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Trip from Cañon City, CO to Fort Collins, CO

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 36m

Distance

178.3 mi

287 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$27

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

26 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
3h 24m ★
6 AM
3h 37m
8 AM
4h 2m
10 AM
3h 45m
12 PM
3h 43m
3 PM
3h 47m
5 PM
4h 0m
8 PM
3h 29m

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 in and county seat of Fremont County, Colorado, United States

Cañon City, CO

Wikimedia Commons

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

Fort Collins, CO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Cañon City, CO to Fort Collins, CO covers 178.3 miles and takes about 3h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Ronald Reagan Highway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, CO 115 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 70.1 miles on Ronald Reagan Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.86 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.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

89.1 miles from Cañon City, CO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 56m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Ronald Reagan Highway 70.1 mi 1h 18m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway 41.7 mi 41m
CO 115 30.7 mi 41m
North Valley Highway 9.6 mi 11m
CR 123 9.5 mi 16m
Monument Valley Freeway 7.7 mi 8m
East Mulberry Street 4 mi 7m
Royal Gorge Boulevard 3.6 mi 6m
Longest stretch: Ronald Reagan Highway — 70.1 mi, about 1h 18m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cañon City, CO and Fort Collins, CO.

1

Start on Macon Avenue

337 ft · 16 sec · Macon Avenue
2

Turn right onto North 5th Street

0.1 mi · 37 sec · North 5th Street
3

Turn left onto US 50

3.6 mi · 6 min · Royal Gorge Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
4

Turn left onto Mackenzie Avenue

126 ft · 4 sec · Mackenzie Avenue
Use the left lane.
5

Turn right onto CR 123

9.5 mi · 16 min · CR 123
6

Turn left onto CO 115

31 mi · 41 min · CO 115
Use the straight lane.
7

Turn left

0.1 mi · 14 sec
Toward I 25 North, US 24 West: Denver Use the left lane.
8

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Toward I 25 North, US 24 West: Denver Use the straight / right lanes.
9

Merge onto I 25; US 24

7.7 mi · 8 min · Monument Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on I 25

70 mi · 1 hr 18 min · Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight right at fork onto I 25

4.3 mi · 5 min · North Valley Highway
Use the slight right lane.
12

Keep slight right at fork onto I 25

5.3 mi · 5 min · North Valley Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
13

Continue on I 25

42 mi · 41 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Exit 269B Toward CO 14 West: Fort Collins
15

Merge onto CO 14

4.0 mi · 7 min · East Mulberry Street
Use the straight lane.
16

Continue on West Mulberry Street

0.3 mi · 45 sec · West Mulberry Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
17

Turn right onto South Meldrum Street

499 ft · 29 sec · South Meldrum Street
18

Turn left onto West Magnolia Street

476 ft · 18 sec · West Magnolia Street
19

Continue on South Sherwood Street

0.2 mi · 39 sec · South Sherwood Street
20

Arrive at destination

South Sherwood Street

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 89.1 miles from Cañon City, CO, or about 1h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.1 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 39 miles or 58m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 89.1 miles or 1h 56m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 59m

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 Cañon City, 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 Cañon City, CO

This is one driving day of about 178.3 miles and 3h 36m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Cañon City, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Ronald Reagan Highway for about 70.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

county seat of Douglas County, Colorado, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Castle Rock, CO

89 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.

Popular next leg

Castle Rock, CO to Fort Collins, CO

93.1 mi · 1h 49m

Pacing Suggestions

Fort Carson, CO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Centennial, CO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 89.1 miles from Cañon City, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Ronald Reagan Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 70.1 miles.

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

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Corridor 44 Champagne Bar and Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Denver, Colorado

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour $50 to $60 mile 114.6

Hours: 3 pm–2 am

+13038930044

Visit website

Corridor 44 Champagne Bar and Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour $50 to $60 mile 114.6

Denver, Colorado

Hours: 3 pm–2 am

+13038930044

Visit website

Nola Voodoo Tavern

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour Moderately mile 114.6

Denver, Colorado

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+17203899544

Visit website

Tikka & Grill, Nepali and Indian Food

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~10 min detour Moderately mile 114.6

