Origin
Dove Valley, CO
Evening in Dove Valley on Friday
Local time
5:00 PM
MDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dove Valley, CO to Fort Collins, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 37m
Distance
80.8 mi
130 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 30m
★
6 AM
1h 37m
8 AM
1h 52m
10 AM
1h 42m
12 PM
1h 41m
3 PM
1h 43m
5 PM
1h 51m
8 PM
1h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dove Valley, CO
Regan Dsouza
Fort Collins, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Planning a trip from Dove Valley, CO, to Fort Collins, CO? This 80.8-mile drive will take you about 1 hour and 37 minutes, making it a perfect single-day excursion. You'll primarily navigate the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, South Valley Highway, and North Valley Highway. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $12, this journey offers a straightforward way to travel between two points in the Mountain West region. The route is generally considered a local drive with a number of turns, so keep your directions handy. Given its relatively short length and duration, you won't need to worry about overnight stays.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.4 miles from Dove Valley, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 51m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 37m. Total distance: 80.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a "turn-heavy local drive" on this route. While you'll spend some time on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 41.7 miles, the overall profile suggests a more varied experience than a pure interstate journey. The highway share is moderate, meaning you'll encounter local roads and likely more frequent changes in speed and direction. This isn't a monotonous freeway crawl; rather, it's a drive where you'll be actively navigating and adjusting to different road conditions as you progress from Dove Valley to Fort Collins.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 41.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Broncos Parkway.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 80.8 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 (Broncos Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.8 miles (CO 88): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.2 miles (I 25; CO 88 / South Valley Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Broncos Parkway
Turn left onto Broncos Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
3.8 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
CO 88
Take the ramp onto CO 88 toward I 25 North: Denver
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 25 North: Denver
5
4.2 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 25; CO 88 / South Valley Highway
Merge onto I 25; CO 88 / South Valley Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
24.8 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
I 25 / North Valley Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25 / North Valley Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
29.1 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
I 25 / North Valley Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25 / North Valley Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 41.7 mi | 41m |
| South Valley Highway | 20.5 mi | 26m |
| North Valley Highway | 9.6 mi | 11m |
| East Mulberry Street | 4 mi | 7m |
| East Arapahoe Road | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Broncos Parkway | 1 mi | 1m |
| South Peoria Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| CO 88 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 41.7 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dove Valley, CO and Fort Collins, CO.
1
Start on South Potomac Street
44 ft
·
6 sec
·
South Potomac Street
2
Turn left onto Broncos Parkway
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Broncos Parkway
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on South Peoria Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South Peoria Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
4
Turn left onto CO 88; CR 42
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
East Arapahoe Road
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp onto CO 88
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
CO 88
Toward I 25 North: Denver
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 25; CO 88
21 mi
·
26 min
·
South Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
5.3 mi
·
5 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on I 25
42 mi
·
41 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 269B
Toward CO 14 West: Fort Collins
11
Merge onto CO 14
4.0 mi
·
7 min
·
East Mulberry Street
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on West Mulberry Street
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
West Mulberry Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Turn right onto South Meldrum Street
499 ft
·
29 sec
·
South Meldrum Street
14
Turn left onto West Magnolia Street
476 ft
·
18 sec
·
West Magnolia Street
15
Continue on South Sherwood Street
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
South Sherwood Street
16
Arrive at destination
South Sherwood Street
Trip Plan
For this 1-hour and 37-minute drive, flexibility is your best friend. You can easily tackle this in a single day without needing to split it. Leaving mid-morning could help you avoid the busiest local traffic. Since there are no designated stops mentioned, plan to fuel up before you depart Dove Valley to cover the estimated $12 fuel cost. Keep an eye on your navigation, as the "turn-heavy local drive" profile indicates you'll be making several turns. The longest stretch on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway is over 41 miles, so be prepared for that segment before the local turns resume.
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 40.4 miles from Dove Valley, CO, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.7 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 18 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.4 miles or 51m 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 19m
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 Dove Valley, CO so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Dove Valley, CO
This is one driving day of about 80.8 miles and 1h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Dove Valley, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 41.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 40.4 mi from Dove Valley, CO · 51m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
40 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 40.4 miles from Dove Valley, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.17 one way
$24.35 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $12.89 | $25.78 |
| premium | $4.39 | $13.98 | $27.96 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.84 | $35.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.2 | 0 | $8.48 | $3.88 |
| Efficient EV | 20.2 | 0 | $7.07 | $3.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.3 | 0 | $11.31 | $5.17 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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 Friday
Local time
5:00 PM
MDT
Current temp
44°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
17 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 37m 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 Dove Valley, CO to Fort Collins, CO covers 80.8 miles and takes about 1h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, South Valley Highway, North Valley Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 40.4 miles from Dove Valley, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.17 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 80.8 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 (Broncos Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.8 miles (CO 88): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.2 miles (I 25; CO 88 / South Valley Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Dove Valley, CO to Fort Collins, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Fort Collins, CO
More trips to Fort Collins, CO
Explore more options from Dove Valley, CO or browse trips ending in Fort Collins, CO.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CO road trips.