Origin
Fort Collins, CO
Night in Fort Collins on Saturday
Local time
10:36 PM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fort Collins, CO to Frederick, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
50m
Distance
41.9 mi
67 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 47m
★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 54m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 59m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fort Collins, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Frederick, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick transition between Fort Collins and Frederick, this 41.9-mile journey is a straightforward commute across Colorado's Mountain West. Expect to spend about 50 minutes on the road, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will navigate via East Mulberry Street, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, and CO 52 to reach your destination. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $6, the trip is highly economical for travelers on a schedule. Because the drive is short, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time based on your specific needs.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 33.7 mi | 33m |
| East Mulberry Street | 3.9 mi | 7m |
| CO 52 | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Colorado Boulevard | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| West Mulberry Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 5th Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| South Sherwood Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Meldrum Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 33.7 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Collins, CO and Frederick, CO.
1
Start on South Sherwood Street
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
South Sherwood Street
2
Continue on West Magnolia Street
476 ft
·
20 sec
·
West Magnolia Street
3
Turn right onto South Meldrum Street
499 ft
·
29 sec
·
South Meldrum Street
4
Turn left onto West Mulberry Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
West Mulberry Street
5
Continue on East Mulberry Street
3.9 mi
·
7 min
·
East Mulberry Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 25 South: Denver
Use the right lane.
7
Merge onto I 25
34 mi
·
33 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 235
Toward CO 52: Dacono, Fort Lupton
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn straight
272 ft
·
13 sec
10
Continue on CO 52
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
CO 52
Use the left lane.
11
Turn left onto Colorado Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Colorado Boulevard
Use the left lane.
12
Enter roundabout onto Colorado Boulevard
196 ft
·
4 sec
·
Colorado Boulevard
13
Continue on Colorado Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
Colorado Boulevard
14
Enter roundabout onto 5th Street
15 ft
·
0 sec
·
5th Street
15
Continue on 5th Street
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
5th Street
16
Turn left
90 ft
·
7 sec
17
Turn right
108 ft
·
10 sec
18
At end of road, turn right
46 ft
·
3 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 41.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21 miles from Fort Collins, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 41.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
South Meldrum Street
Turn right onto South Meldrum Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
West Mulberry Street
Turn left onto West Mulberry Street
Navigation decision point
6
4.5 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the exit toward I 25 South: Denver
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 25 South: Denver
8
38.4 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the exit toward CO 52: Dacono, Fort Lupton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 235
Toward CO 52: Dacono, Fort Lupton
6
41.9 mi into trip
|
~50m in
At end of road, turn right
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.31 one way
$12.63 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $6.68 | $13.37 |
| premium | $4.39 | $7.25 | $14.50 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.25 | $18.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.40 | $2.01 |
| Efficient EV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.67 | $1.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.8 | 0 | $5.87 | $2.68 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Frederick, CO
Night in Frederick on Saturday
Local time
10:36 PM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
80°F
Johnstown, CO
21 mi in
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
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
50m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. While you will spend 33.7 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, that segment accounts for only 5% of the total highway share for the route. The remaining miles transition into local navigation, requiring more attention to turns and changing road conditions. You will find that the personality of the drive shifts as you move away from the major highway stretches. It is a functional path designed for efficiency, offering a blend of fast-paced transit and localized maneuvering.
Only 5% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33.7 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near South Meldrum Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 41.9 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.2 miles (South Meldrum Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (West Mulberry Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Fort Collins, CO to Frederick, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Lupton along the way.
Fort Lupton
38.4 mi in
|
~43m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 50m. Total distance: 41.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (5%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 33.7 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (South Meldrum Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (West Mulberry Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles: 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 Frederick, CO before heading back.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Frederick, CO
Explore more options from Fort Collins, CO or browse trips ending in Frederick, CO.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CO road trips.