Origin
Fort Collins, CO
Morning in Fort Collins on Saturday
Local time
10:52 AM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fort Collins, CO to Ponderosa Park, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h
Distance
102.3 mi
165 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 52m
★
6 AM
2h 1m
8 AM
2h 18m
10 AM
2h 7m
12 PM
2h 5m
3 PM
2h 8m
5 PM
2h 17m
8 PM
1h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fort Collins, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Ponderosa Park, CO
Dianna Sarmiento
Trip Overview
The drive from Fort Collins, CO to Ponderosa Park, CO covers 102.3 miles and takes about 2h behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, E-470, Hilltop Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 40.9 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.41 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.
Midpoint
51.2 miles from Fort Collins, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h. Total distance: 102.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h drive with frequent turns across 102.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 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 40.9 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 0.2 miles in near South Meldrum Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 102.3 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 0.2 miles (South Meldrum Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 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
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
8
45.7 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Take the exit toward NW, E 470 Toll: Limon, Broomfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 228
Toward NW, E 470 Toll: Limon, Broomfield
8
45.9 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Keep slight left at fork toward E 470 Toll: Limon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 228
Toward E 470 Toll: Limon
7
86.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward CO 83: Town of Parker
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 5
Toward CO 83: Town of Parker
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Fort Collins, CO and Ponderosa Park, CO, road signs point toward E 470 Toll: Limon and Broomfield.
E 470 Toll: Limon
45.7 mi in
|
~50m
Broomfield
45.7 mi in
|
~50m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 40.9 mi | 40m |
| E-470 | 40.1 mi | 40m |
| Hilltop Road | 4.7 mi | 8m |
| South Parker Road | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| East Mulberry Street | 3.9 mi | 7m |
| Flintwood Road | 3.4 mi | 6m |
| Ponderosa Lane | 1.8 mi | 4m |
| Hess Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 40.9 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Collins, CO and Ponderosa Park, 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
·
40 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 228
Toward NW, E 470 Toll: Limon, Broomfield
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 228
Toward E 470 Toll: Limon
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
this road
Exit 228
Toward E 470 Toll: Limon
11
Continue on E470
40 mi
·
40 min
·
E-470
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 5
Toward CO 83: Town of Parker
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
176 ft
·
6 sec
Toward CO 83 South: Parker Road
14
Turn left onto CO 83
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
South Parker Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn left onto Hess Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Hess Road
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on CR 71
4.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Hilltop Road
17
Continue on CR 65
3.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Flintwood Road
18
Turn left onto Ponderosa Lane
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Ponderosa Lane
19
Turn left onto Verdos Drive
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Verdos Drive
20
Arrive at destination
Verdos Drive
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 51.2 miles from Fort Collins, CO, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40.9 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 23 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.2 miles or 56m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ponderosa Park, 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 102.3 miles and 2h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Fort Collins, 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 40.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 51.2 mi from Fort Collins, CO · 56m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
51 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 51.2 miles from Fort Collins, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Ponderosa Park, CO
The final approach into Ponderosa Park, 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 Ponderosa Park, 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
$15.41 one way
$30.83 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
36 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $16.32 | $32.64 |
| premium | $4.39 | $17.70 | $35.39 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.59 | $45.17 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.82
E-470
(40.1 mi)
$4.82
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Tolls
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 30.7 | 0 | $10.74 | $4.91 |
| Efficient EV | 25.6 | 0 | $8.95 | $4.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 40.9 | 0 | $14.32 | $6.55 |
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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
Ponderosa Park, CO
Morning in Ponderosa Park on Saturday
Local time
10:52 AM
MDT
Current temp
43°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
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
2h 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 Ponderosa Park, CO covers 102.3 miles and takes about 2h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, E-470, Hilltop Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 51.2 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 $15.41 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 demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 102.3 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 0.2 miles (South Meldrum Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Fort Collins, CO and Ponderosa Park, CO, road signs point toward E 470 Toll: Limon and Broomfield.
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.
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