Skip to main content

Trip from The Pinery, CO to Fort Collins, CO

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

1h 47m

Distance

95.7 mi

154 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min
4 AM
1h 39m ★
6 AM
1h 47m
8 AM
2h 3m
10 AM
1h 53m
12 PM
1h 51m
3 PM
1h 54m
5 PM
2h 2m
8 PM
1h 43m

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

Downtown The Pinery, CO, CO

The Pinery, CO

Alexander Hamilton

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

Fort Collins, CO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 95.7-mile drive from The Pinery to Fort Collins, Colorado, will take you about 1 hour and 47 minutes. You'll primarily be on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, E-470, and South Parker Road, experiencing a route with frequent turns. With a fuel cost estimated at $14, this trip is easily manageable as a single-day adventure, requiring no overnight stops. The journey stays within the Mountain West region, offering a straightforward connection between two Colorado locations. Plan for a day trip that prioritizes navigation over extended sightseeing.

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

47.8 miles from The Pinery, CO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this 95.7-mile route, with a 0% highway share. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 41.2 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. This means you'll be navigating a series of local roads and potentially some faster arterial routes, rather than sustained highway cruising. The character of the drive will likely involve more frequent adjustments in speed and direction as you transition between different road segments. Be prepared for a more engaged driving experience focused on following directions.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 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 1.5 miles in near CO 83 / South Parker Road.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 95.7 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 1.5 miles (CO 83 / South Parker Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.7 miles (E470 / E-470): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

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

6
1.5 mi into trip | ~4m in | CO 83 / South Parker Road

Turn right onto CO 83 / South Parker Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.
5
8.1 mi into trip | ~14m 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...
5
8.7 mi into trip | ~14m in | E470 / E-470

Merge onto E470 / E-470

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
48.8 mi into trip | ~54m 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
6
49.1 mi into trip | ~55m 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 The Pinery, CO and Fort Collins, CO, road signs point toward E470 Toll and Denver International Airport.

E470 Toll

8.1 mi in | ~14m

Denver International Airport

8.1 mi in | ~14m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway 41.2 mi 41m
E-470 40.1 mi 40m
South Parker Road 6.6 mi 10m
East Mulberry Street 4 mi 7m
Lakeview Drive 1.3 mi 3m
West Mulberry Street 0.3 mi <1m
North Pinery Parkway 0.2 mi <1m
South Sherwood Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway — 41.2 mi, about 41m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between The Pinery, CO and Fort Collins, CO.

1

Start on this road

61 ft · 6 sec · this road
2

Turn right onto Mountain View Drive

412 ft · 20 sec · Mountain View Drive
3

Turn right onto Lakeview Drive

1.3 mi · 3 min · Lakeview Drive
4

Turn left onto North Pinery Parkway

0.2 mi · 31 sec · North Pinery Parkway
5

Turn right onto CO 83

6.6 mi · 10 min · South Parker Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
6

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 33 sec
Toward E470 Toll, I 70: Limon, Denver International Airport
7

Merge onto E470

40 mi · 40 min · E-470
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 28 sec
Exit 47 Toward I 25: Denver, Fort Collins Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 49 sec
Exit 47 Toward I 25 North: Fort Collins
10

Merge onto I 25

41 mi · 41 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Exit 269B Toward CO 14 West: Fort Collins
12

Merge onto CO 14

4.0 mi · 7 min · East Mulberry Street
Use the straight lane.
13

Continue on West Mulberry Street

0.3 mi · 45 sec · West Mulberry Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
14

Turn right onto South Meldrum Street

499 ft · 29 sec · South Meldrum Street
15

Turn left onto West Magnolia Street

476 ft · 18 sec · West Magnolia Street
16

Continue on South Sherwood Street

0.2 mi · 39 sec · South Sherwood Street
17

Arrive at destination

South Sherwood Street

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short drive of under two hours, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time. Aim to leave The Pinery in the morning to make the most of your day in Fort Collins. With no official stops recommended and a manageable fuel cost of $14, you can easily complete this trip in one go. Pay close attention to your navigation, as the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile suggests frequent changes in direction. Keep an eye out for signs indicating E-470 and South Parker Road to ensure you stay on track for Fort Collins.

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 47.8 miles from The Pinery, CO, or about 53m 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 80 miles or 1h 26m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 47.8 miles or 53m 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 24m

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 The Pinery, 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 The Pinery, CO

This is one driving day of about 95.7 miles and 1h 47m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from The Pinery, 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 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 47.8 mi from The Pinery, CO · 53m into the drive

Downtown Aurora, CO, CO

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Aurora, CO

48 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

Windsor, CO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Thornton, CO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 47.8 miles from The Pinery, 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.

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

$14.42 one way

$28.84 round trip

$3.83/gal 25.4 MPG avg 34 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.05 $15.27 $30.53
premium $4.39 $16.56 $33.11
diesel $5.61 $21.13 $42.26

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

$14

Tolls

$5

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 33.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 28.7 0 $10.05 $4.59
Efficient EV 23.9 0 $8.37 $3.83
EV Truck/SUV 38.3 0 $13.40 $6.12

Gas CO2

33 kg

EV CO2

11 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 data refreshed 1 hour from now

Origin

The Pinery, CO

Night in The Pinery on Tuesday

Local time

11:38 PM

MDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Fort Collins, CO

Night in Fort Collins on Tuesday

Local time

11:38 PM

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

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 47m 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 The Pinery, CO to Fort Collins, CO covers 95.7 miles and takes about 1h 47m 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, South Parker Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 47.8 miles from The Pinery, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.42 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 95.7 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 1.5 miles (CO 83 / South Parker Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.7 miles (E470 / E-470): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between The Pinery, CO and Fort Collins, CO, road signs point toward E470 Toll and Denver International Airport.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from The Pinery, CO or browse trips ending in Fort Collins, CO.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CO road trips.

Explore maps for The Pinery, CO or Fort Collins, CO on MapSof.net.