Origin
Sheridan, CO
Morning in Sheridan on Thursday
Local time
9:31 AM
MDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sheridan, CO to Fort Collins, CO
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 26m
Distance
72.1 mi
116 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 27m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sheridan, CO
RDNE Stock project
Fort Collins, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 72.5 miles, this journey from Sheridan to Fort Collins is a straightforward trek across the Colorado Mountain West. You can expect to spend about 1 hour and 20 minutes behind the wheel, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of roughly $10, it is an economical route that requires no overnight stops. You will navigate via a combination of US 285 North, West Hampden Avenue, and US 85 rather than sticking to a single interstate corridor. This trip is ideal if you prefer a direct, local-focused transit between these two Front Range communities.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 26m. Total distance: 72.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 26m 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 that keeps you engaged throughout the 72.5-mile journey. Unlike a monotonous interstate grind, this route features zero highway miles, meaning you will navigate surface streets and local connectors for the duration of the trip. Because there is no long-haul highway stretch—the longest segment on US 285 North is negligible—you should prepare for frequent turns and varied traffic patterns. The personality of this drive is strictly utilitarian, prioritizing local navigation over high-speed transit. Staying alert is key, as the road changes character frequently while you move north.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 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 41.7 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 1.5 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 72.1 miles you will encounter 14 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 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 1.6 miles (US 85 / South Santa Fe Drive): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.1 miles (US 85): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
1.5 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 85 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 85 North
6
1.6 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 85 / South Santa Fe Drive
Merge onto US 85 / South Santa Fe Drive
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
5.1 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
US 85
Take the exit onto US 85 toward I 25 North: Fort Collins
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 25 North: Fort Collins
6
16 mi into trip
|
~23m 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 slight right lane.
6
20.3 mi into trip
|
~29m 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 / right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 41.7 mi | 41m |
| South Valley Highway | 10 mi | 13m |
| North Valley Highway | 9.6 mi | 11m |
| East Mulberry Street | 4 mi | 7m |
| South Santa Fe Drive | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| West Hampden Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| US 85 | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| West Mulberry Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 41.7 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sheridan, CO and Fort Collins, CO.
1
Start on CO 88
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
South Federal Boulevard
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward US 285 North
3
Merge onto US 285
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Hampden Avenue
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Toward US 85
5
Keep slight left at fork
248 ft
·
14 sec
Toward US 85 North
6
Turn left
106 ft
·
6 sec
Toward US 85 North
7
Merge onto US 85
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
South Santa Fe Drive
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
Take the exit onto US 85
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
US 85
Toward I 25 North: Fort Collins
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 25
10 mi
·
13 min
·
South Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
5.3 mi
·
5 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Continue on I 25
42 mi
·
41 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 269B
Toward CO 14 West: Fort Collins
14
Merge onto CO 14
4.0 mi
·
7 min
·
East Mulberry Street
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on West Mulberry Street
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
West Mulberry Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
16
Turn right onto South Meldrum Street
499 ft
·
29 sec
·
South Meldrum Street
17
Turn left onto West Magnolia Street
476 ft
·
18 sec
·
West Magnolia Street
18
Continue on South Sherwood Street
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
South Sherwood Street
19
Arrive at destination
South Sherwood Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 36 mi from Sheridan, CO · 45m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36 miles from Sheridan, 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
$10.86 one way
$21.73 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $11.50 | $23.00 |
| premium | $4.39 | $12.47 | $24.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.92 | $31.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.6 | 0 | $7.57 | $3.46 |
| Efficient EV | 18 | 0 | $6.31 | $2.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.8 | 0 | $10.09 | $4.61 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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
Fort Collins, CO
Morning in Fort Collins on Thursday
Local time
9:31 AM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
33 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
1h 26m 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 Sheridan, CO to Fort Collins, CO covers 72.1 miles and takes about 1h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, South Valley Highway, North Valley Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36 miles from Sheridan, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.86 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 72.1 miles you will encounter 14 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 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 1.6 miles (US 85 / South Santa Fe Drive): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.1 miles (US 85): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Sheridan, CO to Fort Collins, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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