Origin
Fort Collins, CO
Late night in Fort Collins on Friday
Local time
1:28 AM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fort Collins, CO to Derby, CO
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
1h 12m
Distance
60.8 mi
98 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 7m
★
6 AM
1h 12m
8 AM
1h 24m
10 AM
1h 16m
12 PM
1h 15m
3 PM
1h 17m
5 PM
1h 23m
8 PM
1h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fort Collins, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Derby, CO
@coldbeer
Trip Overview
This 60.8-mile drive from Fort Collins to Derby, Colorado, is a straightforward 1 hour and 12 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. You'll primarily navigate the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and North Valley Highway. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $9, this journey through the Mountain West region is accessible for most travelers. There are no designated stops in the data, so plan your own breaks. This route is well-suited for a single-day adventure, allowing for flexibility in your schedule without the need for an overnight stay.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 12m. Total distance: 60.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this trip, rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. While 100% of this route is on highways, the character is more local road than pure interstate. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 41.8 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. This suggests a drive that might involve more frequent changes in speed and direction, characteristic of routes connecting communities rather than traversing vast distances at high speed. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 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 41.8 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.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 60.8 miles you will encounter 15 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 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 56.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
8
56.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
Take the exit toward I 270 East: Aurora, Limon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 217B
Toward I 270 East: Aurora, Limon
7
59 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
Take the exit toward CO 224
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 8
Toward CO 224
9
59.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
Keep slight right at fork toward CO 224: Commerce City, 74th Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward CO 224: Commerce City, 74th Avenue
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 Fort Collins, CO to Derby, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Limon along the way.
Limon
56.4 mi in
|
~1h 3m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 41.8 mi | 41m |
| North Valley Highway | 10.2 mi | 12m |
| East Mulberry Street | 3.9 mi | 7m |
| East 74th Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Heartland Expressway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| North Vasquez Boulevard | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West Mulberry Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Kimberly Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 41.8 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Collins, CO and Derby, 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
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Valley Highway
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 217B
Toward I 270 East: Aurora, Limon
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
12
Merge onto I 270
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
13
Take the exit
1.2 mi
·
2 min
Exit 1
Toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
14
Merge onto I 76
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
·
Heartland Expressway
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 8
Toward CO 224
Use the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward CO 224: Commerce City, 74th Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
17
Turn straight onto CO 224
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East 74th Avenue
18
At end of road, turn left onto US 6; US 85
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
North Vasquez Boulevard
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right onto East 77th Avenue
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
East 77th Avenue
Use the right lane.
20
Turn left onto Kimberly Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Kimberly Street
21
Arrive at destination
Kimberly Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 30.4 mi from Fort Collins, CO · 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.4 miles from Fort Collins, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Derby, CO
The final approach into Derby, 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
$9.16 one way
$18.32 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $9.70 | $19.40 |
| premium | $4.39 | $10.52 | $21.04 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.42 | $26.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.38 | $2.92 |
| Efficient EV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.32 | $2.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.3 | 0 | $8.51 | $3.89 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Derby, CO
Late night in Derby on Friday
Local time
1:28 AM
MDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
46°F
Frederick, CO
30 mi in
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
35 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
1h 12m 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 Derby, CO covers 60.8 miles and takes about 1h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, North Valley Highway, East Mulberry Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 30.4 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 $9.16 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 60.8 miles you will encounter 15 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: 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 56.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Fort Collins, CO to Derby, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Limon along the way.
Data sources
The figures on this page are computed from open government and mapping datasets, not crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Full methodology, refresh cadence, and limitations are documented on the methodology page.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
More trips to Derby, CO
Explore more options from Fort Collins, CO or browse trips ending in Derby, CO.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CO road trips.