Fort Collins, CO Road Trips

Old Town is the downtown area of the city, centered on the cross-streets of College Avenue and Mountain Avenue. It is the historical beginnings of the town, with a vast variety of older buildings and historical monuments. Those seeking to visit architecture from the early 20th century should come to Fort Collins for its prime examples. The Colorado State University campus is right in the middle of the city, extending from Prospect Road on the South to Laurel Street on the north, and from Shields street on the west to College Avenue on the East. The university also has several other smaller campuses throughout the city. The big white "A" on the mountain west of town stands for Aggies, a relic from when CSU was Colorado Agricultural College. Fort Collins municipal website

Historic Old Town Fort Collins. It has many shops and restaurants and an outdoor mall among historic buildings. Old Town is centered just east of College Avenue and between Mountain Avenue and Walnut Street. Parking on the street in Old Town can be difficult, but there are three city parking structures which offer parking for a quarter an hour. There is also secure bike parking in the garage on Mason Street and easy transit access with the MAX. Enjoy a locally brewed beer or lager at a restaurant in Old Town Square, and enjoy local music at The Aggie. (updated Jun 2023) 1 Budweiser Events Center, 5290 Arena Cir, Loveland, ☏ +1-970-619-4111. At The Ranch features national acts and sports events. Several semi-professional sports teams call this center home including the Colorado Eagles (hockey), Colorado Chill (basketball), and the Colorado Ice (arena football). (updated Sep 2023) Breweries. Fort Collins features 5 local award-winning breweries plus an Anheuser Busch outpost (complete with Clydesdales). Visit New Belgium Brewing, Odell Brewing Company, Fort Collins Brewery, CooperSmith's Pub and Brewery, Big Horn Brewing, or Anheuser Busch any day of the week but Sunday. (updated Sep 2023) 2 Colorado State University, ☏ +1 970-491-6444. Internationally recognized faculty and a top-ranked University with a freshman to sophomore retention rate of 82%.

1 Edora Pool Ice Center (EPIC), 1801 Riverside Ave, ☏ +1 970-221-6683. The Edora Pool and Ice Center (EPIC) includes a large public pool and ice rink. The Spring Creek and Power trails pass by it and are easily accessible by bike. It is a 7-15 minute walk from the nearest bus stops, depending on which bus you take. (updated Sep 2023) 2 Horsetooth Reservoir, 4200 W County Rd 38 E, ☏ +1 970-498-5610. Come and enjoy climbing, boating, hiking, bouldering, and mountain biking in this area (please note: a season or day pass is required). Biking up to the reservoir can be quite a challenging yet incredible experience. (updated Sep 2023) 3 New Belgium Brewing Company, 500 Linden St, ☏ +1 970-221-0524. New Belgium Brewing offers a range of beloved beers including the popular Fat Tire, as well as lesser-known options like Abby, 1554, Blue Paddle, Sunshine Wheat, and a variety of seasonal brews and small-batch creations. The brewery provides both guided and self-guided tours, so be sure to arrive early for the guided ones as space is limited. During these tours, you will delve into the rich history of the brewery, learn about its commitment to sustainable practices through wind energy and recycled methane, and witness their unwavering dedication to social responsibility. They have set a remarkable example by prioritizing the well-being of both their employees and the community. Additionally, all visitors aged 21 and older can indulge in complimentary tastings. (updated Sep 2023) 4 Rocky Mountain Adventures, 1117 N U.S.

1 Big City Burrito, 510 S College Ave (in Old Town), ☏ +1 970-482-3303, [email protected]. 8AM-8PM. This place is a true Fort Collins institution. $6 per person. (updated Sep 2023) 2 The Breakfast Club, 121 W Monroe Dr, ☏ +1 970-223-7193, [email protected]. M-Sa 6AM-2PM, Su 7AM-1:30PM. Breakfast and lunch eatery. The breakfast burrito is available for $4-8. (updated Sep 2023) 3 Cafe Mexicali, 2925 S College Ave, ☏ +1 970-266-9292, fax: +1 970-266-9294. Winter: M-Th 8AM-9PM, summer M-Th 8AM-9:30PM, F Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 11AM-7PM. A local chain offers a variety of tacos, burritos, and other Mexican classics. Affordable for students. (updated Sep 2023) 4 Charco Broiler, 1716 E Mulberry St, ☏ +1 970-482-1472. M closed, Tu-Th 11AM-8PM, F 11AM-9PM, Sa 8:30 AM - 9 PM, Su 8:30AM-8PM. American-style steakhouse. They serve a variety of dishes, including steaks, burgers, pasta, and seafood, set in a ranch house ambiance with western-themed accents. $8 per person.. (updated Sep 2023) 5 China Wok, 1514 E Harmony Rd # 6, ☏ +1 970-223-8867. Su 4:30-9PM, M-Th 11AM-9PM, F Sa 11AM-9:30PM. Typical Chinese fast–food. Inexpensive. Chinese takeout standards in a simple strip-mall location. $5 per person. (updated Sep 2023) 6 Cozzola's Pizza, 1112 Oakridge Dr #114, ☏ +1 970-229-5771, [email protected]. Th-Tu 3-8PM, W closed. Pizza at a local chain, in a cozy setting adorned with wooden walls in the South area. $10 per person. (updated Sep 2023) 7 Los Tarascos Restaurant, 622 S College Ave, ☏ +1 970-416-0265, fax: +1 970-416 8455.

