Origin
Lamar, CO
Morning in Lamar on Monday
Local time
11:43 AM
MDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lamar, CO to Fort Collins, CO
Drive Time
4h 21m
Distance
261.9 mi
422 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 8m
★
6 AM
4h 22m
8 AM
4h 48m
10 AM
4h 31m
12 PM
4h 28m
3 PM
4h 32m
5 PM
4h 47m
8 PM
4h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fort Collins, CO
Jacob Moore
Trip Overview
The drive from Lamar, CO to Fort Collins, CO covers 261.9 miles and takes about 4h 21m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Main Street, US 287 North, I 70 West for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $39.69 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
131 miles from Lamar, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 10m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 21m drive with frequent turns across 261.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Main Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
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.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 21m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Lamar, CO to Fort Collins, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 287 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 70 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Dwight D | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| E-470 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| E-470 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Gun Club Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| E470 Toll North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
South Main Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lamar, CO and Fort Collins, CO.
1
Start on West Elm Street
436 ft
·
21 sec
·
West Elm Street
2
Turn left onto South Main Street
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
South Main Street
3
Continue straight
5.7 mi
·
7 min
4
Take the exit slight right toward US 287 North: Limon
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
US 287 North: Limon
5
Keep slight right to continue on US 287 North: Limon
108 mi
·
2 hr 6 min
·
US 287 North: Limon
6
Turn left onto I 70 West: Denver
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
I 70 West: Denver
7
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
73 mi
·
1 hr 13 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
8
Take the exit slight right toward E-470: Colorado Springs, Fort Collins
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
E-470: Colorado Springs, Fort Collins
9
Keep slight right to continue on E-470 North: Gun Club Road North, Fort Collins, Denver International Airport
240 ft
·
6 sec
·
E-470 North: Gun Club Road North, Fort Collins, Denver International Airport
10
Turn straight onto North Gun Club Road
440 ft
·
10 sec
·
North Gun Club Road
11
Take the ramp straight toward E470 Toll North
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
E470 Toll North
12
Merge slight left onto E-470
25 mi
·
24 min
·
E-470
13
Take the exit slight right toward I 25: Denver, Fort Collins
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
I 25: Denver, Fort Collins
14
Keep slight right to continue on I 25 North: Fort Collins
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
I 25 North: Fort Collins
15
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
41 mi
·
41 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
16
Take the exit slight right toward CO 14 West: Fort Collins
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
CO 14 West: Fort Collins
17
Merge slight left onto East Mulberry Street
4.0 mi
·
7 min
·
East Mulberry Street
18
Continue on West Mulberry Street
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
West Mulberry Street
19
Turn right onto South Meldrum Street
499 ft
·
29 sec
·
South Meldrum Street
20
Turn left onto West Magnolia Street
476 ft
·
18 sec
·
West Magnolia Street
21
Continue on South Sherwood Street
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
South Sherwood Street
22
Arrive at your 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 131 miles from Lamar, CO, or about 2h 10m into the drive.
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 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 131 miles or 2h 10m 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 34m
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 Lamar, 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 Lamar, CO
This is one driving day of about 261.9 miles and 4h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Lamar, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 131 mi from Lamar, CO · 2h 10m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
131 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
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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Fort Collins, 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
$39.69 one way
$79.37 round trip
$3.85/gal
25.4 MPG avg
92 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.08 | $42.11 | $84.22 |
| premium | $4.43 | $45.71 | $91.42 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $58.19 | $116.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 78.6 | 0 | $27.50 | $12.57 |
| Efficient EV | 65.5 | 0 | $22.92 | $10.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 104.8 | 1 | $36.67 | $16.76 |
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Morning in Fort Collins on Monday
Local time
11:43 AM
MDT
Current temp
67°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
28 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
4h 21m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Lamar, CO to Fort Collins, CO covers 261.9 miles and takes about 4h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Main Street, US 287 North, I 70 West. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 131 miles from Lamar, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $39.69 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 21m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Lamar, CO to Fort Collins, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Lamar, CO to Fort Collins, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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