Fort Collins to Monument is 114.3 miles and takes about 2 hours 10 minutes via North Valley Highway and Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. You'll be traveling within the Mountain West region, staying within Colorado for this entire trip. The route largely utilizes surface roads, offering a more local driving experience than a pure interstate journey. With a short estimated drive time, this trip is ideal for a same-day excursion, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
57.2 miles from Fort Collins, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North Valley Highway
67.1 mi
1h 16m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
41.4 mi
41m
East Mulberry Street
3.9 mi
7m
2nd Street
0.5 mi
1m
West Mulberry Street
0.3 mi
<1m
South Sherwood Street
0.2 mi
<1m
South Meldrum Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
West Magnolia Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
North Valley Highway
— 67.1 mi, about 1h 16m
Traffic on I-25
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,723 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,448
Quietest
2 AM
~381 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Collins, CO and Monument, 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: DenverUse the right lane.
7
Merge onto I 25
41 mi·41 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 25
0.6 mi·36 sec·North Valley Highway
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
8.8 mi·10 min·North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
58 mi·1 hr 5 min·North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 161Toward CO 105: Second StreetUse the right lane.
12
Turn left onto 2nd Street
0.5 mi·1 min·2nd Street
13
Turn right onto Washington Street
53 ft·2 sec·Washington Street
14
Arrive at destination
Washington Street
Trip Plan
Consider departing in the morning to maximize daylight and take advantage of lighter traffic, especially as you navigate through Fort Collins. Since this is a relatively short drive of just over 2 hours, you won't need to break it up into multiple days. Plan for one or two brief stops for stretching or refreshments, as the longest stretch on North Valley Highway is over 67 miles. With a fuel cost estimated around $20, you should have ample funds for gas without much worry. Remember to check local traffic conditions before you leave, as surface roads can be more susceptible to unexpected delays.
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 57.2 miles from Fort Collins, CO, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.1 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 25 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.2 miles or 1h 4m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Monument, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fort Collins, 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 Fort Collins, CO
This is one driving day of about 114.3 miles and 2h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Fort Collins, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on North Valley Highway for about 67.1 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 113.3 — 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
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
6
46.8 mi into trip|~51m 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 / slight right lanes.
6
55.6 mi into trip|~1h 2m 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 / slight left lanes.
7
113.3 mi into trip|~2h 7m in
Take the exit toward CO 105: Second Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 161
Toward CO 105: Second Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.58 one way
$39.15 round trip
$4.35/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.59
$20.66
$41.31
premium
$4.93
$22.19
$44.38
diesel
$5.35
$24.08
$48.15
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.3
0
$12.00
$5.49
Efficient EV
28.6
0
$10.00
$4.57
EV Truck/SUV
45.7
0
$16.00
$7.32
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% 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 May 23, 2026
Origin
Fort Collins, CO
Afternoon
in Fort Collins on Wednesday
Local time
1:53 PM
MDT
Current temp
42°F
Partly Cloudy
NW 5 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Monument, CO
Afternoon
in Monument on Wednesday
Local time
1:53 PM
MDT
Current temp
39°F
Partly Cloudy
S 5 mph3% chanceLive 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
3 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 10m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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
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...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
$10
near mile 114.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily on surface roads, with no highway miles to speak of. Your longest continuous stretch will be 67.1 miles on North Valley Highway, so expect a consistent pace for a significant portion of the trip. You'll notice the transition from urban or suburban environments to more open stretches as you travel south. Keep an eye out for frequent intersections and potential traffic lights common to surface road travel.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 67.1 mi on North Valley Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 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 Effort6/10
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 114.3 miles you will encounter 9 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 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.8 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 10m. Total distance: 114.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 67.1 miles on North Valley Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Monument, 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. There are 4 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (South Meldrum Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.8 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Monument, CO before heading back.