As a college town, Fort Collins has a very active nightlife with a wide variety of options, ranging from friendly corner pubs to hip hop dance clubs. Old Town is particularly lively on weekends, but even on weeknights, there is always something happening. Additionally, Campus West, the second, smaller cluster of bars in Fort Collins, still offers a lot of entertainment options. 1 Surfside 7, 238 Linden St, ☏ +1 970-221-4281, [email protected]. 3PM-2AM. Great dive bar with killer jukebox and cheap drinks. (updated Sep 2023) 2 The Forge Publick House, 255 Old Firehouse Alley, ☏ +1 970-682-2578, [email protected]. Su-Tu 2-10PM, W-Sa 2PM-midnight. A unique high-end beer bar is tucked into an inviting alley, creating a warm and unpretentious ambiance. (updated Sep 2023) 3 The Coast, 254 Linden St, ☏ +1 970-682-2022. 6PM-2AM. Visit the bar that offers the latest last call time. (updated Sep 2023) 4 Lucky Joe's Sidewalk Saloon, 25 Old Town Square, ☏ +1 970-493-2213. 11AM-2AM. A unique establishment, this self-described cowboy and Irish bar astoundingly finds a way to make their unconventional blend work. Offering complimentary peanuts, it presents an upbeat atmosphere that combines the charm of an Irish bar with the ambiance of a western saloon. Live music performances, a patio, delicious pub grub, and enticing happy-hour specials further enhance the experience. (updated Sep 2023) 5 Old Chicago Pizza + Taproom, 4709 S Timberline Rd, ☏ +1 970-207-9456. 11AM-2AM. Chain restaurant that has a bar and pool hall section staying open until 2AM.

1 The Armstrong Hotel, 259 S College Ave, ☏ +1 970-484-3883. Located downtown, this boutique hotel offers 37 eclectic rooms. (updated Feb 2016) 2 Cambria Suites, 2921 E Harmony Rd. (updated Feb 2016) 3 Comfort Inn Fort Collins North, 601 Sw Frontage Rd. (I-25 and Hwy 14/Mulberry Exit), ☏ +1 970 407-0100, fax: +1 970 407-0101, [email protected]. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Free wifi, hot buffet breakfast, and heated pool and hot tub. $65-259. (updated May 2018) 4 Courtyard Fort Collins, 1200 Oakridge Dr, ☏ +1 970 282-1700. Indoor pool. Provides free shuttle service to nearby businesses M-F. (updated Feb 2016) 5 Fort Collins Marriott, 350 East Horsetooth Rd, ☏ +1 970-226-5200. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: noon. The Fort Collins Marriott has 229 renovated rooms and 16,154 sq. ft. of meeting space equipped with high speed internet access and wireless capabilities. (updated Feb 2016) 6 Hilton Fort Collins Hotel, 425 W Prospect Rd. Near student housing and the railroad. (updated Feb 2016) 7 Quality Inn & Suites, 4001 South Mason St, ☏ +1 970 488-1124, [email protected]. All suites. Pets allowed.

Denver International Airport is the closest international airport; several shuttle services to Fort Collins are available, such as Landline and Groome. Additionally, if your flight is during daylight hours, the cheapest way to get to the airport is Bustang + RTD's A Line train. 1 Northern Colorado Regional Airport (FNL IATA Fort Collins/Loveland Airport), 4900 Earhart Rd (adjacent to I-25 and US Hwy 34, 50 miles north of Denver), ☏ +1 970-962-2850, [email protected]. It serves the Fort Collins/Loveland area, and is between the two towns. As of November 2024, there are no domestic flights to FNL. The Groome and Landline DIA shuttles also stop at this location. (updated Sep 2023) Bustang is a state-wide bus service operated by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). The buses are new, clean, and punctual, offering affordable fares. Additionally, the buses are equipped with a bike rack, and passengers can bring bicycles at no extra charge. For only $10, the North Line provides a direct connection to Denver. Flex is a service run by Transfort that connects to Loveland, Berthoud, Longmont, and Boulder. Buses have bike racks. Fares are permanently suspended (November 2024) for the entire Transfort system, allowing for a particularly budget-conscious traveler to get between Denver or DIA and Fort Collins for only $10.50 via Boulder. The Poudre Express is a bus service operated by Greeley Evans Transit (GET), which conveniently connects Fort Collins to Greeley and Windsor.

Public transit is provided by Transfort. Most routes run M-Sa 5AM to 8PM hourly, although some of the more popular routes have a frequency of every 30 minutes. (Nov 2024) The MAX route runs every 20 minutes, with the city experimenting with bringing 10-minute service back (Nov 2024). The city provides service until 10pm for the MAX (Nov 2024). Buses do not operate at all on Sundays. All Transfort services will remain free for the foreseeable future, as stated by the city in October 2024. There are four main transit hubs in Fort Collins: the Downtown Transit Center, the CSU Transit Center, the South Transit Center, and the Harmony Transfer Center. The Downtown Transit Center and the South Transit Center are connected by the MAX BRT system. The CSU Transit Center is just a short walk from a MAX stop. The Harmony Transfer Center can be reached via Route 16 from the South Transit Center. The Poudre Express is available from both the CSU Transit Center and the Harmony Transfer Center. Flex services are offered from the Downtown Transit Center and the South Transit Center. Most intercity bus services, including Bustang, make stops at the Downtown Transit Center and the Harmony Transfer Center. There is also a free, on-demand taxi service provided by the city on routes that have been suspended. Do not count on it if you need to be anywhere quickly. Taxis are often very late. The "FoxTrot" service between Fort Collins and Loveland has been replaced by Flex.