Origin
Fort Collins, CO
Evening in Fort Collins on Sunday
Local time
6:10 PM
MDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fort Collins, CO to Loveland, CO
Drive Time
25m
Distance
13.5 mi
22 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 23m
★
6 AM
0h 26m
8 AM
0h 30m
10 AM
0h 27m
12 PM
0h 27m
3 PM
0h 27m
5 PM
0h 30m
8 PM
0h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fort Collins, CO
Jacob Moore
Loveland, CO
RDNE Stock project
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion between Fort Collins and Loveland, you are looking at a brief 13.5-mile journey within the Mountain West. Clocking in at approximately 25 minutes, this trip is ideal for a spontaneous day outing rather than an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via South College Avenue, North Garfield Avenue, and North Cleveland Avenue to reach your destination. Budgeting just $2 for fuel makes this one of the most economical trips you can take in Colorado. Since there are no required stops, you have the freedom to complete the drive in one efficient go. It is a straightforward, practical connection between two neighboring cities that requires very little logistical planning.
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
6.7 miles from Fort Collins, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 13m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. While about 7 miles of the trip—roughly half the total distance—utilize highway-style roads, the majority of your time is spent navigating local thoroughfares. Your longest uninterrupted stretch is a 7-mile segment along South College Avenue, which serves as the backbone of your journey. As you transition between these main roads, the character of the drive shifts from busy urban corridors to more localized navigation. Be prepared for frequent turns as you move through the Mountain West landscape, as this route emphasizes stop-and-go local transit over high-speed highway travel.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South College Avenue is the longest continuous segment at about 7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near South Meldrum Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 25m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (South Meldrum Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (West Mulberry Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (US 287 / South College Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
4 of 4 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
South Meldrum Street
Turn right onto South Meldrum Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
West Mulberry Street
Turn left onto West Mulberry Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.6 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 287 / South College Avenue
Turn right onto US 287 / South College Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
13.4 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
East 6th Street
Turn right onto East 6th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South College Avenue | 7 mi | 12m |
| North Garfield Avenue | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| North Cleveland Avenue | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| South Highway 287 | 1 mi | 1m |
| North Lincoln Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Buchanan Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| West Mulberry Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South Sherwood Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
South College Avenue
— 7 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Collins, CO and Loveland, 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
·
44 sec
·
West Mulberry Street
5
Turn right onto US 287
7.0 mi
·
12 min
·
South College Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on US 287
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Highway 287
7
Continue on US 287
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
North Garfield Avenue
8
Continue on US 287
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Buchanan Avenue
Use the none lane.
9
Continue on US 287
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
North Lincoln Avenue
10
Continue on US 287
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North Cleveland Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Turn right onto East 6th Street
131 ft
·
5 sec
·
East 6th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Arrive at destination
East 6th Street
Trip Plan
Because this is a short 25-minute drive, you have incredible flexibility regarding your departure time, allowing you to hit the road whenever it fits your schedule. Since there are zero official stops required along the 13.5-mile path, feel free to head straight through if you are on a tight timeline. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, stay alert for directional changes when transitioning between South College Avenue, North Garfield Avenue, and North Cleveland Avenue. You won’t need to worry about extensive rest breaks or complex refueling strategies with a fuel cost of only $2. My best tip for this specific route is to keep your GPS active even after leaving the main highway, as the local road network requires precise navigation to stay on track.
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 6.7 miles from Fort Collins, CO, or about 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 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 13.5 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 6.7 miles or 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Loveland, 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 13.5 miles and 25m.
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.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on South College Avenue for about 7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 6.7 mi from Fort Collins, CO · 13m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
7 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 13.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 6.7 miles from Fort Collins, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Loveland, CO
The final approach into Loveland, 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 Loveland, 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
$2.05 one way
$4.09 round trip
$3.85/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.08 | $2.17 | $4.34 |
| premium | $4.43 | $2.36 | $4.71 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $3.00 | $6.00 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.1 | 0 | $1.42 | $0.65 |
| Efficient EV | 3.4 | 0 | $1.18 | $0.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.89 | $0.86 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Loveland, CO
Evening in Loveland on Sunday
Local time
6:10 PM
MDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
36°F
Windsor, CO
7 mi in
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
1 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
25m 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 Loveland, CO covers 13.5 miles and takes about 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South College Avenue, North Garfield Avenue, North Cleveland Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 6.7 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 $2.05 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 is a straightforward 25m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (South Meldrum Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (West Mulberry Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (US 287 / South College Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Fort Collins, CO to Loveland, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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