Denver, Colorado

Hours: 11 am–9:15 pm

+17204767144

Visit website

Old Town Hot Pot

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour $20 to $30 mile 101.9

Aurora, Colorado

Hours: 11:30 am–9:30 pm

+13036580870

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 178.3

Fort Collins, Colorado

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 178.3

Fort Collins, Colorado

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 178.3

Fort Collins, Colorado

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

2.8 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 178.3

Fort Collins, Colorado

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 178.3

Fort Collins, Colorado

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 178.3

Fort Collins, Colorado

Hours: 7:30 am–4 pm

+18887584389

Visit website

EVgo Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 178.3

Fort Collins, Colorado

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18774943833

Visit website

EVmatch Charging Station

1.0 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 178.3

Fort Collins, Colorado

Hours: Open 24 hours

+16508228157

Visit website

Rest Area

0 mi from route

Petro Stopping Centers

0.1 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.2 mi from route

Buc-ee's

0.2 mi from route

CDOT Rest Area: Poudre

0.4 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.5 mi from route

Meow Wolf Denver's Convergence Station

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 114.6

Denver, Colorado

Hours: 10 am–10 pm

+18666369969

Visit website

Museum of Colorado Prisons

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Cañon City, Colorado

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+17192693015

Visit website

Old Town Square

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 178.3

Fort Collins, Colorado

Hours: 10 am–7 pm

+19704846500

Visit website

Museum of Outdoor Arts

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 101.9

Greenwood Village, Colorado

+13038060444

Visit website

Fort Collins Museum of Discovery

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 178.3

Fort Collins, Colorado

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+19702216738

Visit website

Lee Martinez Community Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 178.3

Fort Collins, Colorado

Hours: 5 am–11 pm

+19702216660

Visit website

Larimer Square

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

1 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 114.6

Denver, Colorado

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+17208051973

Visit website

Pulpit Rock Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 50.9

Colorado Springs, Colorado

Hours: 5 am–9 pm

+17193855940

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 126.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 50 / Royal Gorge Boulevard

Turn left onto US 50 / Royal Gorge Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
7
44 mi into trip | ~1h 5m in

Turn left toward I 25 North, US 24 West: Denver

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Toward I 25 North, US 24 West: Denver
7
44.1 mi into trip | ~1h 5m in

Take the ramp toward I 25 North, US 24 West: Denver

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / right lanes. Toward I 25 North, US 24 West: Denver
6
122.2 mi into trip | ~2h 33m 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
126.5 mi into trip | ~2h 39m 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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$26.86 one way

$53.73 round trip

$3.83/gal 25.4 MPG avg 62 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.05 $28.44 $56.89
premium $4.39 $30.84 $61.69
diesel $5.61 $39.37 $78.73

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$27

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$52–$77

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 62.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

26 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Lincoln Center - Tesla Supercharger

Colorado Springs, CO

Tesla

12 DCFC

Cascade Parking Garage - Tesla Supercharger

Colorado Springs, CO

Tesla

8 DCFC

Sam's Club 8272 (Fountain, CO)

Fountain, CO

Electrify America

6 DCFC

The Faricy Boys Ford

Canon City, CO

EV Connect

4 DCFC

Phil Long EV Outlet

Colorado Springs, CO

EVGATEWAY

4 DCFC

Red Noland Cadillac

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO

EV Connect

3 DCFC

CDJR CANON CITY EXPP PL

Cañon City, CO

ChargePoint Network

2 DCFC

1212 Motor City Drive

Colorado Springs, CO

EV Connect

2 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 14 EVGATEWAY: 4 EV Connect: 3 Tesla: 2 Electrify America: 1 RED_E: 1 Non-Networked: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 53.5 0 $18.72 $8.56
Efficient EV 44.6 0 $15.60 $7.13
EV Truck/SUV 71.3 0 $24.96 $11.41

Gas CO2

62 kg

EV CO2

21 kg (66% 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

Cañon City, CO

Evening in Cañon City on Sunday

Local time

5:35 PM

MDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Fort Collins, CO

Evening in Fort Collins on Sunday

Local time

5:35 PM

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

46 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

3h 36m 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

National Monument

Beneath a grassy mountain valley in central Colorado lies one of the richest and most diverse fossil deposits in the world. Petrified redwood stumps up to 14 feet wide and thousands of detailed fossil...

24 mi from route ~60 min detour $10 near mile 49.2
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

178.3 mi in 3h 36m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.

Only 27% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70.1 mi on Ronald Reagan Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

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 0.2 miles in near US 50 / Royal Gorge Boulevard.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 178.3 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 0.2 miles (US 50 / Royal Gorge Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 44 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 44.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

About the Cities

Arriving in Fort Collins, CO

Full guide →

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.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 36m. Total distance: 178.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 70.1 miles on Ronald Reagan Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 50 / Royal Gorge Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 44 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 44.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Fort Collins, CO, but most travelers stay overnight.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Return Trip

Fort Collins, CO to Cañon City, CO

Plan the drive back the other way.

178 mi 3h 35m

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