Trip from Ponderosa Park, CO to Fort Collins, CO

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 59m

Distance

102.2 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

Save up to 26 min

4 AM

1h 51m ★

6 AM

2h 0m

8 AM

2h 17m

10 AM

2h 6m

12 PM

2h 4m

3 PM

2h 7m

5 PM

2h 16m

8 PM

1h 55m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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city and county seat of Larimer County, Colorado, United States

Fort Collins, CO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Ponderosa Park, CO to Fort Collins, CO covers 102.2 miles and takes about 1h 59m 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 41.2 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.40 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

51.1 miles from Ponderosa Park, CO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 3m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 59m. Total distance: 102.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 59m drive with frequent turns across 102.2 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 18 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 41.2 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 2 miles in near CR 65 / Flintwood Road.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 102.2 miles you will encounter 12 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 2 miles (CR 65 / Flintwood Road): Navigation decision point; at 10.6 miles (CO 83 / South Parker Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

2 mi into trip | ~4m in | CR 65 / Flintwood Road

At end of road, turn right onto CR 65 / Flintwood Road

Navigation decision point

10.6 mi into trip | ~20m in | CO 83 / South Parker Road

Turn right onto CO 83 / South Parker Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.

14.7 mi into trip | ~26m in

Take the exit toward E470 Toll, I 70: Limon, Denver International Airport

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward E470 Toll, I 70: Limon, Denver Internati...

55.4 mi into trip | ~1h 7m in

Take the exit toward I 25: Denver, Fort Collins

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 47 Toward I 25: Denver, Fort Collins

55.7 mi into trip | ~1h 7m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 25 North: Fort Collins

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 47 Toward I 25 North: Fort Collins

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Ponderosa Park, CO and Fort Collins, CO, road signs point toward E470 Toll and Denver International Airport.

E470 Toll

14.7 mi in | ~26m

Denver International Airport

14.7 mi in | ~26m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway	41.2 mi	41m
E-470	40.1 mi	40m
Hilltop Road	4.7 mi	8m
South Parker Road	4.1 mi	6m
East Mulberry Street	4 mi	7m
Flintwood Road	3.4 mi	5m
Ponderosa Lane	1.8 mi	4m
Hess Road	0.6 mi	1m

Longest stretch: Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway — 41.2 mi, about 41m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ponderosa Park, CO and Fort Collins, CO.

Start on Verdos Drive

0.2 mi · 41 sec · Verdos Drive

Turn right onto Ponderosa Lane

1.8 mi · 4 min · Ponderosa Lane

At end of road, turn right onto CR 65

3.4 mi · 5 min · Flintwood Road

Turn straight onto CR 71

4.7 mi · 8 min · Hilltop Road

Continue on Hess Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · Hess Road

Turn right onto CO 83

4.1 mi · 6 min · South Parker Road

Use the left / straight lanes.

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 33 sec

Toward E470 Toll, I 70: Limon, Denver International Airport

Merge onto E470

40 mi · 40 min · E-470

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 28 sec

Exit 47 Toward I 25: Denver, Fort Collins Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 49 sec

Exit 47 Toward I 25 North: Fort Collins

Merge onto I 25

41 mi · 41 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 23 sec

Exit 269B Toward CO 14 West: Fort Collins

Merge onto CO 14

4.0 mi · 7 min · East Mulberry Street

Use the straight lane.

Continue on West Mulberry Street

0.3 mi · 45 sec · West Mulberry Street

Use the left / straight lanes.

Turn right onto South Meldrum Street

499 ft · 29 sec · South Meldrum Street

Turn left onto West Magnolia Street

476 ft · 18 sec · West Magnolia Street

Continue on South Sherwood Street

0.2 mi · 39 sec · South Sherwood Street

Arrive at destination

South Sherwood Street

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 51.1 miles from Ponderosa Park, CO, or about 1h 3m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.2 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 22 miles or 33m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 51.1 miles or 1h 3m 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 36m

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 Ponderosa Park, CO so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Ponderosa Park, CO

This is one driving day of about 102.2 miles and 1h 59m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Ponderosa Park, 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 41.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 51.1 mi from Ponderosa Park, CO · 1h 3m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Aurora, CO

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

Parker, CO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Brighton, CO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 51.1 miles from Ponderosa Park, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$15.40 one way

$30.80 round trip

$3.83/gal 25.4 MPG avg 36 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.05	$16.30	$32.61
premium	$4.39	$17.68	$35.36
diesel	$5.61	$22.56	$45.13

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

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	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	30.7	$10.73	$4.91
Efficient EV	25.6	$8.94	$4.09
EV Truck/SUV	40.9	$14.31	$6.54

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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Ponderosa Park, CO

Morning in Ponderosa Park on Thursday

Local time

11:48 AM

MDT

Current temp

43°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Fort Collins, CO

Morning in Fort Collins on Thursday

Local time

11:48 AM

MDT

Current temp

44°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 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 59m 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 Ponderosa Park, CO to Fort Collins, CO covers 102.2 miles and takes about 1h 59m 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 51.1 miles from Ponderosa Park, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.40 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.