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 16m drive with frequent turns across 131.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Shoup Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Black Forest, CO to Fort Collins, CO is easy. At 2h 16m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Black Forest, CO to Fort Collins, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Shoup Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 25 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Ronald Reagan Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Valley Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Dwight D | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| CO 14 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Mulberry Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Mulberry Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Shoup Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Black Forest, CO and Fort Collins, CO.
1
Start on Black Forest Road
82 ft
·
6 sec
·
Black Forest Road
2
Turn right onto Shoup Road
4.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Shoup Road
3
At the end of the road, turn left
2.8 mi
·
4 min
4
Keep slight right to continue on I 25 North: Denver
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
I 25 North: Denver
5
Merge slight left onto Ronald Reagan Highway
65 mi
·
1 hr 12 min
·
Ronald Reagan Highway
6
Keep slight right to continue on North Valley Highway
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
North Valley Highway
7
Keep slight right to continue on North Valley Highway
5.3 mi
·
5 min
·
North Valley Highway
8
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
42 mi
·
41 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
9
Take the exit slight right toward CO 14 West: Fort Collins
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
CO 14 West: Fort Collins
10
Merge slight left onto East Mulberry Street
4.0 mi
·
7 min
·
East Mulberry Street
11
Continue on West Mulberry Street
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
West Mulberry Street
12
Turn right onto South Meldrum Street
499 ft
·
29 sec
·
South Meldrum Street
13
Turn left onto West Magnolia Street
476 ft
·
18 sec
·
West Magnolia Street
14
Continue on South Sherwood Street
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
South Sherwood Street
15
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 65.6 miles from Black Forest, CO, or about 1h 8m into the drive.
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 65.6 miles or 1h 8m 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 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Collins, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Black Forest, 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 Black Forest, CO
This is one driving day of about 131.3 miles and 2h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Black Forest, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 65.6 mi from Black Forest, CO · 1h 8m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
66 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 65.6 miles from Black Forest, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Fort Collins, CO
The final approach into Fort Collins, 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 Fort Collins, 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
$19.90 one way
$39.79 round trip
$3.85/gal
25.4 MPG avg
46 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.08 | $21.11 | $42.22 |
| premium | $4.43 | $22.92 | $45.83 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $29.17 | $58.34 |
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: 45.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39.4 | 0 | $13.79 | $6.30 |
| Efficient EV | 32.8 | 0 | $11.49 | $5.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 52.5 | 0 | $18.38 | $8.40 |
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Fort Collins, CO
Evening in Fort Collins on Sunday
Local time
6:11 PM
MDT
Current temp
67°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
10 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 16m 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 Black Forest, CO to Fort Collins, CO covers 131.3 miles and takes about 2h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Shoup Road, I 25 North, Ronald Reagan Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 65.6 miles from Black Forest, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.90 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.
The drive from Black Forest, CO to Fort Collins, CO is easy. At 2h 16m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Black Forest, CO to Fort Collins, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Black Forest, CO to Fort Collins, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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