Origin
Fort Collins, CO
Night in Fort Collins on Tuesday
Local time
9:03 PM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fort Collins, CO to Colorado City, CO
Data updated 4 hours ago
Drive Time
3h 43m
Distance
202 mi
325 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 31m
★
6 AM
3h 44m
8 AM
4h 9m
10 AM
3h 52m
12 PM
3h 50m
3 PM
3h 54m
5 PM
4h 8m
8 PM
3h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fort Collins, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Colorado City, CO
gabesdotphotos photographer
Trip Overview
The drive from Fort Collins, CO to Colorado City, CO covers 202 miles and takes about 3h 43m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Valley Highway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 79.5 miles on North Valley Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.44 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
101 miles from Fort Collins, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 53m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 43m drive with frequent turns across 202 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Valley Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 79.5 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 around 4.5 miles in.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 202 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.8 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 55.6 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
4.5 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the exit toward I 25 South: Denver
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 25 South: Denver
6
46.8 mi into trip
|
~51m 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 / slight right lanes.
6
55.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m 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 / slight left lanes.
6
134.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 30m in
|
I 25 / Ronald Reagan Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 25 / Ronald Reagan Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
174.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 11m in
Take the exit toward 13th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 99B
Toward 13th Street
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Valley Highway | 79.5 mi | 1h 29m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 41.4 mi | 41m |
| John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway | 31.3 mi | 31m |
| Ronald Reagan Highway | 22.9 mi | 23m |
| North Freeway | 9.7 mi | 11m |
| Monument Valley Freeway | 8.8 mi | 10m |
| East Mulberry Street | 3.9 mi | 7m |
| CO 165 | 2.5 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
North Valley Highway
— 79.5 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Collins, CO and Colorado City, CO.
1
Start on South Sherwood Street
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
South Sherwood Street
2
Continue on West Magnolia Street
476 ft
·
20 sec
·
West Magnolia Street
3
Turn right onto South Meldrum Street
499 ft
·
29 sec
·
South Meldrum Street
4
Turn left onto West Mulberry Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
West Mulberry Street
5
Continue on East Mulberry Street
3.9 mi
·
7 min
·
East Mulberry Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 25 South: Denver
Use the right lane.
7
Merge onto I 25
41 mi
·
41 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 25
0.6 mi
·
36 sec
·
North Valley Highway
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
8.8 mi
·
10 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
70 mi
·
1 hr 18 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Continue on I 25
8.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Monument Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 25; US 24
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
Ronald Reagan Highway
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 25
23 mi
·
23 min
·
Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 25
13 mi
·
12 min
·
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 25
2.6 mi
·
2 min
·
North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 100B
Toward 29th Street
17
Merge onto I 25; US 50
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Freeway
18
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
Exit 99B
Toward 13th Street
Use the slight right lane.
19
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
this road
20
Merge onto I 25; US 50 Bus
6.1 mi
·
7 min
·
North Freeway
Use the straight lane.
21
Continue on I 25
18 mi
·
18 min
·
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward CO 165 West: Colorado City, Rye
23
Turn right onto CO 165
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
CO 165
24
Turn right onto Bent Brothers Boulevard
169 ft
·
9 sec
·
Bent Brothers Boulevard
25
Turn right
166 ft
·
12 sec
26
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 101 miles from Fort Collins, CO, or about 1h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.5 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 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101 miles or 1h 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Colorado City, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fort Collins, 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 Fort Collins, CO
This is one driving day of about 202 miles and 3h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Fort Collins, 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 North Valley Highway for about 79.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 101 mi from Fort Collins, CO · 1h 53m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
101 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 101 miles from Fort Collins, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before North Valley Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 79.5 miles.
Arriving in Colorado City, CO
The final approach into Colorado City, 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 Colorado City, 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
$30.44 one way
$60.87 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
71 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $32.22 | $64.45 |
| premium | $4.39 | $34.94 | $69.89 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $44.60 | $89.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 60.6 | 0 | $21.21 | $9.70 |
| Efficient EV | 50.5 | 0 | $17.67 | $8.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 80.8 | 1 | $28.28 | $12.93 |
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 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
Colorado City, CO
Night in Colorado City on Tuesday
Local time
9:03 PM
MDT
Current temp
71°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
27 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
3h 43m 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 Fort Collins, CO to Colorado City, CO covers 202 miles and takes about 3h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Valley Highway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 101 miles from Fort Collins, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $30.44 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 202 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.8 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 55.6 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Fort Collins, CO to Colorado City, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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