Traveling from Brush to Fort Collins is a straightforward 93.9-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 14 minutes. This drive serves as an efficient connection within the Mountain West, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. You should budget approximately $14 for fuel to cover the distance. Because the total travel time is relatively short, there is no need to plan for overnight stops along the way. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick change of scenery, the route is manageable and requires minimal logistical preparation.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47 miles from Brush, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 34
36.9 mi
59m
I 76
22.7 mi
22m
Highway 34
15.3 mi
25m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
11.6 mi
11m
East Mulberry Street
4 mi
7m
East Eisenhower Boulevard
0.8 mi
1m
Colorado Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
West Mulberry Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 34
— 36.9 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brush, CO and Fort Collins, CO.
1
Start on Clayton Street
185 ft·12 sec·Clayton Street
2
Turn left onto West Emerson Street
418 ft·25 sec·West Emerson Street
3
Turn left onto CO 71
0.8 mi·1 min·Colorado Avenue
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
5
Merge onto I 76
23 mi·22 min·I 76
6
Take the exit onto US 34
37 mi·59 min·US 34
Toward US 34 West: Greeley Estates ParkUse the straight lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 34
15 mi·25 min·Highway 34
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 34
0.8 mi·1 min·East Eisenhower Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 25 North: Fort CollinsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 25
12 mi·11 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 269BToward 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, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best without worrying about complex timing. You can easily complete the entire 93.9-mile distance in one go without needing to schedule formal stops for fatigue. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Brush, as the $14 estimate provides a good baseline for your budget. Because the route relies heavily on major roads like I-76 and US 34, check for any highway maintenance alerts before you head out to ensure your trip remains as efficient as possible. The lack of required stops gives you the freedom to reach Fort Collins quickly and get straight to your destination.
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 miles from Brush, CO, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.9 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 21 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47 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 51m
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 Brush, 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 Brush, CO
This is one driving day of about 93.9 miles and 2h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Brush, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 34 for about 36.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 76.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|West Emerson Street
Turn left onto West Emerson Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|CO 71 / Colorado Avenue
Turn left onto CO 71 / Colorado Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
23.9 mi into trip|~25m in|US 34
Take the exit onto US 34 toward US 34 West: Greeley Estates Park
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward US 34 West: Greeley Estates Park
6
60.8 mi into trip|~1h 25m in|US 34 / Highway 34
Keep slight right at fork onto US 34 / Highway 34
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
76.9 mi into trip|~1h 51m in
Take the exit toward I 25 North: Fort Collins
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 25 North: Fort Collins
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.15 one way
$28.30 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$14.98
$29.96
premium
$4.39
$16.24
$32.49
diesel
$5.61
$20.73
$41.46
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.9 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
28.2
0
$9.86
$4.51
Efficient EV
23.5
0
$8.22
$3.76
EV Truck/SUV
37.6
0
$13.15
$6.01
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 as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Brush, CO
Late night
in Brush on Tuesday
Local time
2:48 AM
MDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fort Collins, CO
Late night
in Fort Collins on Tuesday
Local time
2:48 AM
MDT
Current temp
32°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
27 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
2h 14m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with about 80% of your time spent on major thoroughfares including I-76 and US 34. You will experience a mix of interstate transit and highway driving, providing a consistent pace for the duration of the trip. The longest uninterrupted segment you will encounter is a 36.9-mile stretch on US 34, which allows for steady progress behind the wheel. Expect the road character to remain fairly uniform as you navigate between these two Colorado hubs. It is a functional, efficient drive that prioritizes direct travel over technical or winding backroads.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.9 mi on US 34.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 34 and I 76. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Emerson Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 93.9 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: near the start (West Emerson Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (CO 71 / Colorado Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.9 miles (US 34): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Fort Collins is a city of about 170,000 in north central region of the western U.S. state of Colorado. The seat of Larimer County, the city lies 59 miles (95 km) north of Denver on the Cache La Poudre River at the eastern edge of the Front Range foothills. Fort Collins is the home of Colorado State University and is a major research center.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 14m. Total distance: 93.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 36.9 miles on US 34. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Fort Collins, CO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Emerson Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (CO 71 / Colorado Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.9 miles (US 34): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Fort Collins, CO before heading back.
